Govt to spend Rs 162 crore on schools
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 10
Punjab would implement a comprehensive plan to improve the quality of education in all elementary and primary schools at a costing of Rs 162 crore. Stating this at Jaipura village, 22 km from here, last evening, the Punjab Transport Minister, Mr Tej Parkash Singh, said the money would be spent on providing facilities such as additional rooms, toilets, teaching aids, etc.

The minister was addressing a function organised to distribute grant under the Sarbh Sikhya Abhyan among schools. Mr Tej Parkash Singh said under the programme grants amounting to Rs 4 crores were being released to all 1,531 primary/elementary schools in the district during the current financial year. He said out of these grants, additional rooms would be constructed in 34 schools from the grant of Rs 40.08 lakh, with each costing Rs 1.2 lakh. To construct sanitary blocks and provide drinking water facilities in 259 primary/upper primary schools, Rs 35,000 each would be spent. A grant of Rs 90.65 lakh had already been released, he said.

The minister asserted that the government was committed towards the overall development of the state and sincere efforts were being made to put the derailed economy of the state back on track. He said with a view to creating more employment opportunities for the unemployed youth of the state, the state government had already announced its new industrial policy so that maximum investments could be attracted, which could pave the way for sufficient employment opportunities.

Mr Tej Parkash Singh said the government was committed to providing clean, corruption-free and transparent governance and during the past one year, a large number of “big fish” had been netted for corruption during. He said the drive against corruption would be further accelerated in the coming days and it would continue till its eradication at all levels. He appealed to the people to be vigilant against propaganda of opposition leaders.

Among others who addressed the function were Mr Malkiat Singh Dakha, MLA, Ms Raj Rani, president, MC, Doraha, Mr Bant Singh Doburji, Mr Gurmeet Singh, political secretary to former Chief Minister, and Mr Amrit Pal Singh, president Block Youth Congress, Rara Sahib.

PAU students hold rally
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 10
Agitated by the lack of employment opportunities for postgraduate and Ph.D students of Punjab Agricultural University, the Punjab Agricultural Students’ Association (PASA) organised a rally from the campus to the office of Deputy Commissioner here today.

Students from all five constituent colleges of the university boycotted their classes.

They were joined by members of the Researchers’ Association. Carrying banners and placards, they marched towards the office of the DC, Mr Anurag Verma, and presented him with their memorandum of demands.

Mr Gurmeet Singh, president, told the DC that the posts of agricultural development officer, soil conservation officer and horticulture development officer had been lying vacant for the past few years. He added that posts of teacher in agriculture had also been lying vacant in most of the government schools for the past two years.

The members of the association said they would continue their agitation till they were assured of some positive step towards their welfare.

Lecture on stress management

Ludhiana, February 10
The Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology (GNIMT), Gujarkhan Campus, Model Town, organised a lecture on ‘Stress management’ for its faculty members here today.

COURTS

Police remand for drug inspector
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February10
The Duty Magistrate, Mr D.P.Singla, remanded Drug Inspector Dinesh Gupta and peon Dagar, accused of accepting bribe of Rs 1,000, in police custody for three days.

The accused were produced in the court by DSP (Vigilance) Narinderjit Singh and Inspector Gurinderjit Singh. The prosecution sought police remand for interrogating the accused. The defence counsel opposed the contention of the prosecution on the plea that the alleged recovery had already been made and there was no need of remanding the accused in the police custody.

However, convinced with the plea of the prosecution, the judge remanded the accused in the police custody.

The Vigilance Bureau had on Monday arrested the accused while accepting bribe following a complaint by Surjit Kumar. The complainant had alleged that he was having licence of his firm in the name of SR Pharmaceuticals. He wanted to change the name of his firm to Kaants Remedies, for which the drug inspector allegedly demanded Rs 1,000. He complained the matter to the Vigilance Bureau.

Taking action over the complaint, the bureau swung into action and arrested the duo.