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Tardy arrangements irk polling staff
Ludhiana, May 25 Employees working in municipal corporations, government schools, colleges, PAU, the Punjab State Electricity Board and the health department were split into separate teams and sent to government schools in villages. Owing to locked rooms in schools, the staff on polling duty had to wait for hours before they could find a place to sit and rest. Head constable Dara Singh from the Sadar police station, in charge of the polling station at Government High School, Dhandra, said: "Despite an assurance from the head teacher, the rooms were locked.” A school teacher from Khanna on duty at Government High School, Phullanwal, said the ballot papers had not reached them and the staff had no idea about the voters’ list. The village has 3,527 registered voters.
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Congress candidate arrested
Mandi Ahmedgarh, May 25 A large number of boxes containing sweetmeat and currency notes were seized from their possession. Hakam Singh, Congress-backed candidate for the civic body at Nangal Khurd, and his supporters Sukhminder Singh, Jagtar Singh, Avtar Singh and Gurmukh Singh were nabbed with boxes containing sweetmeat and currency notes of Rs 500 denomination this afternoon. The police team was led by Davinder Singh Chakohi. The police has registered an FIR against the accused under Section 171-H of the People's Representative Act and Sections 420 and 120-B of the IPC.
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... Meanwhile, Kesaro’s papers rejected
Ludhiana, May 25 Kesaro had filed her nominations for panchayat elections which were rejected on the pretext of absence of no-dues certificate from the block development and panchayat office( BDPO). Following the rejection of her nominations, the candidate filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court in its orders clearly mentioned that candidates contesting for the first time did not require no-objection certificate from the BDPO. It was obligatory only for the candidates who had held the office of panch and sarpanch in the past, the court added. The candidate, after getting the court orders, went to the office of Ludhiana deputy commissioner Sumer Singh Gurjar on May 23 but even after waiting for the whole day, the papers were not entertained by any officials. "I was called at the office of ADC (D) Priyank Bharti on May 24 and he assured me that my details would be displayed in the list of candidates. But nothing has been done so far and I have been deprived of contesting the panchayat elections for no fault of mine," rues Kesaro. The administration's attitude has poured cold water on the hopes of woman supporters of Kesaro from Kathari village, who were actively campaigning in her favour. Perturbed over the indifferent attitude of the administration, Kesaro and her supporters plan to follow legal action. "It is highly undemocratic and not just the defiance of the court orders but also a clear contravention of representation of the People's Act and we are going to fight against this injustice," stated Sukhjinder Singh, the candidate's son.
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Parties’ Trump
Card
Khanna, May 25 Unlike earlier panchayat elections, this time the candidates are spending a huge amount of money on electioneering in various villages. “It is almost like the general elections, wherein candidates advertise their names and parties among the voters. By doing so, they showcase their strength,” said Ravinder, a resident of a nearby Lalheri village. He revealed that last years his brother won sarpanch’s election without even campaigning or spending money. “He only made a few rounds of the village, met the people and won the election”, Ravinder added. Another villager said parties were also alluring the voters by promising to 1,000 per vote clandestinely in a few pockets of villages in and around Khanna. Besides Rs 1,000, the supporters of a few candidates even ask voters to note down the serial number written on one of the
currency notes. Then, they ask them to write it down on backside of their vote. “They are doing so to get rid of problem of being befooled by voters. In many a cases, voters enjoy at the expense of a candidate and cast vote to another. Last time, a large number of voters pocketed thousands of rupees from different candidates and did not cast their vote in anybody’s favour. But this time, it seems that this trick may work,” said Laka Singh of Rasulra village. SDM Khanna S.S.Gill when contacted said not a single case had been brought to his notice so far. But, he was looking into the matter and would take an appropriate action if needed.
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Happy to be in step with them
Mohit Khanna Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, May 25 Dance teacher Happy decided on holding the camp when he witnessed a similar one during a visit to Mumbai. His efforts materialised and this summer, a 100-odd students are attending his camp here. "Their happiness makes me joyous.Dance helps break the barriers that impairment poses," he explains. The task was uphill, but Happy was unrelenting. He decided to learn the sign language to reach out to his students. Excitement writ large on their faces, the summer camp is probably the happiest part of th day for Happy’s special students. Says Vinay(his interpreter helps him): "I am a Hritik Roshan fan and I never thought I would be able to dance like him. Out here we just do not dance, our teacher teaches us how to get better day by day." Mainka, another student, says "I quite enjoy synchronising steps and dancing in a group." Appreciating the effort, Suvarsha Kalra, general secretary of the Ludhiana Educational Society which runs the Deaf and Dumb School, says: “ Dance will help these students give vent to their emotions."
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Central Status for Panjab University Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, May 25 Educationists fear that if the approach of state government remains same towards Panjab University, Chandigarh, in next 3 years, all its funds will exhaust and the university will have no money even to pay to the pensioners like that in Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) here. The employees, faculty and students of PU are trying hard to get central university status for PU. They are on relay fast for past one and a half month at Chandigarh. According to sources, state government was not paying its share to PU. As a result, the university was facing deficit. The recently started dental colleges at Chandigarh and Bajwara regional centre at Hoshiarpur were in major losses. “The income is much less as compared to the expenditure,” said one of the officials with PU adding that even certain bills of teachers and flying squads were cleared after 5-6 months. During his visits to city, Dr R.C. Sobti, vice-chancellor of PU, had also indicated that university had no funds. One of sitting senate member of PU, Mukesh Arora, said the university should be given central status as it fulfilled all major requirements. He said working of senate or syndicate should not be disturbed at the same time. “If Punjab government does not provide its support and all its present affiliated colleges are not recognised, then the central status will have no relevance,” said Arora further adding that the state government has already given indications to authorities to generate its own resources. “The scrapping of NRI sponsored admissions is a further a setback to university, which used to make about Rs 22 crores through these admissions,” said Arora. One of the employees of PU at regional centre here said if this trend continued, the fate of employees would be no different from that of PAU, who have not been paid the pension for the past many months.
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Sportsgirl is KVM topper in medical stream
Ludhiana, May 25 Aanchal, student of Kundan Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines, Ludhiana, has secured 89 per cent marks in the medical stream of the 10+2 examinations results of which were declared recently to top her school. Being a sportsperson, she has a number of medals and certificates in her kitty. She won accolades in badminton and karate
championships. Aanchal represented Ludhiana in the inaugural edition of the Open Punjab State Invitational Wushu Championship held at Amritsar in 2000 and emerged champion in the sub-junior category. She took part in the 4th National Full Contact and Wuko Karate Championship held in 2001 at Kapurthala and bagged first position in the sub-junior section. She finished at third place in the u-13 years (singles) section of the Punjab Badminton Championship conducted at Ludhiana in 2002. Anchal, partnering another upcoming shuttler from Ludhaina Steffi Kala, secured third position in the u-13 years section of the Punjab Badminton Championship held at Ludhiana in 2003. In the Ludhiana district inter-schools badminton tournament, Anchal won a bronze medal in the u-17 years section and in 2005-06, she emerged victorious in the Ludhiana Sahodaya Schools Complex Badminton Championship and then helped her zone to clinch the title in the Ludhiana District Schools Tournament. Anchal won gold medal in Ludhiana Sahodaya Schools Complex Tournament (u-19) in 2006-07.
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Bypoll Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, May 25 Talking to reporters after the function to disburse subsidy to urban industrial units in the state, the Chief Minister brushed aside all allegations levelled by the opposition stating : "Who else will they blame? They are frustrated right now." Asking the Congress to keep its own house in order Badal said the fight between the two parties was "only political" and not personal. However, mincing no word on the mention of former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, he said, "One must keep one's personal life clean". Expressing gratitude to the voters of Amritsar, he said: "I am thankful to the people there who gave an even more emphatic mandate than the one given in February." He said there had been a significant improvement in the votes polled in favour of the SAD candidate over February, 2007, result. While the SAD had polled 62.5 per cent of the total votes polled then, this time its chunk increased to 65.5 per cent. "This happened despite a drop in the overall polling percentage."
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Wooing voters with liquor, drugs
Mandi Ahmedgarh, May 25 Residents of a large number of villages have reached a consensus on electing their representatives in civic bodies. Nominations for posts of panch were filed in such a manner that no polling was required in these villages. Alampur Chapra, Lehal , Zulamgarh, Chinkoian, Ghudani, Ajlaud, Bhaini Arora, Ghungrana, Jurahan, Akalgarh Chhinna and Jand are among those villages where no polling is required. Dilbagh Singh Chapra, a former sarpanch, claimed that panches to at least 25 panchayats were elected unanimously in Payal subdivision alone. The scene is different in villages witnessing elections. Almost all candidates, irrespective of their political
allegiance, are wooing voters with free delivery of liquor and narcotics.
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Banned drugs being sold in market
Ludhiana, May 25 Take for example “Nimesulide”, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, which reportedly causes toxicity in liver. But, it is being widely used in India as a pain reliever and for fever although it was approved in India in 1994 for curing painful inflammatory musculo-skeletal disorders. This drug is also available in more than 30 different combinations. Similarly D-cold, a medicine for common cold or analgin, a pain killer, despite being banned is easily available and being used without doctors’ prescription. However, latest research shows that its prolonged use can damage liver, cause irregular heartbeats, depression and blood pressure fluctuations.
Among other drugs banned in India are cerivastatin, droperidol, furazolidone, lynestrenol, nitrofurazone, phenformin, phenolphthalein, phenylbutazone, piperazine and quiniodochlor. A few doctors said, “Presently, there is no system to monitor adverse drug reactions in India. If the regulatory authorities are not banning such drugs, that means they are being influenced by the powerful lobby of drug manufacturers.” Drug control authorities of Punjab had little or no idea about the banned drugs, or their unregulated and in many cases “over-the- counter sale.” Officials of the health department are ignorant of such a menace. In such a dismal scenario, it would be too much to expect any action from the drug enforcement authorities in this respect. Sources in the medicine trade in the city admitted that most of the drugs banned worldwide, and India are being marketed and sold in the local market. “Why should we not sell these medicines when these are being manufactured and also prescribed by the doctors,” asked a leading chemist in Pindi Street, the largest market of medicines in this region. A senior faculty member in the pharmacology department of a local medical college said, “It is for the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation of the Central government to frame guidelines to ban drugs or restrict its use. The lists of such drugs are circulated among drug manufacturers who are asked to make amendments in the relevant laws to curb manufacture and sale of such drugs.
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Despite reminders, MC fails to check poor sanitation
Doraha, May 25 The sewer water gets accumulated in Kaushal Street, Gobindpura Mohalla, and the street adjoining the Sher-e-Punjab dhaba. During the rainy season, water frequently gets accumulated in the Lakkar Mandi, post office and the Jaipura roads. This not only puts passers-by to hardship but could cause serious health hazard to the residents. All-India Federation of Democratic Youth chairman Jandeep Kaushal, who also resides here, says, “Repeated reminders to the municipal corporation have fallen on deaf ears as the latter has failed to provide a permanent solution to this problem.” One of the sewer pipes in the Sher-e-Punjab Street, it is learnt, was wrongly placed. Thus, sewer water on finding no passage gets accumulated on the road. Every time the foul smelling water collects on the road, sanitary employees of the municipal council pump out the water instead of solving it. The residents complain that apart from stagnant water, heaps of garbage needs to be attended to, but the authorities seem to be unconcerned. The garbage provides a congenial breeding ground for mosquitoes and other flies. “In such weather, water-borne diseases can spread in no time if such conditions are allowed to prevail. The garbage is first allowed to accumulate and then cleared on temporary basis which again get recollected.” The resident had earlier staged a dharna in front of the municipal corporation’s office on April 14 and April 18. But, their pleas fell on deaf ears. The residents have now warned to take adverse steps if the administration fails to wake up from slumber.
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Fill posts, says media body
Ludhiana, May 25 It also demanded that 23 eligible persons be promoted to the posts of deputy mass media and information officer without delay. A meeting of the association was held here today under the presidentship of Satish Sachdeva where it was demanded that 86 vacant posts of block extension educator be filled and the posts of district mass education and information officer and deputy mass education and information officer be approved for the newly carved districts of Moga, Muktsar, Barnala, Mohali, Tarn Taran and Nawanshahr.
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Assn honours new member
Ludhiana, May 25
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Curb beggary
Children begging is a common sight in every corner of the city. Lack of education and income force these poor people into begging. With the rise in number of beggars, chances of crimes like snatching, theft and pick-pocketing have increased. Small children are often seen cleaning vehicles in the hope of getting alms at each traffic signal, despite the risk to their lives. The local administration must curb the problem by providing food, education and employment to these children. Crime will then automatically come down. Chander Garg, Ludhiana Readers are invited to mail letters (not more than 200 words) at "ludhiana@tribunemail.com" or post the same to The Tribune, 1, 2 Improvement Trust Building, Badaur House, Clock Tower, Ludhiana.
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Cousins commit suicide
Jagraon, May 25 According to information, Sarbjit Kaur was a student of 8th and after her result was declared, she left the house on the pretext of buying books whereas her cousin Sukhwinder Singh was already out of his house. Both did not return to their houses and the parents searched them. The bodies of both were found lying on the floor in a house belonging to Joginder Singh, an NRI, who resides in America and had handed over the possession to the parents of the deceased to look after his house in the absence. DSP Bhupinder Singh and SHO Sandeep Wadhera brought their bodies to a local hospital for post-mortem. The police suspected that both of them had consumed poison but could not establish reason for suicide. Villagers suspected it to be the result of illicit relations.
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New industrial policy soon
Ludhiana, May 25 Addressing industrialists at a function to distribute pending capital subsidy to 400-odd urban industrial units in the state, Badal said industry’s problems pertaining to power and infrastructure were his government’s priority but there were issues on which the industry also needed to take responsibility. Badal asserted on the need for a smooth environment for industry as the state could not bank on agriculture alone for its growth. Blaming Centre’s policies, like incentives to neighbouring states, Badal said such biased policies had come as a blow on Punjab’s industry. “We do not get any big industrial enterprise, even our own units are shifting to other states thanks to such policies. But we would continue making our efforts,” he added. On power generation, he said various projects resulting in a generation of 5,000 to 6000 MW power in the state would be completed during the coming 5 years and the state would be surplus in power. The government had also planned to substantially improve the air-connectivity and the work on setting up of second International Airport at Mohali had already been initiated. He hoped that within a period of two to three months, the flights would start operating. He also claimed that Sanewal Airport in Ludhiana district was being upgraded for domestic flights, which would facilitate the industrialists visiting from other parts of country to Punjab. To further improve the air connectivity, the government had also set up a civil terminal at Bathinda, he added. He said, “The new industrial policy of the state would be formulated soon. “We are framing it in consultation with UNIDO to ensure that we come up to international standards.”
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PAU scientists educate farmers, volunteers
Doraha, May 25 Dr C.S. Malhi, senior scientist from zoology department of PAU, delivered a lecture on various techniques to keep birds at bay from the growing crop. He practically demonstrated various devices for the same. He regretted the fact that the ecological balance has been damaged greatly by using insecticide. Dr Neena Singla from zoology department enlightened the farmers regarding protection of crops from the harmful effects of pests especially rats which being a destructive rodent can damage the crops up to five per cent. She also gave a demonstration to the farmers regarding the preparation of the rat killer repellent. Dr D.S. Khurana stressed upon the need of organic farming by strongly opposing the use of pesticides and insecticides. He stressed upon the need for various organic materials like vermin-compost and ruri, instead of chemical fertilizers. Dr Sukhjit Kaur elaborated upon various techniques of growing and maintaining fruit orchards. The scientists attended to the queries of the farmers and the NSS volunteers. Dr Parminder Singh expressed his views on land- scaping. Programme officer Harwinder Kaur thanked the guests.
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200 examined at eye camp
Mandi Ahmedgarh, May 25 A team of ophthalmologists observed this after examining around 200 students at an eye camp organised jointly by State Bank of Patiala and the health authorities at Government Elementary School, Momnabad, near here yesterday. Dr K.S. Khurana, SMO at local civil hospital, presided over the function inaugurated by Bharpoor Singh, senior manager. Cautioning that prognosis in treatment of amblyopic eye was not encouraging after the age of ten year, Dr Rajesh Garg, a surgeon, called upon office-bearers of social and educational organisations to impress upon residents of their areas to get eyes of their wards examined as early and often as possible. “As eyesight of only one eye is affected in this congenital disorder. The ailment does not get detected till vision of the second eye gets diminished. Regular and organised examination of eyes of students of primary and elementary schools can save the children from loosing eyesight due to this disease and allied disorders,” said Dr Garg claiming that more than fifty per cent teenage eye patients suffered from this inborn disease. Regular treatment of the affected students was started at civil hospital here. The organisers provided free medicines and spectacles to the patients.
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Obesity camp
Doraha, May 25 Dr Gurdip Singh Sidhu, director and chief of minimally invasive and bariatric surgery unit of the hospital, said surgery for morbidly obese patients was a group effort involving specialists and services from various disciplineof medicine. It needs a strong infrastructure back up and the institutes where these surgeries are performed should be centres of excellence in this field, as the morbidly obese patients usually suffer from a host of associated diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep disturbances, gynaecological, psychological and many other problems.
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Aerobics, yoga camp concludes
Ludhiana, May 25 Deputy speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Sat Pal Gosain, exhorted the people to adopt yoga and meditation for spiritual and physical betterment. He said in the modern age when the life was moving at a very fast pace, aerobic exercises and yoga could provide freedom from stress and other lifestyle problems. Instructor at the camp Jugal Kishore Arora conducted various fitness and rhythmic exercises for the participants and apprised them with specific benefits of aerobics and yoga for better mental and physical health. He said the club would continue to hold such physical fitness and drug de-addiction camps in future as well.
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NIMA holds cardiac camp
Ludhiana, May 25
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Ludhiana lads emerge champion
Ludhiana, May 25 In the boy’s final, Ludhiana faced little resistance from their opponents, Sangrur, whom they overcame 10-4 to clinch the title. The final in the girl’s section played between Gurdaspur and Sangrur turned out to be a low scoring affair with the former emerging victors 3-0. Earlier, in the semifinals (boys), Sangrur registered an authentic victory (8-1) over Amritsar while Ludhiana blanked Bathinda 4-0 to advance into the final. In the girl’s semifinals, Ludhiana suffered defeat (0-6) against Sangrur while Gurdaspur prevailed over Bathinda 6-2. In the league matches (girls), Ludhiana beat Taran Tarn 4-0; Gurdapsur outplayed Moga 4-0 and Bathinda overwhelmed Jalandhar 11-3 In the boy’s section, Gurdaspur drubbed Faridkot 11-1; Bathinda demolished Moga 10-0; Ludhiana outclassed Ferozepur 14-0; Bathinda managed to squeeze past Gurdaspur 11-10 and Amritsar got the better of Jalandhar 6-0. Gursharan Singh, deputy director of sports, Punjab, distributed the prizes. Gian Singh and P.N. Passi, vice-president and honorary secretary, respectively, of the Punjab Softball Association along with other office-bearers of the association were present at the prize distribution function.
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Ram Prakash lead table tally
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 25 Points after 6th round: Ram Prakash 5.5, Vikas 5.5, Himal 5, Sanjeev Sood 5, Ashwani Nirankari 5, Harbans Singh 5, Anurudh Garg 4.5, Ameek Malhotra 4.5, Vinit Bansal 4.5, C.M. Sharma 4.5. Vajpayee 4.5, Joshi 4.5, Sumit Mahajan 4.5, Intakhab Alam 4.5, Saurabh Goel 4, Sunil Bansal 4, Harish Sharma 4, K. Viswanthitha 4, Satbir Pannu 4, Surinder Marwaha 4, Amarjeet Singh 4. Manpal Singh 4, Sanjeev Kumar Jain 4, Pranjal Kaura 4, Akash Bhardwaj 4, K. Aditya 4, Iqvinder Singh 3.5, Tejas Nagpal 3.5, Cheema S.S. 3.5, Sandeep Minhas 3.5, Shweta 3.5, Barinder Pal Singh 3.5, Sundeep Singh 3.5, Gitin Oberoi 3.5. Abhinav Bansal 3.5, S.P. Gupta 3.5, Kamaljeet 3.5, Sachleen Singh 3.5, Nipun 3.5, Rajesh Khosla 3, Harinder Pal Singh 3, Zubin Arora 3, Saurabh Sandhir 3, Rishu Rathi 3, K. Koumudi 3, Jit Singh 3, Abhishek 3, Mayank Kaura 3, Yatin Bansal 3, Anita 3, Anubhav Tuknayat 3. Kushaal Singla 3, Manish Sehgal 3, Simranjeet Kaur 3, Manu Agarwal 3, Vinod Kumar 3, Mehul Jotshi 3, Vikram Huda 3, Shrishti Jain 3, Vishwa Poswal 3, Madan Lal 3, Kirpal Singh Pannu 2.5, Arunima Goyal 2.5, Satyam Tondon 2.5. Raghu Arora 2.5, Rahul Astir 2.5, Ayushman Sinha 2.5, Simran (Jal) 2, Jay Arora 2, Jayatinder S. Hundal 2, Monu 2, Pankaj Khular 2, Gagandeep 2, Gauri Chuttani 2, Karan Ahuja 2, Armaan Deep Singh 2. Harinder 2, Shivangi 2, Tanya 2, Dinesh Kumar Palsawal 2, Prince Sharma 2, Neeraj Kumar 2, Shubham Jindal 2, Saarthak Chuttani 2, Shivam Sahni 2, Dhruv Sandhir 1.5, Tarini Goyal 1.5, Sachin Sapra 1, Sahil Dhawan 1, Piyush Khanna 1, Jaskeerat Singh 1, Priyanka 1, Kashish 1, Gagandeep Singh 1, Nipun Khanna 0.
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Football course concludes
Chandigarh, May 25 Ten women and 14 men were awarded certificates. Encouraged with the response, the Chandigarh Football Association has decided to request the AIFF to conduct more coaching courses, including Licence-C coaching course from next year. All India Football Federation conducted the course. Those who successfully completed the course were: Suman Deep Kaur, Anjana Thakur, Meena Kumari, Poonam, Poonam Deol, Pooja, Parvinder Kuar, Kamaljit Kaur, Jaskiran Kaur, Harnoor Kaur Chahal, Surjit Singh, Dinesh Patrick, Raman Jinta, Kartik Bhardwaj, Viney Kanwar, Kanwar Vinod Kumar, Kulwinder Singh, Vishal Rana, Vijay Bhatt, Ramesh Chand Bhatt, Ashutosh Sharma, Mohak, Pankaj and Mukesh.
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