Nawanshahr, April 9
With a view to facilitate entry of children, who are studying in education guarantee scheme centres, into government schools, director general school education ( DGSE) has directed district education officers (DEOs) to issue instructions to schools that no fees, birth certificate or an affidavit would be demanded from parents for admission.

DEO Piara Singh, in a release issued to the press here on Wednesday, said the DGSE - who is also state project director, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Punjab - has also asked the government schools to admit students who want to migrate from private schools on the basis of a test. No transfer certificate, date of birth certificate and affidavit should be demanded from such students, the order further says. 

Once the school teacher concerned is satisfied with the test performance, the student can be admitted into the school, said Piara Singh. “This has been done to ensure that the students who want to shift do not face any difficulty as the private schools are not issuing them school leaving certificate,” added the DEO. The students can avail various facilities, including free books, midday meals, in government schools, he further said. 

Nawanshahr, April 9
The District Consumers Disputes Redressal Forum, in a decision, has directed the National Insurance Company to pay a compensation of Rs 12,000 along with interest at the rate of 9 per cent per annum to Naresh Kumar of Vikas Nagar here.

In his complaint filed before the forum against the National Insurance Company on December 13 last year, Naresh had stated that his motorcycle (PB-32G-2795), which was insured by the National Insurance Company, met with an accident on August 27, 2007. The insurance policy was valid up to April 25, 2008. The motorcycle was damaged in the accident and he provided timely information about it at the local office of the insurance company.

He got his motorcycle repaired at Rampa Autos (bill no. 5249) for Rs 11,490 on September 5, 2007. He submitted his request with the insurance company for reimbursement of the bill but the company refused his request on September 18. He served a legal notice on the company and then filed a petition before the forum for justice.

The National Insurance Company, in its reply, stated that the complainant was denied reimbursement of the expenditure incurred on the repair of the insured motorcycle as he did not have a valid driving licence at the time of the accident.

The driving licence of the complainant had expired on April 9, 2007 and the same was renewed on September 3, 2007.

M.R. Batra and Jagjit Kaur Mander, president and member of the forum, respectively, perused the written arguments, evidence and oral arguments of the counsels of both the parties and then said the insurance company could not escape its liability only on the pretext that the rider had not got his driving licence renewed.

Moreover, Naresh did not hide the fact from the company that he had got his driving licence renewed on September 3, 2007. “Neither was the complainant disqualified from holding or obtaining the driving licence, nor could it be said that during that period the complainant did not know driving, hence repudiation of the claim by the insurance company is not justified,” said the forum.

Jalandhar, April 9
The going is not easy for over 100 girls taking part in the pre-recruitment training being organised by the sainik welfare office here for entry into the Border Security Force (BSF) as constables of the first-ever women battalion in Punjab.

It is a complete changeover for most of the candidates. From a fun-loving easy lifestyle, the girls are being acclimatised to cope up with a regimented routine. The girls are being put to tough physical training, long hours of running, high jumps and long jumps, with many of them still convalescing from sprains, muscle pulls and minor injuries due to falls they have experienced in the past two weeks of the training.

The training for induction into the paramilitary forces also includes three hours of brainstorming sessions during which classes are being held for preparing candidates for the written test. The candidates are brushing up their knowledge in mathematics, mental ability, general awareness, geography, history and Hindi.

Even as the BSF has asked for matriculate girls, four of the candidates are postgraduates and almost a dozen girls are graduates. Since most of the girls are from outside the city, they are putting up in private accommodation around the sainik office.

The girls discussed their routine. Aas Kiran, a candidate from Mansa, revealed, “I had come mentally prepared for a rigorous training. I have to get up early morning to join the assembly at the office at 7 am for a roll call. From there on, we march towards Guru Gobind Singh Stadium, where we run around trying to improve upon our speed and stamina daily. We come back to the office and practice jumps. By then we are almost drained out but then there is no option but to sit down for our theory classes. After 1 pm, we are free for the day.”

Ritu, a local PGDCA passout, said, “It has been my dream to join the forces. Being an inter-college gold champion in judo wrestling, I had always felt as if I was not moving on the right track till I joined this training.” Lieut-Col Manmohan Singh, deputy director, sainik welfare, said the girls were being provided training free of cost. They, of course, had to deposit a security at the time of admission as per the government rules, he said.

He added, “The girls are fully determined. All they need is little practice and grooming sessions so that they qualify the physical training, written test and interview. Even as the training was scheduled for six weeks, I believe that the girls are going to stay here little longer till the time the recruitment process is over.”

Amritsar, April 9
A planning board of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) has been constituted under the chairmanship of vice-chancellor Jai Rup Singh till March 31, 2009. Dean academic affairs Raghbir Singh would be the convener of the board. 

As per the notification issued by the university here on Wednesday, dean students welfare A.K. Thukral, dean college development council M.S. Dhillon, registrar R.S. Bawa, OSD (accounts) Harjeet Singh, teachers' association president Davinder Singh, secretary Sukhpreet Singh, former teachers' association president Parminder Singh and a former secretary have been made members of the board.

Jalandhar, April 9
Pahal, an NGO, organised a “special talk” and a voluntary blood donation camp in collaboration with the Regional Centre of Guru Nanak Dev University at Ladhewali here on Wednesday.

NGO president Lakhbir Singh enlightened the youth on voluntary blood donation. “Despite the fact that voluntary and non-remunerated blood was the safest, more than 50 per cent of the blood collected in developing countries was provided by family members, replacement or paid donors, who are associated with a significantly high prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs), including HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis and Chagas disease,” he said. As many as 32 persons donated blood during the camp. — TNS

Jalandhar, April 9
Punjab Government Transport Workers’ Union has demanded action against general manager (GM) and assistant mechanical engineer (AME) of Punjab Roadways, Hoshiarpur for their alleged involvement in diesel scam worth Rs 10. 8 lakh.

The scam - nearly 36,000 litre diesel was stolen from three oil containers - was unearthed a few weeks ago and four diesel pump operators (DPOs) were nabbed.

In a release issued to the press here on Wednesday, the union state president Gurdeep Singh Moti said they have already written to the Chief Minister, transport minister and principal secretary, transport department and DGP demanding immediate arrest of the roadways officials for their ‘involvement’ in the major scam.

The union representatives claimed they had informed the GM and AME about the pilferage on February 13 but nothing was done to check it.

The leader threatened if appropriate legal and departmental action was not initiated against roadways officials, the union would initiate a major protest.