Hosiery manufacturers hold massive protest
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 7
Hundreds of hosiery manufacturers today held a massive demonstration in protest against the levy of Central excise duty on hosiery products. The manufacturers gathered near the Clock Tower, and raised slogans against the government demanding the withdrawal of the Central excise duty.

They said they were still continuing with peaceful means to make their point of view heard. They said their patience was being tested and it would be difficult to stick to peaceful means for long.

They said at a time when the industry, more so the hosiery industry, was facing a slump, it was unjust to impose the Central excise duty on them. They said when the government could withdraw the Central excise duty on cycle parts, why it could not do so in case of hosiery goods. They said if the Central Government did not withdraw the duty, imported goods would flood the market and the domestic industry would collapse.

They said the hosiery industry provided employment to lakhs of people across the country. They said while the big manufacturers had no problem in paying the Central excise duty, it would be very difficult for small manufacturers to make the payment and to follow all procedures.

The president of the Federation of Knitwear, Textile and Allied Industries Associations (FEKTAA), Mr Vinod Thapar, declared that the manufacturers would not get themselves registered for the Central excise duty.

The Central Excise Commissioner, Mr H.K. Mittal, said only 130 manufacturers had got themselves registered with the department so far. The Central Board of Excise and Customs had extended the last date of filing the declaration about stocks till April 14.

Meanwhile, some manufacturers were in a confusion whether to file the details or not. Most of those who had applied for registration so far were exporters as they could not delay the delivery of goods and had no option, but to apply for the numbers, a representative of the FEKTAA said. 

Industrial waste disposal site earmarked
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 7
The Punjab Pollution Control Board has earmarked a site near Dera Bassi in Patiala district for the disposal of industrial waste since the lack of an effective dumping system had led to environmental pollution besides alarming degradation in the quality of groundwater. This was stated by Mr N.S. Tiwana, Chairman of the board, while addressing participants at a workshop on the management and handling of hazardous waste here today.

He said they were concerned about the disposal of hazardous waste generated by hundreds of industrial units across the state every day. The site had been chosen in Nimbuan village with the consent of the PSIEC. As much as 15,000 tonnes of waste is generated by more than 2,000 units across the state. Till now, the industrial units dumped their waste in open places, causing water and air pollution.

Mr Tiwana appealed to the state entrepreneurs to follow the example of Haryana, where the industrialists had pooled their resources to come up with a waste management policy and had sought the help of the state government. He said Punjab entrepreneurs, too, should do the same and help make the government move a success.

Dr D.B. Boralkar, Assistant Secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board, said the disposal and management of hazardous industrial waste was one of the main problems facing not only India but the world. Waste disposal was a costly proposition but had to be done on a priority basis since it affects the environment and once it gets unmanageable, it proves to be irreversible. He also gave a presentation on the latest waste-handling processes and their effectiveness.

Mr J.S. Bhatia, Chief Engineer of the PSIEC, said urgent steps had to be taken to have a hazardous waste set-up in place and also appreciated the steps being taken by the government in this context.

Ms H.K. Parwana, a senior scientific officer with the board, discussed the salient features of the Hazardous Waste Management and Handling Rules, 2000, and urged the entrepreneurs to come forward and follow the rules for their own good. Dr Dharamveer and Mr D.K. Duam, Member Secretary of the board, also addressed the participants.

On part of the industrialists, Mr S.K. Rai and Mr M.S. Bhogal assured the authorities of their utmost cooperation.

Protest over workshop
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 7
Members of the Ludhiana Electroplaters Association have demanded strict action against the officials of the Punjab Pollution Control Board posted in Ludhiana since the former were not invited for the workshop on the management and handling of hazardous waste although theirs was the only user industry in the state.

Mr Joginder Kumar and Mr Chhaber Singh , president and vice-chief of the association, told Ludhiana Tribune that they went to the venue in the morning but staged a walkout to register their protest. 

‘Earmark places for rehri markets’
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 7
The Rehri-Farri Union has urged the civic administration to earmark places in the city for rehri markets so that the petty traders could freely carry out their business. At a meeting with the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Mr S.K. Sharma, a deputation of the union, headed by Mr Bal Kishan Pappi, demanded steps to stop invocation of Section 283, IPC, against vendors and sending them to jail for no offence. The members of the deputation also urged the Commissioner to take a compassionate view of the rehri and farriwalas, who belonged to weaker section of society.

Mr Pappi brought to the notice of the Commissioner that they had to suffer harassment and exploitation at the hands of certain corporation employees. The deputation demanded various relief and rehabilitation measures like allotment of subsidised small shops and kiosks in New Sabzi Mandi on the GT Road and other suitable places in the city and provision for financial assistance at lower interest rates.

Earlier, members of the union marched from Field Ganj and passed through the Railway Station road and the Clock Tower chowk before reaching the corporation headquarters to meet the Commissioner.

Schools confused over new syllabus
Deepkamal Kaur

Ludhiana, April 7
While the Punjab School Education Board has not cared enough to issue the details of the revised syllabus to its schools for the new session, principals, teachers and students here are a confused lot. While some of them are following the old books, others are going by the new NCERT books and still others are following latest help books brought out by various publishers.

While no authentic information was available with any of the schools, several notions prevail among the teaching staff of different schools. Some believe that the board has revised the syllabi of science, social studies and mathematics for Class X on the pattern of new NCERT books. Another group of teachers have said that the syllabus of board classes has been kept untouched, while that for pre-board classes has been changed significantly. They have also said that since the board makes such changes in tandem, the syllabus of board classes will be changed next year.

Yet another set of teachers has said that some chapters of Class IX have been incorporated in the syllabus of Class X and vice-versa. Similarly, few topics of Class XI have been inter-changed with that of Class XII so as to make suitable amendments, they said. Amidst this confusion, the students from different schools are being taught under different patterns.

Ms Simmi Gupta, Principal of Gupta Model High School, said she had heard that some major changes had been made in the syllabi of science and social studies for Class X on the lines of the NCERT, therefore, she had no option but to follow the new books published by the council. She said much confusion prevailed over the new syllabus and to get clarity in the matter, she had called up at the board office in SAS Nagar even today. However, she said that she was told that the officers concerned were on leave.

Relying on the information gathered from the publishers of some help books, Mr S.C. Malhotra, Principal of SAN Jain Senior Secondary School, said changes had been made in the syllabus of science for Classes VI and IX, mathematics for Class IX and physics and chemistry of Class XI. He said that making changes step by step to next class, the syllabus of board Classes X and XII would be changed next year but left untouched this time. Ms Hardial Kaur Chhina, Principal of Guru Harkrishan Public School, also held the same view as she said that no change would be made in the syllabus of board classes.

Mr H.C. Gupta, Principal, New Senior Secondary School, said he had heard from the senior section boys today that new books of mathematics, science and social studies for Classes IX and X had already hit the market. He said the students told him that there were some major changes in the syllabi of all subjects for both classes. He, however, agreed that the confusion occurred due to the delay on part of the board in sending details of syllabus.

Meanwhile, Ms Jagbir K. Brar, Director (Academics), Punjab School Education Board, said that some changes were being made in the syllabus of science and mathematics for Classes I, III, VI and IX. Unlike the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), no change is being made in the syllabus of Class X and XII, she said. Agreeing that there had been delay on part of board in issuing copies of the syllabus to the schools, she said these were being printed and would be soon despatched to all schools. 

‘Emotionally strong kids become better citizens’
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, April 7
Today is World Health Day and the theme focuses on ‘Health environments for children’. Unfortunately, a little has been realised by the countries responsible for deaths of innocent children in Iraq.

Dr A.S.Chawla, former president of the district branch of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, said children were more vulnerable to changes in their physical, emotional and social environments because of their rapid physical and mental health growth and smaller body size. The health and well-being of children depended on safety and quality of their physical or natural environments, built environments and social environments at home, schools and in the community.

“On the one hand, people are dedicating World Health Day to children while on the other, children are being brutally killed in the war. Children need to be in environments which protect them from violence, abuse, exploitation, injuries and neglect,” he added.

Dr S.S.Bedi, President, IAP, here said every child had the right to live in clean and healthy environment. It was the duty of parents, society and government to provide them with safer, fairer and healthier atmosphere. “The parents do every possible effort to provide best to their children but the society and governments have failed to protect them. They are living in the society with unsafe potable water, lack of hygiene and poor sanitation, air-pollution, vector-borne diseases, chemical risks, accidents and violence. There is an immediate need for safeguarding the environment for our children”, said Dr Bedi.

Dr I.J.S.Jaswal, Head of the Department of Human Development, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), said children’s emotional growth also played an important role in their physical growth. “The parents, teachers ignore the emotional health of child. They should be given warmth and closeness. Emotionally strong children become better citizens,” stressed Dr Jaswal.

Dr Ritesh Chabra, another paediatrician, feels that healthy environment depends on improved sanitation and hygiene. “We should protect our children from infections spread by mosquitoes and flies. The government should be more stringent regarding population control. Mothers believe on feeding small babies with milk only. Cereals are equally important for their growth. They should be properly immunised against polio, tuberculosis etc. One should upbring the child in a friendly and affectionate manner.”

Punjab to seek control of PU
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 7
The Punjab Government will seek the control of Panjab University, Chandigarh, as it belongs to Punjab. Stating this here today, Mr Harnam Dass Johar, Minister for Higher Education, said the government would write to the Centre to handover the control of the university to Punjab.

Answering a question, the minister said the cut in the grant-in-aid to government-aided colleges would be restored when the financial position of the state improved. The SAD-BJP government had left the coffers empty as Mr Parkash Singh Badal had disbursed the money in the sangat darshan programmes without any benefit to the people at large. That was a political stunt of the Akali government, he said.

He said the pension scheme for the private college teachers would also be implemented soon. Mr Johar said the Chief Minister was busy in improving the financial health of the state as he had met officials of the RBI and the World Bank, besides he had invited industrialists from other states to Punjab to invest on industrial projects.

Sena (H) lashes out at Akalis
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 7
The Shiv Sena (H) has lashed out at Akali groups and some other Sikh bodies for their move to put pressure on the Centre and the judiciary by holding a demonstration in protest against death penalty to militant Devinder Singh Bhullar.

Party President Pawan Kumar Gupta said at a news conference here today, “The same people who feel that the judgement of the apex court in the Shah Bano case and the Bhullar episode are discriminatory and loaded against minorities, are also stressing that the court verdict on disputed site in Ayodhya should be honoured .”

Mr Pawan Sharma, general secretary, maintained that the party would oppose tooth and nail all such activities that could promote and encourage terrorism and at the same time would continue its fight to safeguard interests of the Hindus. He extended the party’s full support to the trade community in their ongoing agitation against VAT and central excise duty.

Mr Krishan Sharma, district president of the party, expressed concern over the pathetic condition of government schools and hospitals due to inadequate funds. “No infrastructural facilities worth the name exist in hospitals. Even the life-saving medicines are not available and there is an acute shortage of beds.

At times serious patients are denied the medical facilities,” he said. The government, which had failed to provide adequate funds for basic facilities like education and health, had gone ahead with increasing salaries and perks of ministers and MLAs without even a whimper of protest from the Opposition.

Minister honoured
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 7
The Union Rural Development Minister, Mr Sangh Priya Gautam, has extolled the achievements of the NDA government. He has claimed that a record number of development projects have been planned and executed for the betterment of the people by the NDA government.

He was in the city yesterday to address a felicitation function organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party Kisan Morcha. He was also honoured with the Baba Sahib B.R. Ambedkar Award. Other felicitated on the occasion included Mr Brij Lal Rinwa, who was given the Chaudhary Charan Singh Award, and Mr Avinash Jaiswal, who was given the Shaheed Sant Harchand Singh Longowal Award, Mr Bipin Chander got the Sardar Gardhara Singh Award and Mr Harbans Lal Sethi got the Shaheed Hit Abhilashi Award.

Talking to mediapersons, he said the BJP government had fulfilled most of its electoral promises and had also strengthened the country economically, politically and socially. “The government has undertaken some of the most prestigious projects in the past five years which had not been even attempted in the past 54 years, ” he said.

No end to their misery
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 7
Some families of the Bagharia tribe which have migrated from Chittorgarh in Rajasthan to this place are living on the edge. They have put up tattered blankets atop shaky low bamboos that hardly offer them any shelter from the rising temperatures on the national highway.

Mohan, a member of the tribe, says,” We came here a few months ago, as due to drought in Rajasthan we were starving. As we are unskilled, the only thing we know is to make brooms from the leaves of date palm trees. These leaves we get from Rajasthan only. Here we make brooms and sell these at the rate of Rs 5 to 6 per piece.

Living in abject poverty, they hardly get two meals a day. Their children keep running across the road, thereby risking their lives.

Languishing in sub-human conditions, they have no provision for bathing or to buy soaps to wash clothes.

Meanwhile, tragedy has already struck the families as their hovels were recently burnt due to excessive heat.

Deepa, another member, said,” I feel somebody wants us to move from this point, so they burnt the leaves. Now we are bereft of our raw material. We have only enough to see us through a week. After that we don’t know how will we subsist.”

Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, Sohan said,” We are ready to work in factories or fields to keep our kitchen fires burning. But who will employ us without knowing our antecedents? Some of us have brought our wives and children here as life becomes little bearable with a family around and wife cooking the meals. But our life is like a dark tunnel with no ray of light.”

Cong candidate booked 
Our Correspondent

Khanna, April 7
A Congress candidate and the father of an Independent candidate, along with 10 others, have been booked for indulging in poll violence. At the time of counting of votes in Ward No 17 yesterday, 271 ballot papers were allegedly torn by a Congress candidate Mr Ashok Tewari, according to an Independent candidate, Mr Dinkar Kalia. He has further alleged that a complaint was lodged with the police, but no action was taken. Reportedly by the presiding officer had also said the ballot papers were torn by Mr Ashok Tewari. The second case was registered against Mr S.P. Kalia, father of Mr Dinkar Kalia, and 10 others.

Properties of Mangla Cotex sealed
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 7
Following the takeover of their properties by officials of Canara Bank, two proprietors of Mangla Cotex Ltd. today allegedly broke open the locks of the houses. The bank reportedly lodged a complaint with the police. The properties had been sealed earlier in the day by the bank.

In pursuance of its campaign to recover non-performing assets, the bank had taken the possession of the properties of Mangla Cotex Ltd, including two palatial residential houses of its directors at 58 and 59 Aggar Nagar, Ludhiana. The company is learnt to be owing liabilities worth crores of rupees to the bank.

An official of the bank said since the company failed to meet the liabilities which were put at over Rs 11 crore, it was decided to take possession of the properties. The properties were sealed in compliance with the Scrutinisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002.

The bank was assisted by the local Gats Financial Reconstructors Limited in the exercise. The bank also put up the possession notice and a poster mentioning that the property was in the possession of the bank.

The proprietors had reportedly asked for some time which was granted to them. However, even after the extended deadline they failed to meet the liabilities.

Mangla Cotex Ltd had been one of the leading export-oriented units of the city a few years ago. Within a short span of time, as the exports dwindled the company started running into heavy losses.