Jalandhar, February 21
It is a group of 18 youngsters touring across the state, spreading a message against drug addiction, female foeticide and other social issues among the masses through their stage performances.

All of them are pass-out students from Punjabi University, Patiala, and currently working for the repertory of the Theatre Department.

The troupe was here today at the Apeejay College of Fine Arts where they presented “Kavishri”, a comic show, and “Mitti Rudan Kare”, a play.

The play began on a happy note, depicting the life of a simple farmer who has two sons. A joyous atmosphere is shown around the house with the marriage of the elder son, Baru. The fate turns for the worse when he falls in bad company and gets addicted to liquor and drugs. His companions misguide him against his father and brother, forcing them to divide the property.

The advice of his parents and wife to avoid bad company and abstain from drugs does not fall on his deaf ears. Eventually, he starts getting ill. He realises his mistake but only when it gets too late. The artistes aptly depict the last horrific scene, captivating the minds of the audience and leaving a long-lasting impact.

The show was sponsored by the Department of Social Security and this was 17th show in a row. Actors said they had also earlier done 65 shows for the Punjab Police on female foeticide.

Jalandhar, February 21
Almost a year after district food officials had found three sweetshop owners weighing sweets with boxes, the issue has hogged the limelight once again after a similar complaint has been lodged by a local resident against the owners of Lovely Sweet House in the District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum.

The forum today admitted the complaint and sent a notice to the owners of Lovely Sweet House, Nakodar Road, for March 9.

Ms Vinny Khullar, a resident of Jalandhar Cantonment, has stated that she along with her husband visited the shop on January 29. She said she had purchased 1 kg of badam kesri halwa, 1 kg of coconut burfi and half a kg of dhokla.

Ms Khullar complained that the salesman while weighing the sweets, he included the weight of the cardboard box in it. She said she and her husband had objected to it and stated that these should be weighed separately and not with the box, which seemed to be of about 200 gms out of 1,000 gms of sweets.

She said the salesman told her that he was acting as per the instructions of the employer and they had any grudge regarding the procedure, he could lodge it at the cash counter.

After a few minutes, the packed sweets were delivered at the counter and person at the counter calculated the amount at the back of the leaflet as Rs 225 asking them to make the payment.

The complainant told that person that she was being delivered sweets of a lesser amount.

She said she had even asked that person that they should deliver the full amount of sweets and charge the price of the box extra, if any, and should further issue a bill for both the articles separately. She said the person sitting at the counter got annoyed. She said she made the payment of the sweets purchased and took the slip on which the cash counter clerk calculated the amount of sweets, including the weight of box.

The plaintiff said many customers were becoming a victim of the unfair trade practice as the sweet house owners were befooling them.

Jalandhar, February 21
Eye surgeons and specialists from the Asia will meet at a conference in Pakistan from February 24 to 28.

It is for the first time that the Asian eye specialists are meeting in Lahore. It is being organised by the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, an organisation of eye surgeons of Asian and Pacific countries. Interestingly, a group of 20 doctors from Punjab and Chandigarh will not only exchange views about their profession and recent advancements in the profession, but they will also strive to harmonise bilateral relations through the medium of culture.

The group of Indian doctors is being led by Dr Balbir Singh Bhaura, Medical Director, Akal Eye Hospital.

“It is a matter of great honour and prestige that the meet is being organised in Lahore. More than 100 doctors from all over the Asia will attend,” said Dr Bhaura, whose wife is also participating.