Constitution of Punjab Library Act sought
Our Correspondent

Amritsar, October 10
The Punjabi Writers Cooperative Society yesterday appealed to the government to constitute a “Punjab Library Act” to open a number of libraries in rural areas “to divert the mind of the youth towards constructive purposes and move them away from drugs”.

Dr Charanjit Singh Gumtala, managing director of the society, said the opening of libraries in rural areas would create intellectual awareness among the rural folk. The society urged the state government to celebrate the Punjab Divas on a large scale on November 1. He said the government should also take steps to strictly implement the Punjabi Language Act, besides making necessary amendments in the Act and inserting provisions of strict action against officials who fail to implement the Act in letter and spirit.

The society held a meeting of its board of directors under the presidentship of Dr Bikram Singh Ghumman, former head of department of Punjabi Studies, Guru Nanak Dev University. It decided to organise a seminar on “Globalisation, Media and Punjabi Language” on November 11 at Sikh National College, Banga. The seminar would be organised in collaboration with Sikh National College.

Meanwhile, Dr Ghumman released Jasbir Kaur’s book ‘Sakhney Supney’ on the occasion. This is the third book of the writer. She also authored short story books “ Begaana Ahlna” and “Aukhey Ghutt”.

CM will ensure Naya Gaon NAC, assures Kang
Tribune News Service

Kharar, October 10
The Morinda MLA and Cabinet Minister, Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang, today kicked off work on a new tube well, meant to provide drinking water to residents of the Shivalik Vihar, Naya Gaon village, falling in the periphery of Chandigarh under Kharar subdivision.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Kang said keeping in view the extreme difficulty faced by the residents, he had made efforts to install the tube well which would be made operational, at a cost of Rs 9.50 lakh, within one month.

In addition, one more tube well would be installed in this village to meet the growing needs of the residents, he said.

Reiterating the commitment made by him to the electorate in Naya Gaon, he said electricity and drinking-water connections had been made available to them.

Mr Kang further said the promise to set up the Notified Area Committee (NAC) had been held up due to obstacles posed by the Forest Department, which would be taken care of by the Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, who would himself announce the formation of the NAC.

He said under a NABARD scheme, Rs 1.04 core would be spent to provide tube wells in Palheri, Majri, Dulwan Khadri, Mianpur, Sangatpura, Paroul, Bhupnagar, Chhoti Bari Nagal, Perch and Jainti Majri villages. The work on these projects would be completed by March 31, 2007.

In addition, under the Punjab Nirman Scheme, tube wells would be installed in Jakkarmajra, Karoran, Deshmesh Nagar, Mullanpur and Fatehpur villages, at a cost of Rs 99 lakh, which would be completed by December 31, 2006.

Fatehgarh Sahib, October 10
Mentally challenged persons will be provided free legal aid and their legal rights protected in all judicial courts of the district, said Madam Sabina, District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairperson, District Legal Services Authority.

She was addressing a seminar organised by the District Legal Aid Services at Mata Gujri Government Senior Secondary School, Fatehgarh Sahib, on the eve of the World Mental Health Day.

She urged people to come forward to help mentally challenged persons, adding that if any one indulged in high-handedness with them, the fact should be brought to the notice of the District Legal Service Authority or other officials.

She directed the Civil Surgeon to launch a campaign with the help of voluntary organisations to identify the mentally challenged persons in the district

Mr Paramjit Singh, Civil Judge-cum-Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, said from October 16, awareness camps would be organised in the district to create awareness among the people of the need to treat the mentally challenged sensitively as well as to protect their rights.

Patiala: Mr Bhupinder Singh, Additional District and Sessions Judge, Patiala, today said there was a need to sensitise people about the rights of mentally challenged persons in the society.

Delivering his key note address at a seminar on the World Mental Health Day, organised by the District Legal Services Authority, at the auditorium of the Government Medical College here, Mr Singh said the mentally challenged should be taken as a part and parcel of the society and people should be fair to them.

Chandigarh, October 10
No one really knows what happened on the intervening night of October 10 and 11 that led to the death of first-year engineering student Amit Gangwar last year on the rail tracks near Dr Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar. The boy died and a suicide note was found naming 10 students, including a girl, for ragging him severely.

The death led to the arrest of nine out of the 10 students, but the wait for justice of Amit's father, Mr Triveni Sahai, is not over yet. The Punjab and Haryana High Court, which had summoned the 10 accused for their statements to be recorded today, ordered that the accused who failed to turn up today must appear before the court on November 13 or else the case would be forwarded to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a re-inquiry. The orders were issued by the court of Mr Justice Rajiv Bhalla on the failure of the accused to come and record their statements.

Mr Sahai has been demanding a thorough CBI inquiry . In May, on the basis of the proofs submitted by Mr Sahai, the court had ordered the CBI to submit a report after conducting a preliminary inquiry as to what the difference in injuries would be if a person committed suicide in front of a train and if the body was thrown in front it after murder.