Jalandhar, April 7
Sounds quite unlikely, but it is official. Of the total 219 complaints received by the family counseling centre run by the Association for Social Health in India (ASHI) at the Red Cross Centre this year, as many as 47 per cent have been lodged by husbands.

The social workers and counselors attached with the society revealed that the complaints by the husbands were mostly of two natures, one set of men rued that their mothers-in-laws’ undue interference in their relationships and their wives simply complying to their mothers’ advice and wishes was beyond tolerance.

The other common complaint by the husbands has been that their wives were not smart enough to deal with their relatives and guests, their personal likings differed and there was a lot of personality difference between the two of them to carry on together, disclosed Harinder Singh, who is a counselor with the Red Cross Society for the past 16 years.

General secretary of the association Parminder Beri reacted saying, “Even as our 80-year old ASHI came into existence for the protection of the rights of women, we have to assume an altogether different role in such cases. Since a woman is wrong at some places, we need to guide her on the matter, pressing her to save her marriage and respect the rights of her husband.”

The association counselors have come across some other incidents of the victimisation of men as well. “Of late we have been hearing that a ‘gang’ of young women is active in duping NRI families who come back home for the marriages of their sons. Almost a month after the marriage, these women start indulging in bickerings and insist on a break-up. In the whole process, the NRIs end up paying a few lakh rupees as alimony to the women to get rid of the whole trouble. There have been instances where some women have tried this thrice or even four times with NRIs,” said an ASHI counselor.

Quoting another complaint by a husband, a counsellor said, “A highly educated middle aged man has been coming to us for family counseling.

While the lady is a lecturer, the husband also is a professor. The twosome had been living apart for more than a decade. We have had a number of sittings with either of the two after which we drew an influence that they were a perfect made-for-each-other couple and their fight had ensued over a petty issue”.

Narrating it he said, “The man was writing his PhD thesis at that time.

His wife had been cribbing for some days pressing him to procure some grocery items and getting an LPG cylinder. That day the cylinder got exhausted and the duo could not have dinner.

The wife, in a fit of rage, tore her husband’s thesis papers. Tempers flared up on the issue forcing them to separate.”

“The duo got several petitions and counter petitions lodged against each other in different courts.

It was later that they realised that the future of their two teenage kids was at stake because of their steps. This compelled them to visit the counseling centre for reconciliation. The misunderstandings got cleared up and the couple is about to patch up”, the councilor revealed. 

Jalandhar, April 7
“Corruption will not be tolerated in judiciary at any cost,” said Justice M.M. Kumar, a Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge, while interacting with members of the District Bar Association (DBA), here today.

Justice M.M. Kumar, who was on an inspection of the court complex here, asked the advocate fraternity for identifying corrupt element in the judiciary besides helping the litigants in getting justice.

Balwinderjit Singh Lucky, president of the DBA, presented a list of their demands and assured the Justice that the black sheep in the judiciary system would be spotted and information would be passed to him.

While highlighting their problems, Lucky said the advocates were facing problems in cheque-bounce cases. He also demanded that the bail bond furnishing procedure be simplified.

The Judge gave a patient hearing to the grievances of advocates and assured them early solutions to their genuine problems. He also claimed that their problems would be taken up with the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. 

Jalandhar, April 7
The workshop-cum-seminar on ‘HIV/AIDS: Treatment and Care’ concluded on April 6 at Military Hospital, Jalandhar Cantonment.

Highlight of the workshop was a skit ‘Koshish’ by NGO Art Cell from the local civil hospital, which depicted the social aspect of problems related to HIV/AIDS.

On this occasion a short film ‘Akhri Dastak’ was also screened for creating awareness among the armed forces and their families who also took part in the workshop.

Problems pertaining to HIV/AIDS and control programme in armed forces were discussed on the last day of the workshop. Chief guest Lt-Col V.S. Grewal, ADH, Headquarters’ 11 Corps and Major R. Dhawan, OC, SHO (L), Jalandhar Cantt spoke at length on control mechanism adopted by the armed forces.

Another highlight of the workshop was a discussion on legal, ethical and social issues in HIV/AIDS. Col A.K. Jindan, ADH, Headquarter 2 Corps, mentioned the social aspect of HIV/AIDS in hid address.

Earlier on April 5, Dr. B.B. Rewari from National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Delhi, spoke on the guidelines implemented by NACO in curbing this burning social problem. 

Jalandhar, April 7
The CMD of GNA Enterprises, Jagdish Singh, has been honoured with the Best Businessman of the Year Award and the Number 1 Rear Axle Shaft Manufacturer in North India award.

The awards, organised by business magazine Business Sphere, were presented by Sriprakash Jaiswal, Union Minister of State for Home at a function held in New Delhi yesterday.

Ajai Sahai, Director-General, FIEO, and Dr Nitish Gupta, Chairman, BRPSE, were also present on the occasion. The awards are given every year to acknowledge the achievements of entrepreneurs in the field of business. — TNS

Jalandhar, April 7
The gradual increase in the circulation of fake currency notes, especially in the border belt in the past couple of months has forced the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to launch an awareness and detection programme for the bankers and employees of various financial institutions.

For prompt detection of fake currency notes, a team of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Chandigarh, organised a two-day workshop, “Know your banknote”, for the bankers and members of different financial institutions here.

During the workshop, the RBI team, comprising R.V. Gawai, Deputy General Manager, and Jaipal Singh, Manager, Issue Department of the RBI, Chandigarh, educated employees of various banks about the identification marks inside the genuine currency notes of Rs 20, Rs 50, Rs 100, Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations.

Emphasis was laid on banknotes of Rs 500 denomination in the Mahatma Gandhi series with additional features bearing signatures of Dr Y.V. Reddy, Governor, RBI.

A video demonstration was also organised to educate cashiers and other employees, dealing directly in cash, of non-banking financial companies (NBFC) in a city-based hotel on the concluding day of the workshop today.

Talking to The Tribune, Gawai revealed that the number of fake currency note in circulation has witnessed a gradual increase in the region as compared to last year. The workshop has been organised on the request of Jalandhar-based NBFCs and was a part of regular feature of the RBI. S.D. Chugh, president of the Punjab and Haryana Finance Companies Association, said the workshop got an overwhelming response. 

Jalandhar, April 7
Moderate showers in the region has made the farmers’ hearts sink. Reports revealed that the showers have adversely hit the standing wheat crop that has ripened and awaiting harvesting. Reports of flattening of crop because of the rains accompanied 
by winds have also arrived from different parts of the region.

Farmers are worried about the frequent showers that have been endangering wheat which have already arrived in grain markets but not procured by any government-procuring agency and lying in open. Worst suffers are the farmers who are still waiting for their crop to ripen.

Besides threatening farmers, the rain brought a fall in the mercury. Water accumulated in different parts of the city put the commuters in a hardship. The low-lying areas were inundated and people have to shift their belongings to safer places.

Rainwater accumulated along the streets and roads in towns like Phagwara, Banga, Adampur, Bhogpur, Kapurthala, Shahkot, Nakodar and certain other places also threw life out of order for many hours.