Amritsar, June 9
Recent incidents of suicide by and murder of housewives, attributed to the addiction to alcohol of their husbands, has got social scientists worried as the fragile socio-economic fabric seems to have broken down in several households, especially in the slums of the holy city and rural belt of the border district.

Some of the cases which have come to light revealed that a majority of the suicide cases were the result of excessive drinking habits and the shrinking economic base of the earning members of families in the lower income strata of society.

Women have been continually committing suicides tormented by their drunkard and drug addict husbands.

The record of the last one month shows that both in the urban and rural areas of Amritsar, women have resorted to this extreme measure after their husbands allegedly harassed them.

Even as the central and state governments made stringent laws to save women from domestic violence and harassment which they had to face at the hands of their husbands and in-laws, it seems these steps were proving insufficient in the absence of their proper implementation.

Sarbjit Kaur of Jandiala Guru committed suicide on June 1 after being harassed by her alcoholic husband Dala Singh and his mother Satwant Kaur.

A similar case was registered at Majitha police station in Amritsar (Rural) police district in which Nirmal Singh was booked as his wife Sarbjit Kaur committed suicide.

Mother of four, Raj Kaur of Quila Mega, Jandiala Guru, committed suicide because of her husband Dilbag Singh. Rajwinder Kaur of Sultanwind jumped into a canal and died for the same reason.

Dr B.L. Goel, Director of the Dr Vidhya Sagar Institute of Mental Health, said women were particularly frustrated with poor economic conditions coupled with the drinking habits of their husbands as they found themselves unable to cope with the situation. He said the inebriated men beat or tortured their wives under the influence of liquor which forced them to commit suicide.

A similar type of study conducted by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to assess the impact of liquor and drugs on women and children in Punjab and Haryana has pointed out that a majority of the alcoholics beat up their wives and are non-responsive to their needs while the women find their lives entirely different than what they had expected.

Mala Chawla, a government teacher and social worker, said the government must come up with strong measures to tackle this big problem. Besides, non-government organisations and government de-addiction centres should also play an active role in this regard.

She said there was need to motivate alcoholic and addicted persons to have proper treatment in de-addiction centres. She criticised the political patronage to drug mafias. She said political interference even restricted the police authorities to take action against such mafias.

Amritsar, June 9
Women in the holy city continue to share the burden of their husbands to meet the domestic needs by engaging themselves in handiwork on garments. Even though they earn Rs 500 per month on an average, they feel contented with whatever they have got.

Most of the housewives work on clothes which include embroidery on shawls, sippee work, needle work and gota or tilla work on duppattas.

They get very less remuneration as compared to those who use machines for the same work. Most of these women belong to the poor strata of society and cannot invest large amounts for purchasing machines. However, they continue to indulge in hard labour as they want to be self-dependent.

Seema Sharma (40) while talking to this reporter said she was 20 years old when she started embroidery and other works to meet her daily needs. She said at that time she was getting only Rs 5 to 7 daily but that amount was sufficient as she was able to save some money after purchasing items of daily needs.

She, however, said time had changed and it was now becoming difficult to purchase even goods of daily needs. But she hastened to add that she never felt disappointed and was working with more vigour and zeal.

Another resident, Suman (30), said she could not complete her studies because of poor financial condition of her parents. She said she started the gota work on duppattas and was able to earn Rs 700 to Rs 1,000 every month after working for eight hours a day on an average.

She said she felt happy in sharing the burden of her husband by paying the school fee of her children, besides purchasing gifts for relatives on social functions.

Rakesh Sharma, owner of a shawl shop, said about 30 women were working for him and were getting Rs 600 per month on an average. He said he was paying the remuneration as per the prevalent market rates. He said due to the stiff competition in the market, the rates were very low. He said if the government fixed the remuneration for the labour done by these women, it would be beneficial not only for these women but also for them.

Amritsar, June 9
The Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal (PPBM) has written to Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and has urged that on the line of Rs 3,150 crore under Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM) scheme for the development of infrastructure and civic amenities of the holy city, another package of the same amount be sanctioned for revival of its industry.

He also sought reduction in CST rate from two per cent to one per cent from the current financial year and scrapping of Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT). He requested that submission of C forms be made compulsory for only those traders who require refund under VAT and requested that submission of quarterly C forms must be done away with.

He said in order to bring small traders and businessmen out of recession, income tax exemption limit be raised to Rs two lakh. Besides, tax audit limit be increased from current Rs 40 lakh to Rs 3 crore since the amount was not of such significance in trade volume in present scenario.

The Mandal has also urged the Ministry of Finance to allocate funds for releasing pension to old-age people as per their contribution to income tax in the forthcoming budget.

PPBM president Amrit Lal Jain stated in a letter to Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee that there was a complete lack of social security, quality medical healthcare for the aged, despite the fact that he might have paid lakhs to the government in shape of income tax.

Tarn Taran, June 9
The Horticulture Department organised a training camp at Thathian Mahantan village, 20 km from here, to create awareness among the farmers as to how to grow vegetables in a net house.

The camp gave knowledge to the farmers on the net houses, how these houses saved the vegetables from insects and diseases. A large number of vegetable growers of the area participated in the camp.

Deputy Director Dr Hardyal Singh Ghariala, while addressing the farmers, stressed the need to avoid using insecticides for growing vegetables. He said this would not only help us to save the environment but also stop the water pollution which was proving hazarduous for the human beings.

Dr Ghariala said the department under the Union Government-sponsored ATMA scheme was going to make this net house system more popular among the vegetable growers by organising more and more such camps in the border villages. He said this would help in increasing their income.

He said in this system, net houses were made with iron rods and covered with plastic sheets. He said the cost of a net house came around Rs 85,000 and could be set up in one kanal. He said out of the total cost, Rs 40,000 would be given as subsidy by the Punjab State Farmers Commission.

The officials said capsicum, tomato, brinjal and cucumber could be grown in such net houses and a farmer could earn Rs 70,000 or even more in a year. He said the department would make all efforts to make the net house popular in this border region by publicising the facilities.

Khasla College Training Officer Dr Amit Kumar stressed the need to maintain the income and expenditure of the farmers so that profit of a successful vegetable grower could be shown to other farmers.

Amritsar, June 9
Eyebrows are being raised over the partial covering of the drain passing behind the district urban office of the BJP, known as Shahid Harbans Lal Khanna Samarak.

Interestingly, only that patch of drain was covered which shares boundary with the BJP office, while leaving behind left and right sides of the drain open.

Meanwhile, the display of two plaques for the reconstruction of the BJP office came under severe attack from a section of party men.

Interestingly, the foundation stone of a block which was laid by Atal Bihari Vajpayee in capacity of Leader of the Opposition in 1993 saw starting of work last October.

The party had tasted unexpected win in the last assembly election held in 2007. The rejuvenated party had set on raising modern structure in place of the old office in October last.

BJP leader Bakshi Ram Arora, in charge, Construction Committee, admitted that it took long to initiate the construction of the office for undisclosed party reasons.

A plaque announced that the foundation stone for a hall in memory of late Baldev Prakash was laid by the then Leader of Opposition A.B Vajpayee on November 28, 1993. However, the actual 
construction began on October 20, 2008, for which another plaque was also installed.

Arora said on the ground floor a stage would be raised besides construction of a hall, room, dispensary and provision for lift. While on the first floor there would be a hall and two residential rooms.

Rubbishing the allegations of favouritism, Arora said covering of sewerage came to halt with exhaustion of fund and it would be resumed with the arrival of more funds.

Amritsar, June 9
Launching the third phase of a nationwide campaign against genetically modified (GM) food crops under the banner of “Alliance for safe and GM free food”, members of the various NGOs have decided to present a memorandum to the MPs and Deputy Commissioners urging them to take an initiative to ban the introduction of GM foods in the Indian markets.

A brainchild of the Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM), the campaign was supported by various NGOs working in the holy city, including Mission Aagaaz, Amritsar Vikas Manch, International Welfare Organisation, Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti and SAATHI.

KVM convener Gurbhej Singh Sandhu said a memorandum along with “Desi baingans (brinjals)” would be presented to the MPs and Deputy Commissioners urging them to write to the Prime Minister to impose a ban on bt-brinjal and other genetically modified (GM) food crops in the Indian markets. He said big corporate houses and companies were pressing hard for getting the approval of the Central government to launch bt-brinjal. He said once it was approved, other GM food crops would follow, playing havoc with the health of human beings.

Under the campaign, he said the people would be aware of the ill-effects of GM foods on their health. He said a documentary film directed by Mahesh Bhatt “Poison on the platter” would be shown to the people for creating awareness. Besides this, a signature campaign had been launched by the Alliance.

While detailing, he said bt-brinjal had shown serious health hazards during experiments in various living things. GM foods once released into the environment, the self-propagation genetic pollution may outlast the effects of global warming and nuclear waste, he added.

The representatives of various NGOs had decided to observe World Environment Day on June 5 during which awareness of the harmful effects of bt-brinjal would be explained. A 1 km long canvas containing signatures and pictorial messages against GM crops would be taken to New Delhi and would be displayed during a dharna in front of Parliament, Sandhu said.

Amritsar, June 9
The 52nd death anniversary of great Punjabi poet Bhai Veer Singh will be observed at his residence on Lawrence Road, which has been turned into a museum, tomorrow.

Born on December 5, 1872, Bhai Veer Singh passed his matriculation examination by getting gold medal. He led the Singh Sabha movement in 1882 and was instrumental in setting up the Wazir-e-Hind press, besides establishing Khalsa College in the holy city in coordination with Sunder Singh Majithia and other eminent persons.

In 1899 he launched Punjabi weekly paper Khalsa Samachar and played a key role in establishing the Chief Khalsa Diwan. He also opened central Sikh orphanage in the city besides starting Central Sikh Prachar Vidalaya in Tarn Taran. He along with Sunder Singh Majithia and other prominent personalities started Punjab and Sind Bank in 1908.

Bhar Veer Singh was instrumental in getting the Anand Marriage Act passed in India’s Imperial Legislative Council in 1909, opened widows’ ashram in 1912 and established Khalsa Hospital in Tarn Taran in 1915. He launched a movement for the uplift of Scheduled Castes in 1920.

The eminent poet, who contributed a lot in creating awareness on flora and natural surroundings, opened an institute for the blind in 1935 besides playing a paramount role in establishing gurdwara at Hemkunt Sahib in 1943.

Conferred with the degree of doctor of oriental learning from the University of East Punjab, Bhai Veer Singh was nominated to the Punjab Legislature Council and was honoured by the Sahitya Akademy for his book “Mera Saiya Jiyo” in 1953.

The Padam Vibhushan Awardee, Bhai Veer Singh, presented “Abhinandan Granth” at the Sikh Education Conference held in Mumbai in 1954. He passed away at the age of 60 in 1957 at his residence on Lawrence Road, which has been renamed as Bhai Veer Singh Marg. — K.J.S. Ahluwalia

Amritsar, June 9
Residents of Chak Mishri Khan village, 7 km from the international border with Pakistan, were jubilant over the selection of the village’s 17-year-old youth in the coveted National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune, for training as an Air Force cadet.

Upon the completion of three-year training, he would undergo a year course at Hyderabad to become Flying Officer. Lad from the border village had been dreaming of flying a fighter plane since his childhood. He was inspired by the heroic stories of his distant relative Arjan Singh, Marshall of the Air Force. In order to realise his dream, his parents had also supported him steadfastly.

After attaining primary education from the village’s government school, his parents shifted to the city in order to provide him quality education. His father Gurjit Singh, Deputy Chief Cane Development Officer, Ajnala Cooperative Sugar Mill, got him enrolled at Saint Francis School here. After completing matriculation, Mehtab did 10+1 and 2 from Spring Dale Public School. Mehtab secured 91 per cent marks in the recently announced results of 10+2 CBSE examination.

Amritsar, June 9
The Seva Bharti Society is doing yeoman’s service by providing education at its various Baal Sanskar Kendras in the holy city and the rural areas of this border district to the bright students of the poor families.

The four main aims of the society, which was established in 1982 by late Banarsi Dass, a cloth trader, for widows, children of the poor and needy families, were seva, sanskar, samridhi and samastata.

The society provides sewing machines and other help to the poor women who are unemployed and harassed by their husbands and other family members. At present there are three such centres in the city where hundreds of women could be seen preparing clothes to be sold in the market, besides providing free education to the needy students.

Besides three kendras in the holy city, 25 and 23 kendras have been established in Attari and Ajnala, respectively, where children of the slums are getting education. The society has also established two dispensaries in the city for providing free medical care to poor people.

District president of the society Jogiderpal, while talking to The Tribune said that the society was being run on donations by philanthropists of this district. However, he said that the society was facing a financial crunch as more and more poor people were coming to it. He appealed to the residents to contribute to the society to donate generously to help the needy people.

Amritsar, June 9
The Ajnala police has booked Dinesh Kumar of Ajnala, who had returned from England along with his five family members, for allegedly demanding dowry from his wife Kusum Kumari. A resident of Chandigarh, Kusum in her complaint lodged with the Ajnala police alleged that her husband and his family beat her up and threw her out of the house. Now, she is living in her father’s house.

A case under sections 498-A, 406, 323, 120, 148 and 149 of the IPC has been registered against Dinesh Kumar, father-in-law Raja Ram, mother-in-law Sudesh Rani, all residents of Ajnala, sisters-in-law Lovely of Panchkula and Seema of Dera Bassi.

Kusum alleged that she was married to Dinseh about two years ago after which he went to the UK. She said in August 2007, he returned to Ajnala and after registering the marriage, he again went to England. She said she asked her in-laws to send her to the UK and after much insistence her in-laws filed papers which were declined due to some alleged discrepancy. She said later she came to know that Dinesh was already married in the UK. She said due to this reason, quarrels became an order of the day. She said her in-laws demanded Rs 10 lakh and a car for opening a dairy for Dinesh. But her father could not fulfil their demands and accused threw her out of the house. No arrest has been made so far.