LUDHIANA
HINDI WORKSHOP: Punjab and Sind Bank organised a two-day Hindi workshop at Zonal Office, Ludhiana. Mr Parmod Kumar Sharma, Assistant Director, Income Tax Department, was the chief guest. Mr Rajinder Singh Chhatwal, Zonal Manager, inaugurated the workshop. Mr Sharma elucidated the different policies of the Government of India regarding the implementation of Hindi in banks. In the workshop 25 employees from different branches participated.

MAHOTSAV: Vyaas Puja (Guru Purnima) Mahotsav was celebrated at Shri Gita Vridhashram on the Threeke road under the supervision of Swami Gitanandji Maharaj on Friday. Apart from inmates of the orphanage being run at the Vridhashram and students of Sanskrit Vidyalaya, several residents also participated in the ceremony. Swami Gitanandji distributed robes and clothes among inmates of the ashram.

GANESH MAHOTSAV: The Baba Ganpati Seva Sangh on Friday undertook the construction of various Ganesha idols in connection with the forthcoming Ganesh mahotsav. A poojan was performed before the beginning of the works which was attended, among others, by Mr Harish Bedi, Mr Hira Lal Goyal, Mr Rakesh Kakkar, Mr Sikandar Verma, Mr Rakesh Dhawan, Mr Satish Bedi, Mr Bhagat Ram Handa. Kishore Kumar, a sculptor from Orissa, has been engaged to make the various idols. Mr Harish Bedi, president of the sangh, said the purpose of the mahotsav was to bring about public awareness, promote mutual brotherhood and strengthen the country’s cultural fabric.

MOGA
RUN OVER: Mohan Lal, a resident of Bhim Nagar, was run over by a passenger train of Friday. His body has been sent for post mortem the report said.

POLICE RAIDS: The police, on a tip off, raided the premises of bhajan Singh, a resident of Sherpur Tayba village in this district and seized 6 kg of poppy seeds. The police also arrested Karnail Singh, a resident of Aminwala village, and recovered 30 kg of lahan from his possession.

SAMRALA
CORNEA TRANSPLANTED: Dr Romesh of Government Rural Hospital, Mansooran, has transplanted cornea of Ranjit Singh Rana of Machhiwara into Mr Dilbag Singh of Unchi Mangli village and Bhinder Singh of Malerkotla. Both the cornea-receivers were present at the condolence function of Rana. 

DHARNA: In protest against 4 per cent tax on fertilisers, activists of the BKU of the Samrala block have decided to sit on a dharna in front of civil courts on July 30. Mr Balbir Singh Rajewal, its national general secretary, and Mr Baldev Singh Mianpur, Punjab president, will address the gathering. Meanwhile, at a meeting held here on Saturday under the presidentship of Mr Netar Singh Nagra, district President, Mr Amarjit Singh, a former sarpanch of Bhattian, has been appointed as president of the Machhiwara block.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected as office-bearers of the Traders Welfare Association, Sector 32, Chandigarh: Chairman — Mr R. K. Mittal; president — Mr Ashwani Khanna; senior vice-president — Mr R. K. Batra; vice-president — Mr Ravi Kalia; general secretary — Mr Ashwani Khurmi; joint secretary — Mr Ajaz Hussain; and treasurers — Mr K. K. Sethi and Mr Raju Gagneja.

VISIT: The Additional Director of the National Cadets Corps (NCC), Air Marshal T. S. Chhatwal, visited the NCC Directorate of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh here on Friday. Mr Chhatwal was received by the Deputy Director General of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, Brig D. S. Dhillon. Mr Chhatwal asked cadets to use microlight aircraft stationed here to hone their skills.

MEETING: An executive committee meeting of the All-India Released Defence Officer Welfare Association (DOWA) was held on July 16, under the presidentship of Capt B.S. Garcha. The discussions were held on various welfare measures to be undertaken for the benefit of the SS/EC officers. A three-member legal cell was constituted, Capt Harbhajan Singh Additional Sessions Judge (retd), Capt Rajneesh Bansal and Capt P. K. Chhibber, both Advocates, to take-up various matters with Army/civil authorities to take care of anomalies and discriminations with the category of SS/EC officers. Major Anil Ahlawat, general secretary of the DOWA, appealed to all SS/EC officers who are not members of the association to come forward for the cause and strengthen hands.

HAILED: Hailing the decision of the Ministry of Personnel regarding the cancellation of the extension of Director, AIIMS, as their “moral” victory, the PGI Employees Union has demanded that the same should be applicable even to the PGI. The general secretary of the union, Mr Ashwini Munjal, said that a deputation of their union had met the Union Minister for Health, Mr Shatrughan Sinha, at New Delhi , yesterday. “ We have apprised the minister of the latest decision of the Ministry of Personnel and Training, requesting him to decide their petition in connection with the term of the PGI, Director, Dr S.K. Sharma, on the same lines,” he stated.

DHARNA: Members of the Tubewell Corporation Employees Joint Action Committee, Punjab, sat on a dharna outside the head office of the corporation in Sector 26 here on demanding that state government should desist from its plan of dissolving corporations and boards in the state. While addressing the dharna, various leaders of the committee alleged that the Punjab Government was indulging in anti-employees activities. The committee also threatened that if the government did not mend its policies towards employees, they will be forced to launch an agitation. Among others who addressed the dharna include Mr Tara Singh Saini, Mr Bal Krishan Sharma, Mr Adarsh Sharma, Mr Gulzar Singh Begowal, Mr Rajinder Sharma, Mr Jaspal Singh and Mr Ashok Saini.

CONTEST: The Population Education Cell in SIE, Sector 32, celebrated ‘world population day’ on a slogan writing competition was organised in GMSSS-10 and a poem recitation competition was organised GGSSS-23. Results for the slogan writing contest are as follows: George (1), Gaurav (2), Charan (3), Mamta (3); Poem recitation: Tulsi (1), Arti (20, Kamaljit (3).

PANCHKULA
CELEBRATED: Vanamahotsava was celebrated in Amravati Public School on Saturday. The Principal, Ms Poonam Gupta, appraised the students about the importance of planting trees. Discussions were held on importance of afforestation, pollution-free environment and nature’s equilibrium. Later on, an intra-class poster making competition was also held.

MEDICAL CAMP: Surya Foundation, along with the Haryana AIDS Control Society organised an awareness generating event and a free medical camp for migrant labourers of Group Housing 92 construction site, Sector 20. Besides, a free RTI/STD camp and lectures on HIV/AIDS were also held.

KALKA
ELECTED: The annual elections of the Haryana Roadways Employees Union, Kalka, were held here. Jagdish Singh was elected as president of the union. He defeated Baldev Thakur.

SEWAGE PLANT: To keep the pollution under control, the Pollution Control Board has directed through its notice to the Public Health Department of Kalka and the towns Municipal Committee to instal a sewerage treatment plant at Kalka. As per the source, the Health Department has already issued the tenders and the construction of treatment plant would start soon. The source added that the total cost of the plant would be about Rs 65 lakh, out of which Rs 45 lakh would be sanctioned by the Haryana Government and Rs 20 lakh will be spent by the department. The sewage treatment plant would be ready by the end of this year.

ONE HELD: One person has been arrested by the Kalka police for selling illicit liquor. According to the source, the police raided the house of Kamal of Palohra village and recovered 15 pouches and one box of liquor from his possession. The police has registered a case and has started the inquiry.

PINJORE
BODY FOUND: The police has recovered a body of a 17-year-old boy from the Pinjore-Mallha road near Jarot village. The body was in a very bad condition and it was suspected that the boy had consumed some poisonous substance. After the postmortem examination, the body was handed over to the municipal committee for the funeral.

SEMINAR: A one-day seminar on Drug de-addiction is being organised on Monday at 10 am in the Forest Complex at Pinjore. The seminar is being organised under the direction of the Director General of Police Haryana, under the social security campaign. Charu Bali, SP, Panchkula, and Bharti Arora, additional SP, would be present on the occasion. As per the information, all the DSP’s of the Panchkula district sarpanches, members of mahila mandals of surrounding villages would also participate in the function.

OPPOSED: The Panchyat of Karanpur village of Pinjore block has opposed the open sale of illegal liquor and have demanded immediate stop on the sale. The villagers along with their sarpanches have submitted a memorandum to the SHO, Pinjore police station.