The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Himachal Pradesh Edition

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Raising Day
Nawanshahr to get ECHS polyclinic
Nawanshahr, February 28
To mark the Vajra Corps Raising Day, a medical check-up camp was organised for ex-servicemen and their families at Vishav Karma Mandir here on Wednesday. Brig Anil Kayastha, deputy director, medical services, Vajra Corps, inaugurated the camp. Deputy commissioner Gurpal Singh Bhatti was the chief guest.

Help police fight drug menace: IGP
Batala, February 28
A drug de-addiction seminar was arranged by the Batala police here on Wednesday. Amritsar border zone Inspector-General of Police Raj Pal Meena was the chief guest, while Batala SSP R.N. Dhoke presided over the function.

Sikri is dental sciences faculty dean
Amritsar, February 28
Dr Vimal K. Sikri, principal of the Government Dental College and Hospital, Amritsar, has been nominated dean, faculty of dental sciences, Baba Farid University, Faridkot. He would be chairing all meetings of principals, professors and others on matters related to dental education, syllabus, and examinations.

2 die in road accidents
Hoshiarpur, February 28
Two persons were killed in separate road accidents in the district today. According to police sources, Kuljeet Singh of Badewal, Srabha Nagar, Ludhiana, was killed and two others were injured in a bus-truck collision near Chowdhary Da Bagh (Hajipur).

Seminar on Guru Ravi Dass held
Hoshiarpur, February 28
Chief parliamentary secretary, Punjab, Avinash Chander today inaugurated a national seminar on “Relevance of the philosophy of Guru Ravi Dass,” organised by the history department of the JCDAV College, in collaboration with the Vigilant Brotherhood International on the college premises in Dasuya, 40 km from here, today.

Workshop of college principals
Amritsar, February 28
Academic Staff College in coordination with the College Development Council of Guru Nanak Dev University would organise a one-day workshop of principals of the colleges affiliated to the university on March 1.

	Past perfect: City gets museum on Sikh history today Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, February 28 If you are interested in delving into Sikh history and have any query on any related topic, this is the place to be. Equipped with three-touch LCD screens, a plasma TV, an OHP and paintings based on various anecdotes from Sikhism, Guru Amar Dass Multimedia Sikh Museum will be thrown open to the public on Friday afternoon on the premises of Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Model Town. Built on the pattern of the one in Khadoor Sahib, the three-computer set-up in the museum has been installed with DVDs loaded with a 50,000-page encyclopaedia designed by a Canada-based NRI, Dr Raghbir Singh Bains. With touch screen buttons attached, the visitors can scroll into relevant pages for viewing and listening to “ardas”, sacred hymns recited by 60 renowned “ragi” jathas, “dhadis” and the whole of Guru Granth Sahib with its English translation and a glossary of words scripted in the “banis”. A section that is even more informative is the one that gives a complete chronology on Sikh history, life and teachings of Sikh Gurus, gurdwaras, other Sikh shrines, including takhts, five kakkars, animated blood dripping of Sikh martyrs and their importance, pictorially. The encyclopaedia can also help students learn Punjabi, while checking their knowledge related to Sikhism, in the form of a quiz. In fact, viewing “ardas” on the monitor gives an altogether different experience as illustrations of Gurus, kakkars, takhts and Sri Sahib come all along the screen as their mention comes in the recitation. Another major attraction of the museum is the paintings that have been prepared by three artists. A Phagwara-based artist and illustrator, Gurdish, has come up with three paintings. One of these portrays the scene when Guru Arjan Dev was tortured and made to sit on hot plate (tatti tavi). Another one is Guru Nanak viewing the “brahmand” (solar circle) before he penned aarti “Gagan mein thal” and still another depicts the scene in which Guru Amar Dass carries a “gagar” (pot) full of water for the purpose of the bathing of his predecessor Guru Angad Dev. The other two painters whose works have been put up in the museum are Sukhjinder Singh, a local artist, and Harish Vishwakarma from Kerala. Inderjit Singh, a local businessman and expert orator, will enlighten the audience on the importance of the museum. Surinderpal Singh Gwalior, secretary, managing committee, refused to divulge any detail about the expenditure incurred as he reasoned, “Such things are priceless. More important is their utility to the public and their worth for the spread of Gurus’ ideologies.”
	Speeding Up New RPO to issue 1 lakh passports a year Varinder Walia Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 28 The union government has opened its new regional passport office (RPO) here, which would cater to the passport requirements of residents of six districts of the border belt and Malwa region. More than one lakh passports would be issued from this office every year. Talking to The Tribune in his new office on Thursday, regional passport officer Amarjit Singh said the RPO would be fully functional by mid-April. He claimed that all steps were being taken to stop endless queues, pestering agents by ensuring on-line submission of applications. He said computerised system would be evolved so that applicants could get the latest information at their homes. The entire three-storey office in the Ranjit Avenue shopping area is being made centrally air-conditioned. He said even the public gallery would be air-conditioned and people would be able to get the latest information about the status of their passports on electronic displays. At least three ex-army personnel would be deputed to help applicants fill their forms. One floor would be earmarked for the public relations officer who would be responsible for redressing the grievances of the public, if any. He said he would also be meeting the applicants everyday by fixing meeting hours. TV sets would be installed in the public gallery. To ward off frequent power cuts, a powerful generator set would be installed. Giving details, Amarjit Singh said three revenue districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran, currently under the RPO, Jalandhar, and Ferozepore, Faridkot and Muktsar under the Chandigarh RPO would now be attached with the Amritsar RPO. Answering a question, Amarjit Singh claimed that an applicant would be issued the passport a day after the completion of police verification.
	Raising Day Nawanshahr to get ECHS polyclinic Our Correspondent Nawanshahr, February 28 To mark the Vajra Corps Raising Day, a medical check-up camp was organised for ex-servicemen and their families at Vishav Karma Mandir here on Wednesday. Brig Anil Kayastha, deputy director, medical services, Vajra Corps, inaugurated the camp. Deputy commissioner Gurpal Singh Bhatti was the chief guest. Kayasta, while addressing the gathering, asked the ex.-servicemen to get themselves registered under the ex-servicemen contributory health scheme (ECHS) to avail maximum benefits. While the local Raja Hospital has already been empanelled for ECHS, the Center has approved setting up of a ECHS polyclinic at Nawanshahr. Nearly 600 ex-servicemen and their family members, suffering from different ailments, were examined by a team of doctors comprising Major SK Chauhan, Major Punnet Kumar, Major Amit Ahuja. Free medicines were given to the needy, informed Major Yashpal Singh (Retd), deputy director, Sainik Welfare.
	Help police fight drug menace: IGP Our Correspondent Batala, February 28 A drug de-addiction seminar was arranged by the Batala police here on Wednesday. Amritsar border zone Inspector-General of Police Raj Pal Meena was the chief guest, while Batala SSP R.N. Dhoke presided over the function. Besides, SP (Hq) Paramdeep Singh Teja, all the DSPs, retired police officials, senior citizens, members of Panchayats and many others attended the seminar. The Baba Farid Dramatic Club of Amritsar presented a drama concerning lifestyle of the addicts and the procedure of de-addiction. Meena stressed on the need of curbing the menace of addiction and its spread among the youth of the country. He emphasised that the people of the area, especially the affected families, come forward in favour of de-addiction with the help of the state agencies. He stated that many deaths of drug-addicts were not brought to the notice of the police because of which the drug peddlers could not be brought to book. Dhoke said any addict or his family member volunteering for de-addiction would be given full protection by the police, besides his rehabilitation in society.
	Sikri is dental sciences faculty dean Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 28 Dr Vimal K. Sikri, principal of the Government Dental College and Hospital, Amritsar, has been nominated dean, faculty of dental sciences, Baba Farid University, Faridkot. He would be chairing all meetings of principals, professors and others on matters related to dental education, syllabus, and examinations. Dr Sikri, who is also the president of the Punjab Dental Council, has 27 years of teaching and research experience in dentistry. He has authored four books, including “Fundamentals of Dental Radiology”, “Community Dentistry” and “Textbook of Operative Dentistry”. Besides, he has also served as editor of “I-dentistry - the Journal” published on behalf of the Indian Dental Association. Dr Sikri has conducted courses on endodontics and conservative dentistry in various institutions and is credited with over 50 scientific papers and publications in national and international journals, apart from chairing scientific sessions and conferences worldwide. Dr Sikri also holds executive membership of the “Asian Society for Dental Education”.
	2 die in road accidents Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, February 28 Two persons were killed in separate road accidents in the district today. According to police sources, Kuljeet Singh of Badewal, Srabha Nagar, Ludhiana, was killed and two others were injured in a bus-truck collision near Chowdhary Da Bagh (Hajipur). The two injured - bus driver Shamsher Singh of Narool and truck driver - were admitted to the civil hospital, Hajipur, from where the bus driver, whose condition was critical, was referred to the civil hospital, Hoshiarpur. The accident took place near Chowdhary Da Bagh when the minibus carrying a barat to Teras from Kui Baruhi collided head-on with the TATA 207 mini truck coming from the opposite direction. Kuljeet Singh was travelling in the truck. In another accident, Mohinder Singh of Rupowal died when a minibus, bound for Garhdiwala from Tanda, overturned near Chokha village. The other bus passengers who got minor injuries were discharged after providing first aid.