J A L A N D H A R

NRIs invest Rs 4.7 crore in villages
Nawanshahr, March 12
Taking an equal opportunity in the development of rural sector, the NRI community has invested Rs 4.71 crore in 48 government projects in Nawanshahr district. Thus the Punjab government’s scheme to encourage investment by NRI communities in rural development works by way of pooling in a matching grant is drawing a huge response in the peripheral areas of this district.

Two arrested for murder
Batala, March 12
The district police claimed to have solved a murder case that took place in January. Addressing mediapersons, SSP (Batala) L.K. Yadav said the accused, Sukhdev Singh and Randhir Singh, were traced with the help of the mobile sim card being used by the victim.

Ban junk food in institutions: DHO
Hoshiarpur, March 12
The increased consumption of junk food and carbonated drinks is leading to more and more diet-related non-communicable diseases among school and college-going students, said Dr M.L. Puri, district health officer, Hoshiarpur.

Bring glory to alma mater: Kokje

Jalandhar, March 12 As many as 400 students were awarded degrees and 60 got diploma certificates at the annual convocation of the PCM SD College for Women here today. After presenting degrees and diploma certificates to the students, Governor of Himachal Pradesh V.K. Kokje urged the students to get empowered to carve out niches in the fields of diplomacy, administration, policing, business, commerce, engineering, entrepreneurship and other creative pursuits.

Students of PCM SD College for Women, Jalandhar, after receiving their degrees on Monday. — Tribune photo by Pawan Sharma

Woman murdered
Hoshiarpur, March 12
Usha Rani (45), wife of Harjeet Singh, a cloth merchant, was strangulated to death at her residence at Shahi Market, Dasuya, late last evening. According to the police, a neighbour of Usha Rani went to her house late in the evening. She found the entrance door of the house closed. When she knocked it, a person appeared but vanished soon.

Jawan cremated
Kapurthala, March 12
The body of Naik Rajpal Singh was cremated with full military honours at his native village, Dadupur, in Sultanpur Lodhi today. Posted at 702 Engineering Plant of Bengal Engineering Group, Rajpal was killed in landslide in Sikkim on Thursday after serving for 14 years in the Army.

• One killed in accident
• Tribune employees’ house robbed

NRIs invest Rs 4.7 crore in villages
Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service

Nawanshahr, March 12
Taking an equal opportunity in the development of rural sector, the NRI community has invested Rs 4.71 crore in 48 government projects in Nawanshahr district. Thus the Punjab government’s scheme to encourage investment by NRI communities in rural development works by way of pooling in a matching grant is drawing a huge response in the peripheral areas of this district.

The projects are related to renovation in school buildings, setting up of solar lights, street lights, hospitals, dispensaries, gymnasiums, stadia, panchayat houses, bus stand construction and sewage disposal.

The concept, popular as ‘50:50 scheme’, is proving to be a boon to the government exchequer as they have to spend only half the amount on these projects which would have otherwise cost Rs 10.5 crore.

The scheme got encouragement in November 2005 when its operations were transferred from the government to the Department of NRI Affairs for a quicker action. Every minister and MLA had been told to identify five villages in their respective areas where the scheme could be undertaken in collaboration with the NRI community of the village.

It was also decided that the Commissioner, NRIs, would keep a panel of certified engineers ready to check the detailed estimates made by the NRIs which would be forwarded to a committee headed by the DC concerned.

After clearance of the project, the funds would be transferred to the DC who would make efforts to push for completion of the project within a year from the date of release of funds, it had been decided.

While most other districts of the state have not been able to generate much response, Nawanshahr has taken a lead in this regard. While majority of these projects are underway, a few have also been accomplished in less than a year.

These include construction of cremation ground at Ramraipur village, sewage disposal project at Mahendpur village and street light project at Dosanjh Khurd village.

NRIs collectively have pooled in a huge chunk of money for projects such as setting up a model village in Dingrian at a cost of Rs 25 lakh for which the rest of the share would come from the government.

The other huge budget projects that have been in progress are setting up of charitable hospital at Jhingran and Rahipa villages for a total estimated amount of Rs 40.3 lakh and Rs 92.8 lakh, respectively.

There are bigger projects which have received a nod but are yet to be started.

These include Rs 2.1 crore project for providing facilities such as underground sewage, septic tank, waste water treatment, drinking water, street lights and computer education to Ratenda village residents, a Rs 1.7 crore project for a similar project in Jandiali village, Rs 1.28 crore project in Lidder Kalan village and 0.91 crore project in Sal Kalan village.

Two arrested for murder
Our Correspondent

Batala, March 12
The district police claimed to have solved a murder case that took place in January. Addressing mediapersons, SSP (Batala) L.K. Yadav said the accused, Sukhdev Singh and Randhir Singh, were traced with the help of the mobile sim card being used by the victim.

The police got the details from the calls made from the mobile number and the IMEI number of the mobile set and traced the accused. The accused have been remanded to police custody.

On January 22, Kamlesh a resident of Umarpura village lodged a complaint regarding the disappearance of his son, Manohar Lal, who was a taxi driver. In her complaint, Kamlesh stated that on January 17 Manohar’s taxi was hired by Randhir Singh, a resident of Misharpura village and Sukhdev Singh of Talwandi Bakhtan village. When the trio reached near Sonepat, both of them strangulated Manohar with a plastic string.

Ban junk food in institutions: DHO
Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, March 12
The increased consumption of junk food and carbonated drinks is leading to more and more diet-related non-communicable diseases among school and college-going students, said Dr M.L. Puri, district health officer, Hoshiarpur.

Educational institute canteens are generally serving food items such as colas, pizzas, burgers, hot-dogs and chips which goes against the direction given by Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, union minister for health and family welfare.

The minister had told health officials to ensure that college and school canteens don’t serve junk foods and carbonated drinks.

Keeping in view the directions of the union health minister, the district health officer instructed all the principals of colleges and schools to take necessary steps for the withdrawal of junk foods from their respective canteens.

He asked the principals to ensure non availability of all tobacco products near college and school premises as it poses a grave risk for adolescent population.

Bring glory to alma mater: Kokje
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 12
As many as 400 students were awarded degrees and 60 got diploma certificates at the annual convocation of the PCM SD College for Women here today. After presenting degrees and diploma certificates to the students, Governor of Himachal Pradesh V.K. Kokje urged the students to get empowered to carve out niches in the fields of diplomacy, administration, policing, business, commerce, engineering, entrepreneurship and other creative pursuits.

 He cited the examples of towering women personalities like Kiran Majumdar Shaw, Kalpana Chawla, Indira Nooyi, Kiran Bedi, Bachendri Pal, Arundhati Roy, Sunita Williams, Kiran Desai and Aruna Roy. He also gave stories of courage in adversity and mentioned the names like Sabrina Lall and Neelam Kataria.

Woman murdered
Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, March 12
Usha Rani (45), wife of Harjeet Singh, a cloth merchant, was strangulated to death at her residence at Shahi Market, Dasuya, late last evening. According to the police, a neighbour of Usha Rani went to her house late in the evening. She found the entrance door of the house closed. When she knocked it, a person appeared but vanished soon.

She became suspicious and went to the shop of Usha Rani’s husband to inform him who had gone outside for purchasing cloth. The shop attendant at once went to the house and found that someone had strangulated Usha Rani.

Jawan cremated
Tribune News Service

Kapurthala, March 12
The body of Naik Rajpal Singh was cremated with full military honours at his native village, Dadupur, in Sultanpur Lodhi today. Posted at 702 Engineering Plant of Bengal Engineering Group, Rajpal was killed in landslide in Sikkim on Thursday after serving for 14 years in the Army.

Rajpal Singh is survived by his mother Ajit Kaur, father Bachan Singh and wife Kulwinder Kaur.

A large number of people from Dadupur and surrounding villagers gathered to pay their homage to the deceased. Deputy Director Sainik Welfare (Kapurthala) Col Tej Inder Singh paid floral tributes to the deceased on behalf of the Punjab Director Sainik Welfare.

One killed in accident

Banga, March 12
Sukhbir Singh, a resident of Musapur village in Banga, was killed and five others were injured in an accident on the Phagwara-Banga road. The injured, Varinderjit, Kuldip Singh, Jarnail Singh, Gurpreet Singh and Paramjit, all residents of Naura village, were admitted to the Banga civil hospital. TNS

Tribune employees’ house robbed

Jalandhar, March 12
Thieves broke in the joint rented accommodation of three persons at Santokh Pura locality falling under the police division number eight. The victims, Gulshan Kumar, Raj Kumar Dogra and Kashmir Singh, are employees of The Tribune. The thieves decamped with valuable household items, including a TV and an LPG cylinder. TNS