 |
|
|
Women in city’s crime zone
Phillaur, Nakodar
flood-prone areas
No meeting in MC House in past 5 months
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Electricity poles give tough time to Kapurthala residents
Youngsters explore new professional frontiers
Weekly Round-up
From Schools and Colleges
|
|
She could be of any age. Old and haggard or young and agile. But she’s smart — street smart. And she knows her job well.
No, she’s not a ruthless schemer or a psychopathic killer. She could well be a mother or a daughter with close family ties. In fact, as found during the survey, many of these women have woven their lives around crime.
In many villages of Kapurthala, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur, women are involved in making illicit liquor within the confines of their home. The statistics are alarming. They reveal that women are involved in hundreds of cases, especially those pertaining to cheating and forgery, production of illicit liquor, theft and even heinous crimes like
murder.
Women have been implicated in as many as 34 murder cases in Jalandhar district in the past two years. Nearly 25 women have been booked for attempt to murder, and as many as 84 cases have been registered against women for causing injury to persons by hitting them. In all, 872 cases have been registered against women from Jalandhar in the past two years, and in 171 such cases, women have been labelled as “420”. Police sources said that most of such cases involved money matters or amassing of private property by getting fake land registries done in their own name instead of the actual owner. There are many women who are either “proclaimed offenders” or have been declared “wanted” by the police. The Jalandhar Police has declared Preeti, a city resident, “wanted” in its official website, jalandharpolice.com, in a case pertaining to the snatching of foreign currency from employees of a finance company. She had been an alleged accomplice in an incident that took place on the outskirts of Jalandhar. She was allegedly in the car that hit the scooter of some company employees; she allegedly ran away with money. Even more astonishing is the fact that as many as 13 women have been booked for their alleged involvement in rape cases. According to police sources, these women had helped men in preparing for the assault. At least 10 women had been booked under the Immoral Trafficking Act in the last year itself. Mini (name changed) of the Model House has at least three to four cases registered against her under the same act. Another one was registered against her this week when she was caught red-handed at her own house. Police sources revealed that her husband was mentally challenged and that she had no source of income. Women belonging to the Sansi community in the Ganna Colony of Phillaur are known for manufacturing illicit liquor and selling poppy husk. The men of this community do not go out to work, and the illiterate womenfolk take to illegal activities to earn their livelihood. Some have shifted base to Goraya, and their illegal activities continue there also. Most women of this community buy one or two kg of poppy husk from drug peddlers, and sell them to addicts who come to their homes in evenings. Yet another community in which women are involved in small-time crimes is that staying in the Madrasi Mohalla near railway station in Jalandhar. These women, who are usually scrap pickers, are involved in lifting iron goods lying outside auto-parts shops. A few women from the area have even been booked for stealing shutters of shops at night. (With inputs from Arun Sharma and Anil
Jerath) 
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Phillaur, Nakodar
flood-prone areas
Parts of Phillaur, Nakodar and Shahkot sub-divisions of Jalandhar district could be targets of floods, particularly in view of enhanced water levels in the Bhakra Lake.
The administration has already cautioned senior officials posted at sub-divisional headquarters of Phillaur, Nakodar and Shahkot. Large parts of these three sub-divisions fall along Sutlej River. Keeping in view the flood threat, the district administration has already set up flood control rooms at district and sub-divisional levels and these round-the-clock control rooms would become operational from July 1. “We need to be more alert this time as water levels in the Bhakra Lake have registered an increase and this, in turn, could cause havoc in areas along Sutlej. In case of Jalandhar district, Phillaur, Nakodar and Shahkot sub-divisions could face the fury of floods this monsoons,” said Mr Ashok Gupta, Deputy Commissioner. He said all SDMs of the district had been directed to take flood related precautions and other flood prevention measures by June 30. “Since we may need boats in case of floods, SDMs of three sub-divisions have been asked to ensure that boats along Sutlej River be kept ready for operation,” said Mr Gupta. SDMs have also been asked to prepare a list of all those people who could ply rescue boats so that these people could be contacted and involved in flood rescue operations in case of floods. Apart from this, a separate list of officials of Food and Civil Supplies, Veterinary Department, doctors and NGOs was also being prepared so that these people and organisations could be pressed into relief and rescue operations in case of floods. “We are also identifying safe places where affected people could be settled immediately after flood related devastation, if any. Similarly, we are planning as to how the affected people could be shifted to safer places, if need be,” said Mr Gupta, adding that low-lying areas of Jalandhar city and other townships would also be subjected to vigil during monsoons. He said officials concerned had been directed to monitor water level of Sutlej River on a regular basis. It may be mentioned that residents of these three sub-divisions were worst hit during floods in 1988 and 1991. |
|
No meeting in MC House in past 5 months
The failure of the local municipal corporation authorities to hold meeting of the MCJ House in the past five months has badly affected the functioning of the civic body, as proposals and estimates of several developmental projects could not be approved.
The Opposition parties have dubbed the ‘non-holding’ of the meetings as anti-people. They allege that officials are not properly redressing the grievances of city residents, as no meetings are being held. “Most of the officials are functioning as dictators. The developmental works have come to a halt, as fresh proposals are yet to be passed by the MCJ House,” alleges Mr Kishan Dev Bhandari, leader of the Opposition. According to the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, the municipal corporation authorities are supposed to hold a meeting of the House once in every month, a practice that has never been followed in letter and spirit by the Congress-led civic body since its formation about two years back. “The allotment of several projects to construct foot over bridges in different parts of the city on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis without getting approval of the House is totally illegal. It is a big scam, wherein the private contractor is allowed to collect advertisement charges for 71 months even as the overall cost is much less than the estimated one,” alleges Mr Bhandari, maintaining that the issue will be raised during the forthcoming meeting of the House. A group of Congress councillors is also averse to the alleged deliberate attempts of the Mayor, Mr Surinder Mahey, to subvert the process of placing all files and matters before the House to favour some private contractors. They alleged that Mr Mahey was not convening the meeting to avoid questions with regard to the alleged irregularities committed by the officials under the garb of allotment of several projects on BOT basis. “This will certainly dent the reputation of the Congress, as we are accountable to the people. The Mayor, instead of solving the problems of the city residents with regard to the shortage of drinking water and other civic amenities, has chosen to go to North America on a month-long private trip,” alleges a Congress councillor, seeking anonymity. Municipal Corporation sources further said that the meeting of the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC), empowered to clear the developmental projects, had not been held for the past six months. “The payments to contractors are not being released and the new work orders are not being issued due to the non-availability of the Mayor and the Commissioner, alleges Mr Bhandari. He adds that the problems of the residents have further aggravated as the Commissioner, Mr Satwant Singh Johl, has gone to Thailand on official tour.
|
|
Electricity poles give tough time to Kapurthala residents
Residents of many localities in Kapurthala are facing problem due to the alleged apathy of electricity board officials. In these localities, electricity poles have been installed in the middle of the roads.
In a street of Mohalla Paramjeet Ganj, opposite the Civil Hospital, a pole stands in the middle of the road. Mr Ashok Kumar Malhotra, a former councillor of Municipal Corporation Kapurthala, who runs a chemist shop on the other end of the street, said that the electricity board workers had installed this pole in the middle of the road while replacing an old pole on the side of the street. “Due to the position of this pole, one has to drive and walk very carefully here,” rued Mr Rajesh Kumar, a resident of the locality. “At night, there is always the risk of hitting this pole. Hitting this pole could even be fatal for drivers,” said Mr Ronit Singh, another resident of the locality. Similarly, in the very next street another pole has been installed in the middle of the road. The residents of this locality, too, complained about the problems they had to face because of the electricity pole. Mr Sandeep Sood, Executive Engineer, when contacted, said that in most of the localities, people were facing this problem because while selling plots the colonisers had ignored the location of the already installed electricity poles.
|
|
Youngsters explore new professional frontiers
The days of engineering and medicine are over. At least if we go by what students opt for these days. “New professional avenues are added almost everyday. For those who do not wish to take the beaten path there are professions other than engineering and medicine,” says Ratna, a student.
“There has been a phenomenal growth of placement in telecom industry, IT-enabled services like call centres, banking and finance. BPO is another sector, which is full of opportunities,” says Mr Harpreet Singh of Global Consultants, a placement company with 13 branches across the country. However, the majority of parents are not keen on their children exploring avenues other than the tried and tested ones. “In this competitive environment, I want my daughter to have a professional degree that can offer her 100 per cent job security. I don’t want her to be into something like the IT bubble, which would burst sooner or later. Even MBA does not ensure a good job these days,” says Mr Avinash Kaushal, a government employee. But Pankaj, his son, would like to try other avenues. “I took the aptitude test. The counsellor suggested that I would do better in careers that required design and creativity. But I don’t want to hurt my parents,” says Pankaj. Due to parental pressure, many youngsters tend to ignore the new and exciting job opportunities, despite the fact that the pay packages in the latter case could be better than those from the traditional avenues. “After all, career choices are to be made to earn good money and be happy. I chose to be a stewardess and have already seen four continents. My parents wanted me to be an engineer, but I knew what I wanted out of life. For me, aviation offers a great career,” says Ms Jaspreet Johal, who has completed four years in aviation industry. According to observers, mass communication, fashion designing, tourism, aviation, hospitality, food technology, architecture are some of the fields being favoured these days.
|
|
NRIs, villagers join hands for community development
The work that the civic authorities of Dhilwan had failed to do has been accomplished by the joint efforts of NRIs from the area and the local community.
Working under the banner of the Dhilwan Development Society, many projects for the uplift of the area have been chalked out. Priority is being given to set up a sewerage system, which is currently one of the most primitive kinds. A project estimated at Rs 3.5 crore is underway in the town. As per the project, the sewage waste is being treated, and huge tanks are being given a cemented cover on which public parks are being constructed. The treated water comes to the park above. It is connected with a tube well from where villagers can take water pipes for irrigating their fields. One such model project has already come up at Ramu Ki Patti in the heart of the township. The project has come as a respite to residents who were irked at the foul stench emanating from the sewage dump. During monsoons, the sewage pond used to overflow and its dirty waters made way into the streets of the nearby colonies. The novel project now offers a clean and green environ to the residents. Children are even more excited as they have got a beautifully landscaped park with swings. The members of the society are now coming up with another similar project near the dera of Baba Brahmdass, known to be the founder of the town. The area had been dotted with deep ponds where sewage water was being discharged. There was growth of water hyacinth, flies, mosquitoes, and foul stench, which made things even worse. But now huge machines have been hired to uproot the water hyacinth and clear the polluted soil. At Tehsil Mohalla, where also sewage water was being discharged, a similar project is being started. Many more things are in the offing and funds are being collected for the purpose, says the society’s president, Mr Harjit Singh Dhillon, a UK-based NRI. The NRI has pooled in nearly six to seven lakh rupees out of Rs 60 lakh investment that has been done so far in the last few months. In yet another project undertaken by the society, a sports stadium has come up in Dhilwan. Registered as Sant Partap Singh Stadium, it has all facilities for playing hockey and cricket. Mr Navtej Singh, another NRI, has made efforts to set up a gymnasium within its boundary in the memory of his father at a cost of Rs 10 lakh. The NRI has also set up a mortuary in the village at a cost of Rs 12 lakh. After his seven-month sojourn in the village, Mr Dhillon is now back to the UK to look after his business. But before leaving, he told Jalandhar Plus that the society was also planning to fund a bus stand. The township, with 10,000 population, does not have a bus stand. People stand in scorching heat waiting for bus. A small, dilapidated bus shelter is used to park scooters and bicycles of daily commuters. The society has also planned to adopt a few government schools of the area and fund them.
|
|
Dog’s day out
He is not one of the VIP breeds like Labrador, Pug, German Shepherd, Terrier, Boxer, Great Dane or St. Bernard. He is our ubiquitous desi canine kind, but a special one. This dog Harry is a hitchhiker with a difference. He rides only on the pillion of his master’s motorcycle and does it with élan.
He sits on the pillion all by himself! Sans strap or belt or leash. On bumpy roads, he balances himself perfectly well. Traffic, cluttered roads, ceaseless honking of horns — nothing bothers him. He is not rattled by cheering crowds. The dog climbs up the pillion with as effortless ease as a duck takes to water! He sits majestically on his hind legs, with forelegs positioned straight. Even when the bike whizzes at a speed of 90 km per hour, he keeps his balance intact. Harry’s owner Kulwinder Singh says that no professional trainer has trained this three-year-old pet. It is only the complete bonding between the master and the pet that has made this feat possible, he adds. Interestingly, Kulwinder says that Harry was an abandoned pup. “I stumbled into this pup in a village. I had gone from my native village Babeli Babbran to the neighbouring village Rampur Sunra for a haircut. Suddenly, I found a tiny pup staggering on the street. It was so small that its eyes were not yet fully open. I picked it up and took it home. I bottle-fed it,” he says. When asked about the ‘perky perch’ of Harry on the pillion, Kulwinder Singh says, “I used to move around in the village on a cycle with Harry sitting on the carrier. Then my pet graduated to scooter’s pillion. When I got a bike, it started snuggling up on its pillion.” Kulwinder gave the show of this pillion ride for the first time during the Athletic Meet of Guru Nanak College, Phagwara, early this year. He took a speedy round of the football ground with Harry riding on the pillion and students cheering lustily. Now the master and the pet are all set for laying their claim to an entry in the Limca Book of World Records. “I have surfed many websites and found dogs sitting either on specially-designed seats or safely- strapped. Moreover, these dogs are all well-bred and highly-trained,” he says. “Harry is an obedient pet. H makes no demands. Only he is not ready to swap anything for his pillion-ride,” says Kulwinder.
|
|
A seminar on the concept of coach manufacturing facilities was organised by Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala, on Monday. Mr G.S. Kang, former general manager, RCF, Mr S.N. Mathur, former general manager, Integral Coach Factory, Chennai and Mr N.P. Singh, Additional Director General, RDSO, Lucknow, were among the dignitaries who attended the seminar. Birth anniversary
The Shiromani Satguru Kabir Mandir Parbandhik Committee has urged the state government to announce holiday on the birth anniversary of Satguru Kabir. Mr Rajesh Bhagat, president of the committee, said that a shobha yatra on the eve of the birth anniversary of Bhagat Kabir would be held on June 21. Selection trials
Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalya is going to organise selection trials for the sports teams for the session 2005-2006 on June 15. Ms P.P.Sharma, Principal of the college, said that the selection would be conducted for 34 disciplines, including athletics, badminton, squash racket, football, kho kho, cross country, table tennis, kabaddi, basketball, fencing, handball and wrestling.
(Compiled by J.S. Malhotra)
|
|
From Schools and Colleges
Lawrence International School organised a summer camp for its students. The camp concluded this week. Mr V.K. Mehta, Principal, appreciated the performance of the students who took part in the camp enthusiastically.
A summer party organised during the 10-day summer camp for the primary section of Apeejay School concluded on last Friday. The camp concluded with a grand function in which Surbhi was declared the best female singer, while Abhijeet was chosen as the best male singer. A summer camp was organised at Police DAV Public School, PAP Campus, which concluded last Wednesday. Mr Rajan Gupta, ADGP, PAP, gave away prizes to the best participants. Trip
Students of Seth Hukum Chand SD Public Senior Secondary School, Kapurthala Road, were taken on a trip to Shimla and Kufri this week. The students had fun riding ponies at Kufri, and enjoyed an evening stroll at the Mall. Ms Manju Arora, Principal, said the trip helped them develop the values of discipline and become more independent and confident. Toppers
Devika Tewari, a student of Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya, has topped in postgraduate diploma in journalism and mass communication examination conducted by Guru Nanak Dev University. She obtained 404 marks out of 600. Rohini Seth, a student of the same college, has topped in BSc-II examination, securing 1343 marks out of 1600. Anamika, also a BSc-I student from the same college, has topped in the university examinations with 659 out of 800 marks. Prabhdeep Kaur of the Apeejay College of Fine Arts has done her college proud by bagging the sixth position in the BA-II examination held by Guru Nanak Dev University. She has secured 1199 marks out of 1600. Dr Sucharita, Principal, has congratulated her on her success. Mr Inder Pal Singh, a lecturer from the Postgraduate Department of Business Administration, Lyallpur Khalsa College, has topped Himachal Pradesh University in M.Phil examination conducted this year. His dissertation on “Effect of globalisation and privatisation on educational system and management of Punjab” has been much appreciated. Audio-visual library
To open new vistas of research work for its students, the Departments of Music and Performing Arts of the Apeejay College of Fine Arts inaugurated an audio-visual library this week. The library has a collection of more than 500 eminent artistes not only from India and Pakistan, but also from Japan, China, Arab and Western countries. The library contains a collection of renowned classical music artistes, including Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan, Ustad Fiaz Khan, Ustad Amaan Ali, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali and Ustad Nazakat Ali. Besides, there are videocassettes of the stars in the field of the Indian classical dance, including Birju Maharaj. Counselling session
Lovely Institutes will hold a daylong free career counselling session on the scope of professional courses like architecture, physiotherapy, biotechnology, law, management and engineering streams on Sunday. The students will also be told about the development of personality traits like communication skills, body language, confidence building and teamwork. Elected
A chain of schools and colleges run under Arya Shiksha Mandal has got its president, Mr Chander Mohan, elected for the fifth consecutive year during the polling held at Kanya Maha Vidyalaya here on Friday. He has been congratulated by the authorities of Dev Raj Public School, Jalandhar Model School and Sanskriti KMV School.
|
|
Market Buzz
Diamond International, a Delhi-based company, launched a line of imported home furniture in Jalandhar on Saturday.
The furniture was displayed in a hotel from June 9 to 12. Mr Raman Mehta, director, said that the first line of home furniture that was being launched was sourced from different Asian countries. Mr Mehta said that the company was venturing into another enterprise by introducing ready to use decorative gypsum products. Computer centre
In its endeavour to offer social services for downtrodden, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPC) has started setting up computer centres in villages falling in remote areas. One such centre was opened this week at Government High School of Suchi Pind. Mr R.S. Rao, general manager (north zone) inaugurated the centre. Interactive event
Bharat Shell Ltd organised an interactive event for its consumers at Transport Nagar on Friday. The event was an amalgam of interactive games and entertainment. There were songs, one-minute games and hosts of other fun-filled activities. Mr Sandeep John from Bharat Shell Ltd said that the company was a joint venture of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd and Shell Overseas Investments that dealt with manufacturing and marketing of lubricants. Milkfed programme
Milkfed, Jalandhar, will hold a bonus distribution function at the Milk Producers’ Coop Society Ltd at Garhi Udhowal village on June 20. The general manager said that an amount of Rs 5.59 lakh will be distributed as bonus to its members. Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha will preside over the function. Shoe store
Shoe Rack, a shoe store, will open up at the Model Town Market this weekend. The outlet will showcase an exclusive range of designer footwear, especially for women, the company representative said during a press conference on Tuesday.
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Belying all stereotypes, women in Doaba are taking to crime, report Deepkamal Kaur and Minna Zutshi
