The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Saturday, October 4, 2003, Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

R E G I O N A L B R I E F S

PUNJAB

FATEHGARH SAHIB
QUIZ: A quiz on Blood and blood donation” will be organised by the Health Department at the local Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College on October 7. The principal of the college, Dr D.S. Hira, said eight teams would participate in the quiz. Dr N.S. Bawa, a former president of the Indian Medical Association, said awards and cash prizes would be given to the winners. Prof Lakhvir Singh and Prof B.S. Bhullar, in charge, NSS unit of the college, said 25 units of blood were donated to observe the International Blood Donation week. Balbir Singh Pannu, a B.Tech student who had donated blood 17 times, was also honoured.

BLOOD DONATION CAMP: The International Blood Donation week is being celebrated by the Health Department in the district. Mr P.L.Goyal, Civil Surgeon, on Friday inaugurated the campaign by organising a blood donation camp at the Civil Hospital, here. As many as 106 units of blood were donated at the camp. Addressing the gathering, Dr Goyal highlighted the importance of donating blood and said every drop of blood could save a life.

HOSHIARPUR
ARRESTED: In a drive against anti social elements the police has arrested Surjit Kumar, alias Gangi under Sections 15, 61, 85 of the NDPS Act and seized 23 gram of smack. Meanwhile the Garhshankar police has arrested Harsh pal alias Harshi and seized 10 kg of poppy husk.

JALANDHAR
SCHOOL FUNCTION: Tiny tots of the local Eklavya School won the hearts of a large number of parents and onlookers with the skit, “Eklavya”, and a dance at the talent hunt programme organised by the school management on Thursday. Ms Seema Handa, Director, said the school was offering financial assistance to deserving students belonging to backward families.

LUDHIANA
DURGA PUJA: Durga Puja festival, being organised by the Bangiya Samsad, got under way at the Janj Ghar in Shastri Nagar on Friday. Also known as “Sharodiya Durga Puja” among the Bengalis, the five-day celebrations were inaugurated by Mr Aloke Kumar Bhadury, president, Bangiya Samsad, with the lighting of a ceremonial lamp. Mr Rabinderanath from Midnapore, West Bengal, prepared the clay idol of Goddess Durga, which has been installed at the Samsad Bhavan. Competitions for children, including on-the-spot painting, recitation, fancy dress and singing and dancing, will be held. The festival will conclude with the immersion of idols in the canal near Doraha on Sunday, according to a press note by the organisation here on Friday.

SCOOTERIST KILLED: Mandeep Singh (17) of Kiri village was killed and his aunt Bachan Kaur was injured here on Friday when a truck (PB-09-E-4996) hit the scooter (PB-16-1321) on which they were going from Kiri to Bhaini Raian. The driver of the truck fled the scene leaving behind his truck. The police has sent the body for a post-mortem examination to Civil Hospital, Jagraon.

GRADATION LIST: Over 10 city-based junior telecom officers (JTOs) of the BSNL got a shock of their lives when they found their names missing from a periodical gradation list, on the basis of which their promotion is decided. The Circle Gradation List (1996) was sent by the BSNL authorities of the Punjab circle recently. It is mandatory to include the names of all JTOs with their grades till 1996 in the list. Kanwaljit Singh, one of the JTOs, has sent a representation to the authorities asking them to take up the case. He said the JTOs were demanding an immediate rectification of the list, which would otherwise affect their promotion.

FUNCTION: At a retirement function organised by M/s Budhewal Co-operative Sugar Mills Limited, Budhewal, Mr J.K. Sangalay, Assistant PF Commissioner (Accounts), EPF Organisation, Sub-Regional Office, Ludhiana, presented a cheque for Rs 1,27,000 as provident fund to Mr Harbans Singh, a security guard, on his superannuation here on Tuesday. Mr Sangalay asked the employees to submit their returns and contribution in advance with the office to avail of the benefits on the day of the retirement.

FREE ASTHMA CAMP: The Vishwa Yoga Sansthan would hold a free asthma camp on the night of October 10 (Sharad purnima) near Prince Hostel at Civil Lines, according to a press note here on Friday. Apart from some traditional medicines, which would be administered at 3.30 am, the asthma patients attending the camp would also be imparted training in various breathing exercises by yoga experts.

SHOE COLLECTION LAUNCHED: Lee Cooper Shoes on Friday launched its new range of Winter Collection-2003 consisting of Tornado Enigma and Inspiration — especially designed for office as well as daily wear. Priced between Rs 1685 and Rs 1885, the collection is available at over 600 retail outlets across the country. According to Mr Pankaj Savita, Chief Executive (Marketing) Lee Cooper, collection was specially for Indian winters.

BICYCLES AWARDED: Hi-Bird cycles provided five bicycles as prizes to the winners during the fourth National Mountain Bike Cycling Championship organised by the Cycling Federation of India from September 13 to 17 at Anandpur Sahib. The company also provided T-shirts and caps to 250 participants.

MANSA
BAN ORDER: Mr Raj Kamal Chowdhary, District Magistrate, has ordered that no person shall store or sell any crackers in the district without obtaining the permission of the Sub Divisional Magistrates concerned. The order shall remain in force till October 31.

BLOOD DONATED: The Lions Club in collaboration with the District Red Cross Society organised a blood grouping and blood donation camp on the premises of Government Nehru Memorial Postgraduate College here on Wednesday. As many as 28 units of blood were collected.

PATIALA
LAUNCHED: The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has launched a special campaign to check the menace of theft and misuse of power in the state. In an official release the board said that during the first quarter of the current financial year 33,222 connections in various categories had been checked of which 12,865 anomalies were detected and a sum of Rs 1957 lakh was claimed by the board.

ESSAY CONTEST: Poonampreet Kaur, a student of the local Modi College, has secured the first position in a state-level essay writing competition, held in Ludhiana on the eve of the National Service Scheme day. The Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, also honoured Poonam at a function held at the Punjab Bhavan, Chandigarh, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. She was given a certificate, a memento and a cheque of Rs 3000. The Minister for Youth Services and Sports, Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang, was also present on the occasion.

ANNUAL FUNCTION: Cal- C Computer Centre organised its annual function at the Central Library here on Thursday. Secretary to the Punjab Government J.B Goyal presided over the function. A cultural programme was also organised by students on the occasion. The Deputy Commissioner, Fatehgarh Sahib, was the chief guest on the occasion.

LECTURE: The Department of Pharmaceutical and Drug Research, Punjabi University, organised a lecture by Prof David J. Triggle, an eminent physician, on Friday. Vice-Chancellor of the university Swaran Singh Boparai, Head of the Pharmacy Department Manjeet Singh, Dean Academic Affairs U.C Singh, Dean Students S.S Khaira and Provost H.S Bhatti were also present on the occasion.

PHAGWARA
SEIZED: Seventynine bottles of liquor were recovered from the house of a Congress activist during a raid by the CIA staff on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti. It may be mentioned here that Mahatma Gandhi had preached prohibition throughout his life.

URGED: The block Congress Committee, (Urban) which met with Mr Manmohan Sharma in chair, urged the Punjab Government to review its proposal to hike water and sewerage rates.