Not enough girls to worship
Asha Ahuja

Tripti, 5-year-daughter of a rickshaw puller in BRS Nagar, was a happy person today. She had got Rs 50 — a princely sum for her — and enough puris and chanas to feed the entire family on the occasion of Ashtami when little girls are worshiped to get blessings of Goddess Durga. Tripti proudly displayed her scores of bangles and other knickknacks that she had received from several houses where she was invited for ‘kanjaks’ observed on Ashtami- the eighth day of Navratras. This festival is observed in innumerable Hindu homes during Navratras.

In this particular B Block of BRS Nagar, there is scarcity of little girls. So the only available three or four girls were invited to most of the homes for observing Ashtami today.

That shortage of little girls was felt acutely on this day was a direct fallout of the skewed sex ratio in Punjab where boys outnumber girls. Female foeticide so prevalent here has resulted in acute shortage of girls. The shortage of girls is felt acutely especially on a day like this as people have to literally search for young girls. Statistics say that ratio of girls to boys is the lowest in this age group only.

Jyoti from Jamalpur had a tough time finding seven girls for kanjaks due to scarcity of girls. She said she went crazy calling her friends to find out about the girls as a single group of girls had to visit many houses, including hers.

On Ashtami that falls today, the little girls (called kanjaks) are invited by the people to be worshiped. They symbolically represent the Goddess Durga to which the Navratras fasts are dedicated. The feet of girls are washed, tilak is applied on foreheads and they are served with traditional fare of halwa, puris, aloos and black chanas.. The girls also get money or some small gifts like bangles, red dupattas, or other knickknacks.

“It is ironic that the Indian males prostrate themselves before goddesses and observe fasts, and respect goddesses as Shakti and then go on to kill the innocent girl child in the wombs only. They do not even give them a chance to be born and thus deny them to prove their mettle. Isn’t it a farce than on this day of Ashtami they are desperately on the lookouts for the little girls. It is a shame for our society that they cannot find enough girls for this occasion?” said Professor Mahajan, a retired teacher.

Three girls consume poison
Our Correspondent

Khanna, March 29
Three girls consumed poison at Isru village in Khanna Sub-Division on Sunday. One of them died on the spot while two others were admitted to hospital. Ms Charanjit Kaur, mother of Suman Preet Kaur, admitted to a Khanna nursing home, said the three girls, Suman Preet Kaur, Gurmeet Kaur and Tindo, were playing in the house on Sunday afternoon. They ate something lying in a box in the house. Later, they complained of stomach pain and started vomiting. Tindo died on the spot while two other children were rushed to a doctor of the village who brought them to the Civil Hospital, Khanna. The doctors of the hospital referred them to Ludhiana but the parents of both children had no money to hire even an ambulance. The village doctor suggested to them to go to a Khanna nursing home. The doctors at the nursing home admitted both children and the treatment was started.

Dr Ranjit Khanna, owner of the nursing home, said both children were admitted in a critical condition. He said the treatment of the both patients was started on humanitarian grounds without charging any money. He said both were now out of danger.

No headway in paper leak case
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 29
In a bid to bring the guilty in a paper leak case to book, the local police has interrogated a large number of teachers, students and their kin during the past two days without making much headway into identifying the real culprits.

The probe began with the interrogation of a social studies teacher of a girls’ school near Neela Jhanda gurdwara of New Hargobindpura late last evening. It was being said that the teacher dictated questions from a guess paper to her students while it was leaked out on March 17. Many girls of the school and their siblings were also questioned by the CIA staff last night. On getting clues from the students, the police had also interrogated a PCO-cum-photostat shopowner from Maliganj last night.

However, none of the students, their kin or teachers were detained by the police. Even the couple running the photostat shop was also found innocent, claimed the CIA staff. Today, the staff questioned nine students, most of them girls from different schools of the city. Sources claimed that though no concrete evidence was found but students were still being questioned to make some headway in the case.

Meanwhile, the District Education Officer said the question papers of the examination that have to be re-conducted from April 1 would be distributed in Government Senior Secondary School, Bharat Nagar, from 9 am to 5 pm. 

Traders buy wheat at Khanna Mandi
Our Correspondent

Khanna, March 29
Of 1,000 quintals 600 quintals of wheat was purchased by traders at Khanna Mandi here today. The wheat was purchased between Rs 645 and Rs 665. The minimum support price is Rs 630 per quintal. The wheat reaped by combines is being purchased between Rs 645 and Rs 650. The thresher reaped wheat was being purchased between Rs 660 and Rs 665 per quintal. However, the per acre yield is much less than last year. Last year the yield was 18 to 22 quintals per acre while this year the yield is only 15 to 18 quintals per acre, four quintals less than last year.

A farmer of Raipur Raian village, Mr Harbans Singh, said that the low yield this season was due to the rise in temperature. He said that due to the Lok Sabha elections Bihar and Uttar Pradesh would come in less numbers.

Mr Mohan Singh Pannu, said procurement centres of Rauni, Isru, Dehru and Raipur Rajputan would be started according to the flow of wheat.

Mr B.C. Bector, vice-president, Arhitya Association, Khanna, said that the quality of wheat was better this time. He said that this time they would get more commission as the drought compensation of Rs 20 per quintal would be added to the price.

Carrying of firearms, lethal weapons banned
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 29
In view of the Lok Sabha elections, District Magistrate Anurag Verma today banned the carrying of firearms and lethal weapons, including gandasas, swords, lathis etc within the district.

He said according to the directions of the Election Commission, issuance of licences for arms had been prohibited. The ban would continue till the completion of elections was notified.

Mr Verma has also asked the Senior Superintendents of Police of Ludhiana, Jagraon and Khanna to make a detailed review and assessment of all licence holders so that licensed arms in those cases, where they consider it essential are impounded, to ensure maintenance of law and order.

Satluj Club office-bearers elected
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 29
Mr Gurinderjit Singh Ladi has been elected general secretary of the Satluj Club for which elections were held yesterday. The results were declared late evening yesterday. Ladi defeated Mr Karan Singh Bal by a margin of 452 votes.

Ladi was the sports secretary in the last team. Other office-bearers elected include Gaurav Chaudhary — treasurer, Dr Jagdev Singh — mess secretary, Mr Varinder Goyal — sports secretary and Mr Rajeev Malhotra — bar secretary and Mr Sanjay Aggarwal and Mr Vijay Singhania, both executive members.

Mr Raju Sharma, Mr Sanjeev Dhanda and Mr Ravinder Verma were elected unopposed for the posts of vice-president, cultural secretary and joint secretary, respectively.

Parents of cerebral palsy children counselled
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 29
Ashirwad, a school that trains children suffering from cerebral palsy, arranged a workshop in association with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) for parents of such children yesterday at the Ludhiana Club here.

Dr Vijay Nagpal, Panjab University, Chandigarh, said the parents should focus on abilities of their children. He advised them to get involved in social work as it would inculcate devotion amongst them and also help them accept the disability of their own children.

He further said, “Your children are looking for love and extra care not sympathy. You have the responsibility of making these children self dependent. It will be a lot of hard work, but we have to equip them to look after themselves so that they, too, can contribute something to society.”

Dr IJS Jiswal, Professor, Human Development at Punjab Agriculture University, told the parents in detail about the ways to manage disabilities in children suffering from cereberal palsy.

Dr Krishnanand, clinical psychologist from Christian Medical College and Hospital, advised the parents that early identification and quick management of the handicaps boosted their confidence.

The parents asked the solution of their problems of dealing with the children from the experts.

Ashirwad the first school of its kind in the city, 250 children on its roll. This is a venture of the North India Cerebral Palsy Association (NICPA). The association has been active in the city for the past four years.

Patar determined to fight Akademi elections
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 29
Putting speculations to a rest, Dr Surjit Patar, President of Punjabi Sahit Academy, yesterday declared that he will contest the elections for the post of President of Punjabi Sahitya Akedmi to be held on April 4. He said he and his entire team feels very strongly that they have worked a lot during their term of last two years and they should continue their good work.

Meanwhile, three office bearers have been nominated unanimously. Mr Ravinder Bhattal for the post of general secretary, Sukhdev SIngh Sirsa, for the post of Vice President (from Panchkula outside Punjab) and Mr Sudershan Gasoo, executive member (outside Punjab) have been elected unanimously as no one else had filed nominations for these posts.

Mr Gulzar Sandhu and MrRaghbir Singh Sirjana. who had filed their nominations for the post of presidenr, have withdrawn their nominations on Saturday , March 27 as it is the last day for withdrawl of nominations. So, a sharp contest for the post for president will now be between two literary stalwarts Dr Patar and Dr S.S. Noor Out of 14 candidates for the post of Vice President , seven have withdrawn. 

Shobha yatra held on Ram Navami eve
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 29
A large number of people took part in a shobha yatra taken out on the eve of Ram Navami in the city today. The main attraction of the yatra were tableaux depicting various scenes from the Ramayana. The yatra began from the Daresi Grounds and went through the main markets of the city.

The whole route of the religious procession was decorated tastefully. Langar, tea, sweets and fruits were distributed among the devotees throughout the yatra route. Bhajan mandlis, kirtan groups and bhangra parties besides other pageants were part of the yatra. The district administration had made elaborate security arrangements to avoid any untoward incident.

Cash and mobile set snatched by youths
Our Correspondent

Khanna, March 29
Two scooter-borne youths looted cash and a mobile set from a receptionist of Connect telephone company last night. Gurdeep Singh a receptionist with the telephone company at Mandi Gobindgarh, was coming to Khanna after duty on his scooter at about 10pm. When he reached near old octroi post two scooter-borne youths reached near him and attacked upon him with a sharp edged weapons. Gurdeep was injured. The youths then looted Rs 2,000 and a mobile set from him and escaped. A case has been registered at the Sadar police station.

BUSINESS

Local units to join in China Bicycle Show
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 29
Faced with tough competition from China in pricing, the Ludhiana bicycle industry is pinning hopes on the China Bicycle Show being organised at Shanghai in China from April 14 to 17. The United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association (UCPMA) has also been invited to the show.

According to Mr Varinder Kapoor, general secretary of the UCPMA, the association has decided to send a delegation which would be led by the president, Mr GL Pahwa. Mr Pahwa will also be felicitated at the show. About 50 representatives from the association are likely to visit Shanghai.

Mr Kapoor pointed out that the price competitiveness of the Chinese bicycle industry would be the main focus of the delegation. The delegation would leave Ludhiana on April 12 and reach Shanghai next day in the afternoon, he said.

Hoteliers’ meet at Lahore
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 29
To promote tourism in East and West Punjab, a meeting of the Hotel and Restaurant Associations of both Punjabs will be held in the last week of April at Lahore. Giving the details of the event, Mr N S Nanda, president of the association of West Punjab, informed that during his recent visit to Pakistan during the World Punjabi Conference, he had a chance to meet and interact with some of the leading hoteliers at Lahore who were not averse to his suggestion for holding a joint meeting for development of tourism in both Punjabs.

Mr Nanda revealed that a two-day seminar on the Development of Tourism would be organized at Ludhiana in May. Janab Rai Aziz Ullah Khan, Member, National Assembly and chairman, Culture and Tourism Committee of Pakistan, has consented to be the chief guest on that occasion. Mr Ashwani Sekhri, Tourism Minister, will preside over the function. Mr D S Jaspal, IAS, Principal Secretary, Tourism, and Mr Jagjit Puri, MD, Punjab Tourism Development Corporation, will also grace the occasion. Dr Gulshan Sharma, Director, ITFT, will be the key note speaker.

Airtel open outlet
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 29
Airtel opened Full Service Outlet (FSO) at Kamal Communications in the Focal Point area, here today. Mr Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Mobiles, performed the opening ceremony. Among the guests were Mr Rakesh Pandey, Minister of State for Printing and Stationery, Punjab, Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, former Union Minister and Punjabi singer Harbhajan Mann.

Mr Mittal said that the company had over eight lakh customers base in Punjab, who would be able to buy new connections, recharge their cards, pay their bills and take advantage of other services at FSOs being opened all over the state. He said the process to launch Airtel services in Jammu and Kashmir had started. The next target for regular and full mobile phone services of Airtel would be Pakistan.

LG scheme for Indo-Pak cricket series
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 29
While the sun shines on the Indian cricket team, various consumer durable manufacturers are trying to make hay by giving fabulous offers to consumers. While the Samsung scored over its rival LG in getting the official sponsorship for the Indo-Pak cricket series, the latter has not taken it lying down.

The LG has come out with a special offer for its consumers. A company official said here today that it had launched a special scheme for the Indo-Pak cricket series, ‘LG Cup Uthao, Shandaar Inaam Pao’, in collaboration with the Majestic Park Plaza.

Under this scheme the visitors to the hotel will be given a coupon. The coupon has four questions: which will be the winning team, who will be the man of the match? Who will be the highest scorers and who will get the highest number of wickets. The entries with the maximum correct answers will be considered for gifts sponsored by the LG. The gifts comprise DVDs of the 1983 World Cup, Parker pen sets and calendars.

NHDC dye depot shifted
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 29
The National Handloom Development Corporation Limited (NHDC) has opened a dye and chemical depot where ready stock of dyes and chemicals of reputed companies are available on reasonable rates, especially for the small scale textile printers.

The Focal Point branch office has now been shifted to House No. 935, Street No. 7/5, Harcharan Nagar, near Shingar Cinema. The freight charges from the mill to the destination declared by the handloom units were also being reimbursed by the NHDC to the agencies as per the guidelines of the scheme. The financial assistance for implementing the scheme was being provided from the office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, New Delhi.