Amritsar, September 19
The non-lifting of garbage by the local municipal corporation employees has not only created hellish condition in the city but has literally converted the premises of the Mayor’s office into a garbage dump. The employees parked the official tractor-trailers loaded with garbage outside the Mayor’s office, causing a lot of inconvenience to the visitors.

Members of the various safai karamshari unions have been agitating against the passing of tenders for solid waste management - an ambitious project of the BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu.

However, municipal corporation commissioner D.P.S. Kharbanda has said that no employee would be retrenched while implementing the solid waste management project. He said the residents of the holy city, especially MC employees, should rather feel happy that Amritsar had become the first city in the state to take this “revolutionary step” to clean the lanes and bazaars. “The heaps of garbage would disappear from the city because the employees of the firm would collect garbage from the doorsteps,” he claimed. The commissioner said that a meeting with office-bearers of the various MC unions had been fixed for September 22 for finding an amicable solution to the stalemate.

Earlier, the Shiromani Akali Dal’s senior deputy mayor Ajaybir Singh Randhawa and junior deputy mayor Kashmir Singh had boycotted the meeting of the finance and contract committee of the MC headed by Mayor Shavet Malik, who belongs to the BJP. They alleged that it was “against coalition dharma” that councillors of the SAD were not being taken into confidence while taking important decisions. They have been demanding cancellation of the solid waste management project.

Meanwhile, the SAD councillors, led by Randhawa, have sought time from the Chief Minister to brief him on the stalemate. Talking to Amritsar Plus, Randhawa said that they would urge the CM to direct the Mayor to cancel the project.

Amritsar, September 19
In order to facilitate the pilgrims visiting the Durgiana temple from the far off places in the country and abroad, the Durgiana Management Committee (DMC) has decided to construct a new serai at its land located near Gol Bagh in the city.

Stating this to The Tribune here today, Harish Taneja, joint secretary, DMC, said the serai would have state-of-the-art facilities for the devotees staying in the complex. He said the serai would also have AC rooms, which would also be equipped with TV, telephone, etc. He said services of a renowned architect were being taken to build one of the most modern serais of the country.

Taneja said renovation work of the 30,000 sq ft parikarma was going on a war footing as the level of the parikarma was being raised besides replacing the old marble tiles on its surface. He said the work on the parikarma was likely to be completed before the start of Navratras on September 29. He said they had also decided to provide shed on the parikarma as the marble tiles got heated up during the summer season and it became difficult for the devotees to walk on it.

The joint secretary said the renovation work of Mata Dhanwant Kaur Dharamshala in the Durgiana temple complex would also be taken on a war footing and the big halls  would be split into two or three portions to accommodate more  groups of pilgrims.

He said coolers would also be installed in the rooms. Besides this, the big hall of Mata Sitla Mandir, where the devotees performed “mundan” ceremony and other functions, was also being renovated and the work would be completed before the first Navratra.

He announced that the DMC had also decided to establish a Shani temple in the Durgiana complex. Marble tiles would also be laid on the passage to the Hanuman Mandir, besides constructing a huge gate near the Dasehra ground adjacent to it.

He said the devotees had once again started donating liberally keeping in view the works being undertaken by the DMC in the shrine complex. He said the 80 per cent work in the Shiv Puri was complete and they  had urged mayor Shwet Malik and commissioner D.P.S. Kharbanda to complete the remaining work in stipulated time.

He announced that a five-member delegation of the DMC, led by its patron Ram Parkash, would soon meet deputy director, local bodies department, to release the funds to pay compensation to the people whose lands was to be acquired under the beautification plan. He said already the government had released the funds and if the department failed to release the cheques they would complain to the Chief Minister.

Amritsar, September 19
The All-India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) have taken a serious view of the Akal Takht’s silence over the violation of Sikh maryada by a private publisher, Chattar Singh Jiwan Singh.

The president of the federation, Dr Manjit Singh Bhoma, told mediapersons here on Thursday that strict action should be taken against the publishers who allegedly tried to send heroin in the devotional CDs and cassettes to Canada through a reputed courier company. He said the silence on this serious issue by the Sikh high priests had raised many a serious concerns in the Sikh community.Bhoma said the crime committed by the publisher could not be condoned and the community was dismayed that the Sikh high priests had failed to take cognisance of the issue. 
— OC

Amritsar, September 19
Pt Baij Nath, a great scholar of Persian and Sanskrit, founded PBN School in 1893 near the historic Hall Gate, which has emerged as an epitome of learning in the past 115 years.

It is one of the oldest institutes of Punjab which produced many stalwarts in the field of Indian Army, cricket, politics and art and culture. Martyr Madan Lal Dhingra was also product of the school. The school’s motto is “Learning, Loyalty and Piety.”

During a span of 115 years, the school has carved out a niche for itself on the educational map. Following the traditions set forth by the founders, the school aims at the harmonious development of the students.

According to Rajeev Kumaria, principal, PBN School, Pt Ram Nath, former manager-cum-principal of the school, was also founder of the Scouting Movement in Amritsar and also nurtured the Gandhi Ground by setting up the Amritsar Games Association.

This citadel of education is known as the “Nursery of cricket” and claims to produce maximum number of Ranji Trophy players. This is the only school in Punjab having produced two Test cricketers, namely Madan Lal and Vijay Mehra.

The Eco Club of the school encourages the students to participate in national-level competitions organised by Jim Corbett, ICEWSSAR and Shivaji Foundation Society in order to create environmental awareness against hazards of pollution. The students won the overall first prize in these competitions.

The school’s Science Club aims to inculcate scientific attitude in students and prompts them to participate in the district and tehsil-level science fairs and the district science drama.

The Science Club has won several prizes in different themes. The bhangra team of the school won the first position in the Independence Day function last year.

The founder of the school was instrumental in starting Pt Baij Nath Special Train to different parts of the country every year.

The NCC Air Wing every year brings laurels to the school by winning prizes in the Combined Annual Training Camp. Chief Officer R.S. Biala has been adjudged as the best ANO by the Director-General. NCC, New Delhi. The school produced Balbir Singh, an international gymnast.

Principal Rajeev Kumaria claims that the school has been maintaining academic excellence by showing 100 per cent results.

The school has produced luminaries of national and international repute. The notable among them are R.L. Bhatia, Governor of Bihar; Field Marshall Sam Manek Shaw, hero of Bangladesh War; Madan Lal Dhingra, great martyr; Mulakh Raj Anand, literary giant of international repute; Dr S.P. Bhatia, world fame medical specialist residing in the UK; Justice A.N. Grover; I.S. Johar, film comedian; Partap Chand Bhandari, former MLA; Ramesh Aggarwal, designer of Patriot missile in the USA; G.R. Sethi, veteran journalist; Kedar Sharma, film producer and director; Sada Nand, IAS and former adviser to the Punjab Governor; Harisharan Arora, mathematician at IBM (USA); Dr Vishwanath, zoologist of international fame; Suresh Chander Sharma, director, Informatic Centre, New Delhi; Charanjit Singh Chadha, president, Chief Khalsa Diwan; Dr Tejinder Singh, radiologist of national fame; Dr Santokh Singh, vice-president, Chief Khalsa Diwan; Rai Bahadur Parkash Chand Mehra; Rai Bahadur Labh Chand Mehra; Chandan Prabhakar, comedian of Laughter Challenge Show; Krishan Mohindru, founder of basketball in Amritsar; Sukhdev Singh, former SSP (vigilance) and many other great personalities.

Amritsar, September 19
All religions should come forward to devise a common minimum programme to rid society of hatred and social menaces.

Renowned scholars participating in the national seminar on the Namdhari Movement organised here today by Guru Nanak Dev University were unanimous in their views that all religions need to stress on one singular goal - generating goodwill and peace.

More than 20 research papers on the Kuka Lehar, the revolt of 1857, role of the peasants of Punjab during the Kuka Lehar and role of the Namdhari sants and mahants to popularise the Namdhari Mission were presented on the occasion.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr Mohinder Singh, director, Bhai Veer Singh Sahitya Sadan, said it was important to differentiate between the academic research and the popular history and raised many pertinent questions to the academic historians. He dwelt at length on the non-cooperation movement started by Namdhari Guru Ram Singh in the late 19th century and the role of Sikhs in the revolt of 1857.

The participation of Sikh rulers on the side of the Britishers should not be construed as the participation of Sikhs in general.

Speaking on the occasion, Thakur Uday Singh, a close relative of Baba Ram Singh and managing director of the Seed Corporation, Bangalore, said Guru Nanak Dev preached the message of the welfare of humanity and respect to all religions.

He said Namdhari Guru Ram Singh also raised his voice against the prevailing social evils which needed to be talked about even today.

He said only Namdhari fraternity and Jain religion had been able to create a balance in society by getting rid of female foeticide, dowry, drug de-addiction and other social evils.

Amritsar, September 19
As many as 424 students were honoured during a prize distribution function organised at Spring Dale Senior School here on September 18. Many of these students have proved their merit and mettle at international fora. Bikram Singh Majithia, minister for information and public relations was the chief guest, while Rajmohinder Singh Majithia, MP Rajya Sabha, was the guest of honour.

Amritsar, September 19
More than 300 spas would be established throughout the country by Lambency group, said Sudhir Sharma, vice-president sales and marketing of Lambency to the media here on September 18.

To start with four spas, equipped with state-of-the-art technology and experienced physiologists, would be set up in the country. “Our main aim is to popularise the concept of spas among the common man. At present, there were 150 spas in the country and most of them in five or seven star hotels,” said Sharma. He said Lambency, a leading sandalwood cosmetics brand, organised a workshop in the city to create awareness among the beauticians to promote the use of sandalwood oil. He further said the company would also provide training in various level courses to the beauticians of the city who want to upgrade their skills.

Amritsar, September 19
The Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine (Punjab), in collaboration with the Social Medicine Association, would organise a CME on “Medical education in the era of globalisation” at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital here on September 21.

National Institute of Health and Family Welfare director Dr Deoke Nandan would be the chief guest, while research and medical education director Dr J.S. Dalal and health and family welfare director Dr S.P.S. Sohal would be the guests of honour, said association chairman Dr Tejbir Singh.

He said the health scene in the country was changing very fast and the healthcare delivery system had become hi-tech.

However, the medical education had not equipped itself to face the new challenges, Dr Tejbir said, adding that the medical curriculum and other procedures were mainly determined by academicians, while the users’ point of view was not given much importance.

He pointed out that there was an urgent need for an open debate among all the stakeholders, including medical council, medical universities, public health manpower, super-specialists, corporate houses, panchayati raj institutions, NGOs and people at large, to reach a consensus to ensure proper medical education.