Abohar
Dhanwantri Jayanti celebrated: The National Integrated Medical Association (NIMA) celebrated Dhanwantri Jayanti at Sardar Patel Medical Institute here. Subhash Nagpal, former state president of the NIMA, Harbans Singh Popli, president of the Lions Club, Gauri Shankar Mittal, chairman of the host institute and K.K. Sharma, former district Ayurvedic officer spoke on the life, work and teachings of Lord Dhanwantri. The ritual was performed by Ganga Dhar Shastri. The speakers laid emphasis on balanced diet besides daily exercise for healthy life.

Chandigarh
Pehalwan is SAD wing chief: Surinder Singh Pehalwan has been appointed president of the employees’ wing of the SAD. He has been reappointed president of the employee’s wing of the party on the basis of his past performance.

Mansa
Security beefed up in Mansa: Mansa police has beefed up security in the district in view of Diwali. SSP Manvinder Singh said that nakas had been set up at different places in the city and patrolling was being carried out to check the activities of anti-social elements. Documents of vehicles were being checked by the police at different places, he added. Meanwhile, the executive officer of Mansa municipal council has issued orders to remove illegal encroachments in the market outside the shops.

Synthetic khoya seized: The health department during a raid on Monday recovered synthetic khoa and sweets made of it from a shop in Mansa city. Civil surgeon Dr G.S. Nagi said that the health department team recovered one quintal of synthetic khoa from a shop of Shiv Charan Dass.

Increase bonus for paddy: CPI: National Council member of Communist Party of India, Hardev Singh Arsi, has expressed concern over the improper purchasing and lifting of paddy in the markets of Punjab. Arsi said the officials of agencies had been operating from Chandigarh. He said they should visit the grain markets in the state to know the problems in procurement. The CPI member demanded that the state government should increase the bonus for paddy.

CHANDIGARH
SDO held on graft charge: The Haryana State Vigilance Bureau has caught red-handed SDO of Panchayati Raj, Hisar, Naresh Kumar while taking a bribe of Rs 4,000 from Dharambir, a resident of Mirkan village, Hisar. Stating this here on Monday, a spokesman for the bureau said a case had been registered against him.

Children Science Congress: To popularise science among students, the Haryana State Council for Science and Technology (HSCST) has decided to organise District Children Science Congress (DCSCs) in each district of the state during November and December. A spokesman for the HSCST said the DCSCs would be organised through the District Popularisation Coordination Committee headed by the deputy commissioner concerned and after culmination of DCSCs, a state-level Children Science Congress would also be organised.

FARIDABAD
10 gamblers held: The local police on Monday arrested 10 persons in connection with betting on cricket matches related to the ongoing ICL tournament. The special cell of the Haryana police and the local CIA conducted the raid at a residence in Sector 21-B and nabbed the persons. A sum of Rs 1 lakh was also seized from the residence. However, they were let out on bail when produced in court. Though there is no documentary proof, the general perception, however, is that the police let off one kingpin of the betting racket after the initial arrests.

CHAMBA
PTA teachers hold rally: PTA teachers took out a procession and held a rally in support of their ongoing agitation for regularisation of their services on Monday. They raised slogans against the Dhumal government for its alleged indifferent attitude towards them. They alleged they were being discriminated against as regards their genuine cause of formulating a foolproof policy for their regular appointments.

Camp for Haj pilgrims: A three-day camp for Haj pilgrims commenced here on Monday. In all, 66 persons of from the district are taking part in it. The participants of the camp will be immunised on October 29. According to Kariarshad, a member of the Himachal Pradesh Haj Committee, 191 persons from all over the state will assemble in Delhi on November 1 and leave for the pilgrimage from Delhi to Mecca by air on November 4.

CHANDIGARH
Shahi Rang Shimla Ke: The Shimla station of Doordarshan will telecast the first episode of its latest in-house production, Shahi Rang Shimla Ke, at 7.15 pm on Wednesday. The new serial will be telecast every Wednesday. It will focus on rich heritage, art, culture, lifestyle, nature and beauty of Shimla. Conceived, devised and produced by Agyapal Singh Randhawa, the serial will be compered by Sangita Sharma. It will also feature eminent personalities of Shimla, besides those visiting the capital town of Himachal Pradesh.

NURPUR
Memorandum submitted: The local Municipal Council (MC) has submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal for releasing of funds for completion of a number of development projects left halfway due to paucity of funds. According to the president of the MC, the Chief Minister has been requested to release funds to the tune of Rs 20 lakh required for completion of community hall and for starting the work of the proposed sewerage system of the town sanctioned two years back.

Shimla
Rs 2 cr for CM’s Relief Fund: Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal received a cheque of Rs 2 crore as contribution towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund from CMD of the Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam H.K. Sharma here today.

VAT return date extended: The government has extended the last date for submission of the annual VAT returns for 2007-08 in form VAT-XV-A to November 30 to facilitate traders. A notification in this regard was issued here on Monday, an official spokesman said.

Wages of anganwari workers up: Anganwari workers and helpers will get monthly emoluments of Rs 1,800 and Rs 950, respectively, following the decision of the Centre to revise the honorarium with effect from April, 2008.

An official spokesperson said additional annual benefit would be Rs 6,000 to the workers and Rs 3,000 to helpers. The Diwali gift from the Government of India would benefit about 36,500 anganwari workers and helpers working in 18,248 anganwari centres in the state.