R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMLOH
CONGRESS DHARNA: The Congress staged a dharna here on Friday in protest against the alleged anti-Punjab policies of the Central Government. Addressing the gathering, Mr Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, MLA, flayed the Centre for discriminating with Punjab and not allowing the sale of sugar stock worth Rs 600 crore or providing financial help to bale out sugar mills. Dr Swantar Kumar, state organising secretary, Mr Pakhar Singh Salana, Chairman, Zila Parishad, and Vaid Hari Krishan, district Congress chief, among others, addressed the gathering.

AMRITSAR
ABDUCTED: Manjit Kaur, a resident of Salempura village was allegedly kidnapped by Karaj Singh of Dhudhala village falling under Ajnala police station in Majitha police district. Balwinder Kaur, mother of the victim in a complaint lodged with the police alleged that the accused along with two other persons kidnapped her daughter from her house.

ATTACKED: Kiran Kumar, a pharmacist in the Central Jail, was injured when two prisoners, Gurjant Singh and Avtar Singh, attacked him. Kiran Kumar in a complaint lodged with the police here on Friday said the two demanded drugs from him. When refused they attacked him with a sharp-edged weapon.

PRISONER BURIED: Mohammad Hussain, a Pak prisoner, was on Friday buried in the Central Jail here. He had died on August 31 and no one came forward to claim the body.

LOOTED: Two unidentified youths on Friday looted Rs 15,000 from a shop on the Tarn Taran road here. According to information, the two youths in their early twenties carrying guns forcibly entered the shop of Kewal Krishan Agarwal on Friday and threatened to kill him if he did not give them the cash. 

BATHINDA
EYES DONATED: Mr Ramesh Kumar and Mr Bal Krishan, social activists, on Saturday donated the eyes of their father, Mr Ram Sarup who died on Friday evening, to the eye bank of Mahabir Dal Eye Hospital. This was stated in a press note issued here on Saturday by Mr Ramesh Mehta, president of the society.

DORAHA
SAPLINGS PLANTED: A total of 200 saplings were planted around the village pond at Kaddon village in a sapling plantation camp organised by Baba Sidhsur Welfare Club (regd), Kaddon, on Friday. The first sapling was planted by Mr Sucha Singh Mast, SDM, Payal followed by the President of the club.

NCC TRAINING: As many as 55 cadets were given training in firing exercise at Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, on Friday. Vinay Malik, Commanding Officer of 19th Punjab Battalion and Lt. S S Virk, Platoon Commander of Guru Nanak National College, Doraha instructed the NCC cadets of the Senior Army Wing (SD) of GNN College in the art of firing. The training lasted for the whole day. The Junior Division Army Wing was also involved in the show. The training in firing was a lesson both for the trainers and audience.

LUDHIANA
FUN TRIP: Students of Saplings Nursery School, Rajguru Nagar, enjoyed a fun trip to a farm near Baddowal here on Friday. The kids were amused and overawed on seeing animals and birds at the farm. Except for a few daring ones, most of the kids were quite apprehensive about going near cows and buffaloes. Ms Kitty Bakshi, Principal, accompanied the children.

CONFERENCE: Dr Ashok Sharma, Secretary-General of the International Council of Ayurveda (ICA), Jagraon chapter, will deliver a lecture on “Sexual health and AIDS patients” at the fourth Sexual Health Conference being organised by the West Bengal State AIDS Prevention and Control Society in Kolkota from September 22-24. Dr Sharma has been invited to the conference by Mr Suresh Kumar, the project director of the society and the Joint Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of West Bengal.

ACADEMY MEMBERSHIP: Dr B.K.Jain, Reader, Department of Pediatrics, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), was awarded the membership of the National Academy of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, during the 42nd annual conference of the academy recently. Dr Jain is also the vice-president of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics and the president of the state branch of the National Neonatology Forum.

CHARITABLE HOSPITAL: Dr Jaspal Singh Bhullar, a former Civil Surgeon and Deputy Director, Health Services Punjab, has opened a charitable hospital at Punjab Mata Nagar, Pakhowal Road, in memory of his father Didar Singh. Dr Bhullar, an eye specialist, said latest equipment for the eye wing, including auto-refractometer from Japan for vision testing, had been installed at the hospital.

HEALTH CAMP: A free nature cure and magnetic health check-up camp is being organised by the Bhagat Tarsem Lal Charitable Trust in association with the Rural Health Society, Nagpur. The camp, which will conclude on October 7, is being organised at Baba Balak Nath Durga Mandir, Ghumar Mandi and Geeta Mandir, Daresi.

JAYCEES ELECTION: An election meeting of Ludhiana City Jaycees was held here on Thursday night under the chairmanship of election officer Vineet Ahuja. Mr Manvinder Kataria was unanimously elected president for 2003-2004.

FRESHERS PARTY: Students of MBA, MCA, BBA and BCA of Gujranwala Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology (GGNIMT) hosted a welcome party for freshers here on Saturday. Supriya of MBA and Manpreet Kaur of BCA were crowned Ms Fresher from postgraduate and undergraduate sections, respectively. Gurjot Singh of MBA and Ramanjot Singh of BBA were declared Mr Fresher in the two sections. Mr Pritam Singh, SP, Ludhiana, was the chief guest and Mr Gurdev Singh Tinna, Deputy District Attorney, was the guest of honour.

VISIT: Prof Alexender Masovianus of the University of Chicago and Princeton University addressed the postgraduate students of English on spirituality in contemporary times. Stressing that the essence of all religions was same, he said true religion was the one which people can put to practice in their daily life. Among others who attended the function were Prof L.S. Bedi, Hargunjot Kaur, Gurpreet Singh, Nitika Chugh, Sonia Sharma , Kiranjit Kaur, Pankaj Chopra and Sarabjot Kaur. Prof P.S. Kapur, former Pro-Vice Vhancellor, GNDU, presided over the function.

QUIZ: Institute of Management Studies, Model Town, Ludhiana, organised a quiz to inculcate awareness among students of BBA/BCA. President of the Guru Nanak Education Trust, Mr Gurbir Singh, presided over the function. Dr Surjit Singh Mahal (Professor, College of Agriculture), Mrs Baldev Kaur Tiwana (Head of Punjabi Department, Guru Nanak Girls College) and Mrs Surinder Kaur Bhattal were the chief guests. Four teams comprising three participants each took part in the competition.

RALLY: Democratic Teachers Front Block, Jagraon, organised a teachers’ rally of Jagraon and Sidhwan Bet-I and II in front of the office of the local SDM in support of their demands. District unit president Bhajan Singh, sent a charter of demands to the Chief Minister through the local SDM.

MANDI AHMEDGARH
SEMINAR: A two-day seminar on labour welfare and development concluded at Shri Ram Mandir Dharamshala on Saturday. Mr Rajneesh Sharma Guddoo President presided over the concluding session of the seminar organised by the Central Board for workers’ education, the Ministry of Labour Government of India. Earlier, Mr Bimal Sharma Bittu a social worker had inaugurated the seminar on Friday. Mr Jagroop Singh, Education Officer of the board said, the labour contractors had been exploiting women workers. He said, “Women workers must have education and awareness about labour laws in order to protect their rights.”

ELECTED: The SAD has won seven seats in the cooperative Agricultural Society at Sihar village near here. Of the nine elected candidates Mr Harpal Singh, a former President, Pritam Singh, Jagtar Singh, Major Singh, Rameshar Singh, Ajit Singh and Dharminder Singh belong to the SAD as claimed by Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha an Akali MLA from Kila Raipur constituency. Remaining two Congress-supported candidates are Baldev and Bhajan Singh.

SEMINAR: A two-day seminar on labour welfare and development started here at Shri Ram Mandir Dharamshala on Friday. Mr Bimal Sharma, a social worker, inaugurated the seminar, which is being organised by the Central Board for Workers Education, Ministry of Labour, Government of India. Mrs Chiter Rekha Sharma, municipal councillor, presided over the opening session. Mr Jagdeep Singh, Education Officer of the board, were among those who addressed the participants.

HARYANA

AMBALA
COMPETITION: DAV College, Ambala City, branch of Punjab National Bank on Saturday held an essay writing competition. The Senior Manager, Mr Chetan Sethi, said a large number of college students participated in the competition held to mark Hindi Day. Among others Mr I.S. Bedi, Mr Narendra Swami, Mr V.K. Sehgal, Dr C.M. Dhasmana, Dr Pushpa Sood, Dr Anjali Aggarwal, Dr Rekha Sharma, Professor Kiran and Professor Preetpal were present. Sumit Kumar bagged first prize, while Yogita Arora stood second and Girdhari Lal was third. Consolation prize went to Smiley, Veena, Kalpana, Priyanka and Poonam. Sangeeta stood first in handwriting prize, while Harjinder Singh came second. 

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Bilaspur unit of the HP Government College Teachers’ Association: president — Mr R.K. Bhardwaj; vice-president — Mr P. Prabhakar; general secretary — Mr P.L. Bhatia; joint secretary — Ms Sangeeta Verma; and finance secretary — Mr Sitaram.

OATH ADMINISTERED: Mr Deepak Kaushal, president, Mr Muninder Singh, vice-president, Ms Nidhi Sharma, general secretary, and Mr Sachin Kumar, joint secretary, of the newly elected Central Students Association were administered the oath of office by Principal Romesh Mehra at Government Postgraduate College here on Friday.

NON-GAZETTED STAFF: The Non-Gazetted Employees Association here has decided to elect its office-bearers on October 18. Voters lists would be prepared “boothwise”. And 18 booths would be set up in the district here — Bilaspur town, Chhadole, Sugarghat, Nainandevi, Bassi Namhole, Jukhala, Panjgain, Kandraur, Harlog, Kutheda, Ghumarwin, Bharadi, Barthin, Talai, Kalol, Gehadwin and Jhandutta. District Association president Lekhram Kongal, said here on Thursday that membership would continue till September 20.

KANGRA
LECTURE: “India is incomplete without the teachings of Swami Vivekananda and the need of the hour is to move in the footprints of this great master in order to serve humanity in right perspective and strengthen universal brotherhood.” Mr Bhim Sen, Divisional Commissioner, said this while addressing a large gathering of the Vivekananda’s devotees at the local Polytechnic College auditorium on Thursday evening.

MANDI
COMPLETE ROAD: Villagers of Kuthehar under Majhwar Gram Panchayat in the outskirts of Mandi town have urged the Forest and PWD departments to resume work on the Majhwar-Oni link road. The Majhwar Panchayat condemned vested interests and clarified that the trees had not been felled. Mrera Devi president Mahila Mandal Majhwar and president, Village Forest Development society Gobind Ram, have also sent represetations demanding completion of the road.

SHIMLA
COMMITTEE SET UP: The Himachal Government has constituted a state-level committee for monitoring the implementation of the National Programme for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities. The committee will serve as a link between the district-level advisory committee and national level advisory committee on rehabilitation, monitor the work regarding disability and rehabilitation and coordinate the activities of various departments of the state government for the welfare of the disabled. The meeting of the committee will be held atleast once every month.

QUOTA FOR BLIND: Ashadeep, a non-government organisation, has launched a signature campaign in support of blind persons agitating for the allocation of one per cent reservation in government jobs. A deputation of Ashadeep met Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, here recently and submitted a memorandum to him carrying 1000 signatures demanding action in the matter in two months.