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| Thursday,
August 14, 2003, Chandigarh, India
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Independence Day security reviewed Ludhiana, August 13 The DC later on presided over a meeting of officers at the venue to review the items to be presented and other arrangements to be made by each department. He informed that, Mr Tej Parkash Singh, Transport Minister, would unfurl the National Flag at 9 am and would take a salute. A marchpast by contingents of Punjab Police, Punjab Home Guards, ex-servicemen, Scouts, and Girl Guides. Besides, bands from the Punjab Police and the Borstal Jail would also participate in the march past. Mr Dhillon DSP, Sahnewal, would be the Parade Commander. Mr Verma further informed that comprehensive rehearsals for the parade and cultural programme to be presented by schoolchildren were being held from August 9 onwards. The area surrounding the venue and roads leading to Government College were being suitably decked up. The Deputy Commissioner said different enclosures were being set up for VIPs, officers, freedom fighters, mediapersons, and teachers. On behalf of the District Red Cross Society, the chief guest would present sewing machines to the needy women and tricycles to the handicapped persons in the function. As many as 12 citizens, who had made achievements in different fields, including bravery, education, social service and sports would also be honoured. The SSP informed that elaborate security arrangements were being made at the venue, route of the chief guest and other surrounding areas. Special nakas have been set up in the district and a watch was being kept on the activities of anti-social elements and the movement of outsiders. |
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Preparations
on for I-Day function Ludhiana, August 13 Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, Mr Kuldip Singh said it had been a tradition for a long time to unfurl the National Flag at 8.58 am. The Transport Minister, Mr Tej Pratap Singh, would unfurl the flag. Then the District Commissioner, Mr Anurag Verma, accompanied by the SSP, Mr Narinderpal, would inspect the parade comprising three police battalions and one each of Scouts, Girl Guides and ex-servicemen. He would take their salute as they march past in front of the dais. Mr Tej Prakash would deliver a speech and then honour a few persons of the city who had distinguished themselves in various fields. He would give away sewing machines to handicapped women and tricycles to physically challenged persons. PT exercises would be performed by 1,200 students drawn from 40 school. The students have been practising since August 8. Then students of
R.S. Model School would dance on the tunes of a song, “Aaj 15 agast
hai,” followed by a formation representing Tricolour by students of Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School, Sarabha Nagar. Students of DAV and NN Schools would present a patriotic song and dance sequences. In the end, giddha and bhangra would be performed by students of five schools. The last item would be the singing of the National
Anthem. The programme would end around 10.30 am. Science exhibition: The main theme of the exhibition is ‘Reaching out to the stars,’ which has been organised in the memory of astronaut Kalpana Chawla. The exhibition is divided into five sub-themes— food, health and nutrition, environment, agriculture, transport and communication, and energy. I-Day celebrated: A cultural programme was organised at Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School, Sarabha Nagar, which was attended by Mr Malvinder Singh Jaggi, Assistant Commissioner (General and Grievances), Ludhiana, along with his wife Dr Inderbir Kaur. At Chandamama Play School, BRS Nagar, a mini Red Fort was enacted where from a child acting as the Prime Minister unfurled the National Flag. Kids came dressed up like Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, Sardar Patel, Indira Gandhi and Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. Kids of Little Blossom Nursery School, Model Gram, also celebrated Independence Day here today. A cultural show was held in which students presented patriotic songs like ‘Sare jahan se achha’, ‘Mere desh ki dharti’ and ‘Aai mere vatan ke logo’. |
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Hospitals
normal Ludhiana, August 13 Dr Hardeep Singh, state president of the PCMS Association, told Ludhiana Tribune that the doctors went on strike only when the government refused to initiate talks with them. "We never wanted to harass the officials or the patients. We wanted that the government should at least listen to our problems once. All these days, we had been suffering from mental agony. The state government's decision had affected us and we were morally bound to serve patients. So we were disturbed. Now that the government has spoken to us, we seek a bilateral decision", said Dr Hardeep Singh. Dr
S.N.Tiwari, Civil Surgeon, said in the democratic set-up everyone had the right to express his/her feelings, specially when the person was affected. "During the strike, doctors always attended the emergency cases. They made it a point that the patient does not suffer at any cost. But they had grievances against the government and they demonstrated against it in a polite manner", he said. Dr Hardeep Singh
said, "During the agitation, we could not concentrate much on patients. It does not mean that we did not examine them, but there was lack of concentration. The working atmosphere in civil hospitals and dispensaries was upset. The doctors were in tension all the time and the diagnostic output was definitely low". A patient at Civil Hospital, Mr Harjinder Singh, said he felt relieved as the doctors had suspended their strike. "Dialogue can be the best solution. Since I am in my old age, I happen to visit the hospital quite often. The normal functioning of the hospital was definitely affected during a strike", he said. One of the doctors at Civil Hospital, Dr Gagandeep Singh, said the state government's decision to allow private practice(on optional basis after duty hours) to PCMS doctors was a welcome step. "This will lead to better health services in the long run", said Dr Gagandeep Singh. The district unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has appreciated the state government's move to form an expert committee to look into the NPA impasse. "The expert committee will file its report within 15 days. And this will be done after making thorough investigations. All misunderstandings will be cleared, since several rounds of bilateral discussions have already taken place at Chandigarh", said Dr Gursharan Singh, president of the Ludhiana unit of the IMA . |
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Industrialists
stage dharna Ludhiana, August 13 Mr Sharma said he called up the steel secretary today and pleaded with him to take serious note of the situation as the industry was on the verge of collapse. He said he was assured that some relief would be given to the industry. Mr Sharma claimed that the Secretary agreed with various points raised by the industry on the issue and said, he would discuss these points with steel manufacturers. He said even the Union secretary, small-scale industries, Mr
S.K. Tuteja, had assured him of immediate remedial measures to check the rising prices of steel. Meanwhile, hundreds of industrialists today staged a demonstration in front of the local offices of the Steel Authority of India and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam in protest against the continuous increase in steel prices. The demonstration was held under the banner of the Federation of Punjab Small Industries Associations led by Mr V.P. Chopra. Wearing black badges, the industrialists raised slogans against the central government for its failure to maintain a check on the rising prices of steel. They alleged that the central government was shielding the five top steel manufacturers in the country. Talking to reporters, Mr Chopra said they had been left with no option but to resort to a demonstration. He said steel was the basic raw material for the entire industry whether directly or indirectly. He said how was it possible that the steel produced by the local manufacturers was available to China at a cheaper price while the domestic consumers had to pay more. He said if the government did not intervene, the industry, particularly the small-scale sector, would collapse and lead to widespread unemployment. He said the steel prices in the international market were declining while these were increasing in the domestic market. |
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Financial
Commissioner disappoints traders Ludhiana, August 13 Mr Jaitwani said today that the attitude of the Financial Commissioner (taxation) was very rigid. He told the delegation that the trade and industry was evading taxes worth Rs 100 crore every year. The state government was determined to check such evasion, he added. The trade and industry delegation met the
FC(T) on the direction of the Excise and Taxation Minister, Mr Sardul Singh, whom the delegation had met in Chandigarh last week. It was decided to have a meeting with the senior officers of the state Excise and Taxation Department on the issue of exim forms. Mr Jaitwani said the delegation assured the state government that they were taking all necessary steps to check the evasion of sales tax and other taxes in the state and the government should not go ahead with the implementation the exim forms. The delegation comprising seven representatives from various trade and industrial organisations pressed upon the Financial Commissioner to arrange their meeting with the Chief Minister, Mr Amarinder Singh, before the introduction of the exim forms from September 1. Mr Ajit Singh Kular and Mr Joginder Kumar, Mr Avtar Singh, representatives of the industry pleaded that already the information centers were existing in the state and state barriers had also been setup. In view of the existing arrangements, the state government should not introduce the
Mr Balkrishan Singla, president, Federation of Arhtiya Associations, Punjab, drew the attention of the offices towards the non-implementation of the decision of summary assessment of the sales tax returns and sought a notification in this regard. Mr Mukul Joshi told the delegation that goods without valid
documents worth about Rs 400 crore were lying in the government godowns as unclaimed . The government was finding it difficult to dispose of the same, he added. Mr Joshi promised to speak to the Chief Minister and arrange a meeting of the trade and industry with him, said Mr Jaitwani. The delegation will meet him again on next Tuesday.
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Auction
for octroi collection put off Mandi Ahmedgarh, August 13 Sources revealed that only two bidders had deposited the required earnest money by the stipulated time. Though a large number of octroi contractors, including those who had collected octroi for the past year, were present, only two of them deposited the earnest money. The Deputy Director, Mr Ashwani Kumar, in consultation with Mr Rajneesh Sharma Guddoo, President, Municipal Council, and Mr Hardip Singh, Executive Officer, postponed the auction to August 19. The council had fixed Rs 2.31 crore as reserve price, which was later reduced to Rs 2.29 crore. New reserve price would be fixed later. |
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Developing 5 villages into towns Amloh, August 13 The minister inaugurated a building of the panchayat samiti which has been constructed at a cost of Rs 6.5 lakh. The remaining part would be completed at a cost of Rs 32 lakh, he said. The government would introduce panchayati Raj in the state from October 2. Panchayats would have full control on elementary education, primary health services, pension disbursement and water supply. the panchyats would also be empowered to recruit 17,000 teachers in consultation with the respective zila parishads. Eleven more departments would come under the purview of the panchyats next year, he said. |
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60,000 saplings to be
planted in city Ludhiana, August 13 The plantation work has already been taken in hand and during the past week saplings were planted in more than 10 localities in coordination with the respective area councillors. In the next few days an equal number of functions would be organised in other colonies for plantation of saplings in green belts, parks, central verges, along the roads and streets. According to the Commissioner of Municipal Corporation, Mr S.K. Sharma, the major thrust areas to be covered under the plantation drive, included Ferozepore Road from Sidhwan Canal to Octori Post (5,000 plants), Chandigarh Road from Samrala Chowk to Octroi Post (6,000 plants), Old G.T. Road from Sherpur Chowk to Dholewal Chowk (2,000 plants), Rajpura Road from DMC Chowk to Octroi Post (500 plants), Pakhowal Road (1,000 plants), both sides of strip along Dhuri Railway Line (5,000 plants), strip along Ludhiana-Delhi railway line (4,000 plants), green belts in Focal Point Dhandari Kalan (15,000 plants), Tajpur Road to Haibowal along Budha Nullah (5,000 plants), Sidhwan Canal octori post to Jhammat Bridge (4,000 plants), Grain Market Salem Tabri (2,000 plants), Bahadurke Road (2,000 plants). Local educational institutions, including ITI (5,000 plants), Civil Hospital and government dispensaries (1,000 plants), residential colonies in different areas (10,000 plants) and PSEB Colonies (3,000 plants). The MC had already taken stock of the plants available in its own nursery and more plants were being arranged through the Divisional Forest Officer here. Mr Sharma said depending upon the conditions, saplings of different varieties like neem, banyan, jamun, desi mango, arjuna, ashoka, moulsari, alstonia, mahogany, eucalyptus, poplar and chakrassia would be planted in various parts of the city to increase the green cover. The process for concerted efforts towards afforestation in the major towns and cities in Punjab was set in motion at a state level meeting under the chairmanship of Mr A.K. Dubey, Principal, Secretary, Local Government, held in Chandigarh last week of June. Unfolding the ambitious project for 'greening of cities', the meeting had stressed on significant increase in the tree cover in urban areas. The Ludhiana city, along with Jalandhar, Patiala, Amritsar, Bathinda was selected for the plantation drive on a massive scale and the MC was asked to chalk out a detailed programme in consultation with the Forest Department and NGOs with the directions that at least one per cent of the total budget should be earmarked for afforestation. In order to make the plantation drive a success, the MC had already given effect to a scheme for private participation in providing tree guards for proper care and maintenance of the saplings planted. Under the scheme the private firms, individuals, corporate houses, NGOs and advertising agents would be invited to provide tree guards for the saplings being planted all over the city and further to maintain the plants and the tree guards for a period of three years on ‘‘build, operate and transfer’’ (BOT) basis.In lieu of these services provided by the private participants, they would be entitled to put up their advertising messages on plates of size 9 inches by 4 inches on the four sides of the tree guards. Depending on the response to the innovative scheme for private participation in the tree plantation, the plan apart from making the city clean and green would also result in massive financial saving to the MC in purchase of tree guards and maintenance of plants. |
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Kranti
Jyoti march taken out Ludhiana, August 13 Congress workers started their march from the Clock Tower and went towards the Jagraon Bridge. The march concluded near the statues of Bahgat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. The Congress workers garlanded these statues and resolved to safeguard the freedom of the country at all costs. Addressing the workers, Mr Pradhan urged them to commit themselves to the cause of national integration. He pointed out that some forces inimical to the secular fabric of the country were trying to raise their ugly heads and it was necessary to crush these forces. He exhorted the youth to seek inspiration from the
martyrs. He said the country was faced by both internal as well as external threats. Other speakers also highlighted the need for following the footsteps of the martyrs and great leaders who were
committed to the cause of nationalism. They underlined the need for rising above the partisan, caste and communal considerations to strengthen the country. Prominent among those who participated in the march included the DCC (urban) president, Mr Jagmohan Sharma, MLA from Dakha, Mr Milkiat Singh Dakha, the Pradesh Congress Committee vice-president, Mr Avtar Singh Brar, Mr Darshan Singh Brar, former District Youth Congress (urban) president, Mr Parminder Mehta and several others. |
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Repression
of employees decried Ludhiana, August 13 Addressing the rally, the trade union leaders flayed the policies of globalisation and privatisation being pursued by the NDA government, which had led to closure of a large number of factories, massive unemployment, denial of incentives and benefits to the employees. Demanding that the dismissed employees in Tamil Nadu be reinstated with immediate effect and false cases be withdrawn, the trade union activists also asked the Supreme Court to review its decision on the right to strike by government employees. Prominent among those who addressed the rally were Mr Jagdish Chand, Mr Amarjit Singh, Mr Harbans Singh, Mr Khushi Mohammed, Mr Som Nath, Mr Arun Kumar, Mr Baljit Singh, Mr Buta Singh, Mr Jagdev Singh, Mr Manjit Singh and Mr Sukhwinder Singh Sekhon. In a joint statement, Mr Kanwaljit Khanna, state secretary, Mr Jaswant Zeerakh, state committee member, Inquilabi Kendra, Mr Bhajan Singh, president, Democratic Teachers’ Front, Mr Vijay Narain, president, Moulders and Steel Workers Union and Mr Rajinder Singh, PAU Democratic Employees’ Front have strongly reacted to the vindictive attitude of the Tamil Nadu government against the agitating employees. They said right to strike work was a democratic right of the workers, achieved after prolonged and sustained struggle. Meanwhile, in response to a call given by the joint action committee, the government employees organised a protest rally at Mini Secretariat to focus on their pending demands and anti-employees policies of the government The speakers at the rally said the employees had been forced to resort to the agitational path in the face of indifferent attitude of the government towards their genuine demands. The agitating employees, they said, would oppose decisions like commuting pension, curtailment of leave encashment from 300 days to 120 days, denial of other service benefits, ban on recruitment, privatisation of government and semi-government departments, disbanding depots of the Punjab Roadways, handing over seven departments to panchayats, freezing dearness allowance and proposal of contributory pension scheme. |
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Congress
leaders honoured Doraha, August 13 Among those present on the occasion were Mr Gurmit Singh Bhari, former Political Secretary, Mr Gurkirat Singh Kotli, Mr Malkiat Singh Dakha, MLA, Ms Raj Rani, president, Doraha Municipal Council, Mr Bant Singh Daburjee, senior vice-president, municipal council , Mr Sudarshan Kumar Sharma, Mr Harmohinder Singh, district president, Congress Committee and Mr Najar Singh Lapran, block president. Apart from honouring the newly- elected Congress leaders, the workers were mobilised for the conference to be organised at Isru in the memory of Shaheed Karnail Singh on August 15. |
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Mann to attend party rally on
August 31 Ludhiana, August 13 Mr Charan Singh Lohara and Mr B.S. Bains, general secretary, and president of the youth wing of the unit, respectively said the function was being held after it was felt that there was need to inform the people of the works executed by the party councillors. Entrepreneurs would meet Mr Mann and urge him to raise the issue of skyrocketing iron and steel prices in parliament. |
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Govt neglecting freedom
fighters’ kin Ludhiana, August 13 |
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Mill workers
hold dharna Khanna, August 13 Mr Nirmal Singh, secretary of the union, alleged that the owners of the mill had not paid the salaries to the workers for the past three months. A memorandum was also presented to the SDM.
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Scooterist
dead Khanna, August 13 According to information, Simarjit Singh (21) was going on his scooter to drop his sister to college when their scooter was hit by a truck. Simarjit died on the spot while his sister Ravinder Kaur was rushed to the Civil Hospital. The police has impounded the truck and arrested the driver. The body has been sent to the Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examination. |
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Drug peddler nabbed,
900 gm charas seized Ludhiana, August 13 Poppy husk seized:
Dowry case:
Husband booked:
Camera recovered:
Houses burgled:
Robbery plan:
Injured:
Accident:
Prisoner attacked:
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Experts stress on excellence Ludhiana, August 13 Addressing a seminar on “Gaining competitive advantage through manufacturing excellence”, organised by the Ludhiana Management Association (LMA), he said it was where new technologies and products were born. He highlighted the needs of the small and medium enterprises which did not have the capital resources but where technological improvements were needed. He also outlined the key initiatives at the national level and proposed a national manufacturing Policy to help Indian companies compete globally. |
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