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Vehicles with illegal LPG
kits enjoy free run in city
Jalandhar, January 22 It’s an open secret that hundreds of unauthorised LPG-run vehicles have been plying in different parts of the city. According to information provided by Jalandhar district transport officer (DTO) Babita Kler to advocate Rajinder Bhatia under the RTI Act, none of these illegal vehicles was impounded from September 2007 to September 2008 as no such vehicle was found plying in contravention of the instructions of the government. Babita’s three-page letter states that there are only 10 agencies in Jalandhar which have been approved by the transport department to fit LPG kits. These are Shubam Motors at Parkash Nagar, Jyoti Car Gas in Model Town, Ginni Car Gas at GTB Nagar, Sawhney Gas Equipment at Shakti Nagar, Harnam Auto Gas at Ladowali Road, Jolly Motors at Civil Lines, Super Auto Gas at Doaba Chowk, Reha Motors at Tanda Road, Auto Gas, Chugitti bypass and Kang Associates at Bhur Mandi. The DTO further states that the application received on the prescribed proforma 20 of the Motor Vehicles Act is forwarded to the motor vehicle inspector (MVI) for approval to ensure that the LPG kit fitted in the vehicle adheres to safety regulations. On receipt of the MVI’s report with his recommendation, the necessary approval by the DTO is provided and the entry for the fitment of the LPG kit is made in the related registration book as well as in the office record, she adds. According to section 115-C (3) of the MV Act, a number of tests, including mass emission test, engine performance test and constant speed fuel consumption test will be conducted by the test agency, she says, adding that the test agency will give the certificate within three months from the date of issue of such approval which will be renewable after three years. School bus use The transport authority does not permit any school bus to be used for any purposes except school requirements. DTO Babita Kler says if a school bus is found carrying a marriage or any other party, the same is challaned and a composition fee is received from the owner as prescribed. If the owner fails to pay the requisite composition fee, the bus is impounded.
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The man with clear
Kanth Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, January 22 He arrives and the illusion evaporates in thin air. Dressed in a track suit, minus the bling, the gel or the tantrums for that matter, he says, “(I) would have dressed better if I knew you were getting a camera.” He then flashes his million dollar smile and said, “Never mind. Sometimes casual is better.” Kanth Kaler is the perfect combination that the Punjabi masses want in their singer. Turning teary-eyed sissies out of the brawny brats of Punjab with his blue numbers like “tu chete aaven” and sweeping away the bhangra crowds with hits like “beeba munda vigar gaya”, his is a voice which knows how to balance the extremes and make the best out of them. Born and brought up in Nakodar, Kaler started learning music at the age of 10 from Ustad R.P. Rana. “I used to sing at the school bal sabha. From there teachers saw a hope in me. Then studying at DAV College, Nakodar, I started winning talent hunts and finally took to the youth festivals which I won for three years in a row,” he says. His original name being Harvinder Kaler, he has also been composing his own songs. Kaler’s big break of sorts came his cassette which he casually recorded at home was borrowed by one of his friends. “My friend got the cassette recorded from a shop and the shopkeeper, who happened to be the nephew of famous lyricist Madan Jalandhari, was impressed by my voice and took the recording to his uncle. They asked me to meet them. I was initially reluctant. Didn’t even have enough money to travel from Nakodar to Jalandhar in those days. But I got in touch with Madan and after about two years my first album ‘Hun teri nigah badal gayi’ was released.” Out of the seven albums that he has cut, his favourite is “Intezaar”. Till recently known as Kaler Kanth the change in his name is owing to the advice by his spiritual guru Baba Murad Shah. “He told me to place the Kanth (voice) before all. Gala tan ret di kandh hai, kade vi dheh sakda, it’s the spirit which keeps you going,” the singer quips. The artiste is fond of rich lyrics and has even penned some his own compositions. His favourite writers being Gurdiyal Roshan, Ulfat Bajwa, Surjit Patar and Amrita Pritam, he has also cut some religious albums. He would soon be singing for the film “Chhevan Dariya”. Presently living with wife Tanu, son Kunal, brother Kamal and his parents in Nakodar, he doesn’t rule out the possibility of acting in the near future. His message to the younger generation, “Stay healthy and peaceful. Do not look for shortcuts in life.”
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RTI Act is yet to reach masses: Gill
Jalandhar, January 22 Talking about the significance of the act, he said despite coming in force in October 2005, the act had not reached the masses. Even the state government had not taken initiatives to educate the people on the usage of the act for the development of society. “More than three years have passed but the government has not to put up display boards at public places,” he added. However, talking about the successful implementation of the act in some states, the commissioner said, “Bihar has done exceptionally well in bringing the common man’s problems to the fore, thereby ushering in a new era of transparent governance. And following Bihar are the states of Haryana and Maharashtra where efforts are on to introduce a single phone number for the appellants.” He said, “Ever since the act came into being, we have received 7,800 cases, of which 6,600 have been disposed off. We have also imposed a penalty of Rs 9.5 lakh in 58 cases, which include bureaucrats as well. Besides, a compensation of Rs 2.36 lakh has been provided in 96 cases.” Answering a query pertaining to the efforts being made for the speedy redress of cases, he maintained that the information panel had proposed to set up four divisional benches at Jalandhar, Patiala, Faridkot and Ferozepore. He also said the public information commissioner (PIO) was supposed to provide information on a case even if it was pending with the court. Highlighting the pro-active role of the media in creating awareness among the people, Gill said, “Media, as a watchdog of society, should bring forth issues pertaining to the RTI on a larger extent. This will benefit the masses at the grass-roots level.”
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Playing mother to the unfortunate
Kusum Arora Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, January 22 Abandoned, the two-year-old baby lay with ants and insects gorging on her eyes and lips. No one could have hoped then that she was destined to get a good home. But providence proved mightier than the cruel intentions of her parents and she survived. A phone call made in the hour of crisis changed her destiny. Today she is bestowed with parental love and leads a contented life with her foster parents. This is one of the few examples for which city-based NGO Jalandhar Welfare Society (JWS), a child helpline, has been working. Aimed at protecting the rights of children, the NGO has come a long way. For the children of a lesser God, life starts afresh here. The role of the NGO in addressing the plight of abandoned girls, street children, children working as domestic help and many others, cannot be undermined. For scores of children putting up at Unique Home, Nari Niketan, Gandhi Vanita Ashram and Pingalghar, the JWS has been a shelter provider. The NGO also runs a toll-free child helpline number 1098, which works 24x7. Started in 1981 by Ajit Singh Saini, father of Surinder Saini, the NGO has till date given shelter to more than 200 children. The JWS has given shelter to 34 children, including girls, at Nari Niketan, 43 at Unique Home, 75 at Gandhi Vanita Ashram and 50 at the city-based Pinglaghar. Talking to The Tribune, Surinder Saini, chief functionary of the NGO, said, “We work round the clock with the help of our ambulance emergency service for children in need. It has been 28 years since we started working to help the children in distress.” The organisation has been running a free dispensary at the Nari Niketan Trust of former Prime Minister I.K. Gujral for the slum dwellers of the city. For his services to the needy, Surinder was given the state award for social work in 1989 and Best Citizen of India award by a Delhi-based organisation.
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Exchange programme: City student, teacher visit Japan
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, January 22 During their 15-day stay in Japan, the duo got a chance to interact with students of Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and India. The group comprised 660 participants, 600 students and 60 educators. From India 60 students and six educators participated in the programme. The students went on study tours and visited some of the significant places of Japan, including Hiroshima, Kobe, Kyoto and Tokyo. In Hiroshima, they visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park which is listed on UNESCO world heritage site along with a Shinto shrine in Miyajima. The students visited a Buddhist temple in Tokyo. Meanwhile, as part of the exchange programme, the students also stayed with a Japanese family. IT euphoria The Department of Computer Science of KMV College organised “Kite-2009 - KMV’s information technology euphoria” on January 20. As many as 20 colleges of Guru Nanak Dev University participated in the event. The events
were paper presentation, website development, net savvy, exquisite display of posters, speak
your mind, logic whirlpool, ad-mad show and a cultural programme. BR Ambedkar National Institute
of Technology (NIT) director Dr Moin Uddin distributed prizes among 21 students. Meanwhile, computer science students of the Kamla Nehru College for Women, Phagwara, Pallavi, Bhavna, Shavina, Harjot and Isha, bagged
the first prize in the “ad-mad” show. Painting exhibition A painting exhibition was organised at St. Soldier Divine Public School, Kapurthala Road, on Thursday. About 40 students of different classes presented their paintings on the topics like female foeticide, environment, social service, birds, culture, dance, importance of books, dowry system, etc. The works by Sonakshi, Kamaljot, Anuradha, Jasleen, Nandini, Palvi and Neha were declared a
s the best paintings of the exhibition. CT placements Eight MBA students of the CT group of institutions have secured placements with Religare Insurance Broking Limited. Students have been offered a package of Rs 1.8 lakh each. Meanwhile, students of Lyallpur Khalsa College secured placements with IBM. As many as 31 students of BSc (IT), computer science, BCA, BSc (biotech), B.Sc (informatics), BBA, BCom and BA were selected. Students would join the company after the completion of their final year. Video conference HMV College, organised a video conference on “nano technology and nano science” for undergraduate classes. Resource person and reader of DBS (PG) College, Kanpur, Dr Sanjay K. Sharma, acquainted students with nano science, nano technology, nano machines and its various applications in the field of medicare and health, information technology, biotechnology, environment and energy. Later, an interaction session was also held. In another programme, the institute organised a video conference on “sexual harassment of women at workplace”. The programme was addressed by Supreme Court advocate Priya Hingorani. Principal J. Kackria urged the students to understand the significance of women power and safeguard
their rights.
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PTU to export education courses
Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, January 22 The university plans to open learning centres for teaching various technical courses already being offered through distance mode in SAARC nations, China, Nepal and other north-east Asian countries from September, 2009, onwards. “There is a great demand for courses in IT sector taught in English in China, fashion technology courses in Nepal, modular IT courses in Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries. The target will also be to cater to the needs of people of Indian origin (PIO) who wish to take up courses from Indian universities,” said Dr R.P. Singh, dean, distance education, during his presentation today. The presentation was made before VC Dr Rajneesh Arora, PTU’s distance education council chairman Dr O.P. Bajpai from Kurukshetra University, former secretary technical education G.B. Goyal, registrar Dr Sarojini Gautam Sharda, all PTU deans and owners of its 34 regional centres. Dr R.P. Singh said the modalities for the purpose had already been worked out. “We only need to explore the avenues a bit more. The IGNOU already has centres in 40 countries. Various PTU colleges, including Chitkara Institute, are also offering courses in collaboration with foreign universities,” he added. The members deliberated on adding new skill development courses, having more industrial tie-ups and need to have more experts in the council.
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IIM-C launches management programme
Jalandhar, January 22 The programme has been launched for the CA, CS and ICWA professionals so as to help them groom to take over the top management positions. Aimed at providing global knowledge of the rising market trends, the programmes would cover topics such as financial risk management, financial statements analysis and business valuation, corporate restructuring (mergers and acquisitions), strategic planning of human resources values, global competition and strategy and much more. The 18-month course with 16 cutting-edge subjects in financial management will be held after office hours. The classes will take place on Mondays and Tuesdays between 6.45 pm to 9.45 pm and the classes will be taken by IIM-Calcutta professors. The total fees for the 18-month course, including the application form and study material, is Rs 2,70,250. Students can submit their applications forms till January 25. Details of the programme are available at www.indialearn.com.
— TNS
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Jalandhar dist to be covered under health scheme
Jalandhar, January 22 This was disclosed by M.S. Sandhu, managing director of the Punjab health and family welfare department, in a meeting of senior government officials of the district, including the deputy commissioner, additional deputy commissioner, civil surgeon and other officers of different departments, here on Wednesday. Sandhu asked the officials to prepare a list of people falling below poverty lines so that they could be covered under the scheme. He disclosed that the identity cards of the beneficiaries would be made from February 1 onwards. The scheme would cover five members of a family, including one head and four other members. Under the scheme, the beneficiaries could avail themselves of medical assistance up to Rs 30,000 from government and government-recognised hospitals annually. Out of the total expenditure, the central government would bear 75 per cent while the rest would be borne by the state
government, he added.
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Two travel agents booked
Jalandhar, January 22 The accused were identified as Harpreet Singh and Sarabjit Singh, residents of Kapurthala district, police sources said. The action was taken on the complaint of one Jaspal Kaur of the Harnamdaspura locality in the city who alleged that the accused had taken Rs 3.55 lakh from her for sending her abroad. Neither the money was returned to her nor she was sent abroad by the accused, she complained. A case was registered against the accused in the police station concerned and efforts were on to arrest them, the sources added.
— PTI
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Couple held for fraud
Jalandhar, January 22 Karanvir Singh of the JP Nagar locality in the city alleged that Nirmal Singh and his wife Jasdeep Kaur had cheated him by selling a property in Delhi on fake documents, police sources said. The complainant alleged that the deal of the property was finalised at Rs 1 crore and he had paid Rs 25 lakh to the accused in five instalments. When insisted for the registry of the plot, Nirmal Singh denied it. When Karanvir demanded his money back, the accused gave him a cheque for Rs 25 lakh, which was dishonoured by the bank concerned due to non-availability of sufficient funds, the complainant alleged.
— PTI
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Riot victims allege discrimination
Jalandhar, January 22 Committee general secretary Manmohan Singh Saluja said this initiative revealed the step-motherly behaviour of the Punjab government against the 1984 riot victims. “As the victims are scattered all over the state, the facility should be made available to all the victims,” he said.
— TNS
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Recruitment rally on Feb 2, 3
Jalandhar, January 22
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