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Gastro Outbreak Anshu Seth Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, August 4
Going by the symptoms of severe gastro cases, the health officials termed water contamination as the main cause of the outbreak. A majority of the residents were from the ‘vehras’ (small houses converted into dwellings for multiple units of families). Mixing of sewerage water in the potable water resulted in severe infection among the people living in the Punjabi Bagh area, leading to acute gastroenteritis. District Health Officer (DHO) Dr SS Dhir said the contents of the water samples pointed towards the presence of choliform bacteria, which was a strong indication of the mixing of fickle matter or soil in the potable water. He added that the slum dwellers were already undernourished and anaemic and were unable to hold themselves against the infections caused by contaminated water. Improper chlorination of water is a major factor that plays havoc with the lives of people living in low-lying areas as has been emphasised by the Department of Health and Family Welfare over the years. The studies conducted in recent years state that the microbial contamination of water can be rectified only with proper chlorination. City residents are prone to diseases like gastroenteritis, typhoid, Hepatitis A and E as the administration has failed to ensure clean drinking water supply.
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Stop blame game, DC to MC, health officials
Ludhiana, August 4 Speaking over the failure of all water samples collected from the area, the DC called upon the LMC officials to conduct a survey in all gastro-prone areas in the city. He also called upon the officials of both departments to collectively take the water samples and send them for tests. Civil surgeon Dr Maninderjit Singh said, "The issues pertaining to other seasonal diseases and all preventive and promotive steps needed were also discussed in detail." Talking to The Tribune, officials of the Municipal Corporation revealed that the DC had directed both departments to work in harmony instead of playing blame game. "During water sample collection, two officers from each department will be present so that there are no more controversies," said the DC. He also directed the MC to be strict with illegal water connections and disconnect them immediately due to which people were falling prey to diseases. The drive should be quick and stricter so that things don't go out of hands anymore. "We should try our best to not to allow epidemic to be further aggrevated. The meeting was attended by Zonal Commissioner B.K. Gupta, SE Kulwinder Singh Dhillon and XEN Manjit Singh. Meanwhile, Jails Minister Hira Singh Gabria visited Punjabi Bagh today where maximum cases of gastroenteritis have been reported. He met the patients, who have been victim of the epidemic, and directed the officials to take care. He said he would take action against vehras owners and they would not be spared. |
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Submission of measurement books Jyotika Sood Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, August 4 The orders were issued to three superintendent engineers - Dharam Singh, Arun Sharma and Kulwinder Singh Dhillon - on July 30, directing them to submit all MBs issued to their department during the past five years. However, none of the officials have followed the directions, stating their own excuses. When SE Arun Sharma was asked about it, he replied, "I have issued verbal as well as written instructions to the JEs to submit books as soon as possible. However, it takes time, and if someone fails to present it, disciplinary action would be suggested." As far as the delay is concerned, it takes a little time, he added. SE Dharam Singh said, "It takes times for official proceedings. If you think two days by the officer means a hardcore ultimatum, then things don't move like this in government office as proper procedure is to be followed." However, the official agreed that books had not been submitted yet. SE Kulwinder Singh of the O&M cell said, "The SDOs and JEs had to submit the books directly, so I have no idea about it." According to sources, most of the MBs are in the ‘custody’ of the contractors and politicians and it is impossible for the municipal commissioner to come out with even half the total number of 316 documents. For the past five years, MBs have been completely ignored by senior officials and recovering them is a big challenge. Since neither mayor nor senior officials ever cared about the books, many manipulations have been done in the books. As a result, many officials would come under scanner. Revealing about how manipulations in MBs are done, an official said, "Ideally a junior engineer or superintendent who has the book needs to make entry daily, but the normal practice being followed is making ‘kaccha’ entries (keeping a record on a piece of paper). Then one day, all entries are made together." The MBs are now one of the big ways to unearth corruption in the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, and fingers are crossed whether anyone would try to open this Pandora's Box that would bring out the most ugly face of the civic body.
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Video-conferencing for SHOs from today
Ludhiana, August 4 SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill had recently directed the SHOs to make adequate arrangements for the first meeting through video-conferencing. But the much-hyped video-conferencing project, the brainchild of SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill, has given jitters to the 'technically challenged' SHOs as a majority of them do not even know how to operate the Internet. Interestingly, certain officials are learnt to have hired technicians to help them in their computer operations. These computer technicians are making their email accounts and helping them learn the basic knowledge of using their email accounts. The technicians will also be present during the special meeting on video-conferencing. Manjinder Singh, SHO, Division No. 1, said: "Video-conferencing is very a comfortable method. This move would give us ample time to concentrate on our division and would make policing more effective." Surinder Mohan, SHO, Division No. 3, said: "This technique would help us a lot, as it would save time and energy. Earlier, we had to travel to the mini-secretariat almost every alternative day to report the matter to our seniors. Now with video-conferencing, we could receive the directions while sitting in the police stations." As the police is already grappling with staff shortage, such steps would ease the pressure from cops, said a senior official. "The idea behind this move is to make police hi-tech. With the launch of video-conferencing the SHOs would receive guidelines from their seniors while sitting in office," said the SSP.
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Raiding team invites residents’ wrath
Ludhiana, August 4 The incident took place this evening when the CIA-I staff and Excise officials entered the busy Chhawni Mohalla and started conducted raid at a house. The protesters damaged three police vehicles. More police force was deployed in the area. |
Joshi Nagar residents get dirty water supply
Ludhaina, August 4 Even municipal councillor Mukhtiar Kaur failed to find a solution to our problem, but today supplied water through tankers to us." Anita, who was standing in a queue to fetch two buckets of water, said, "We fail to understand what the battalion of officials is doing. The water we are getting in our taps is not even fit for washing, what to talk of drinking. I had been buying water bottles to meet our potable water needs. At a time when humidity is very high and power cuts common, water is the only way to beat the heat.” She added that at the time when price rise was upsetting the house budget, spending on water bottles was a luxury, but they have no choice. Surinder Kaur said, "On Saturday, when I opened the tap of my toilet, long worms started coming out. Even flushing them failed to find a solution. Now could you imagine, your kitchen tap, too, is supplying this water and you would ask your family members to drink it." She added that she had got her water tanks cleaned around twice in just one week. Area Executive Engineer Manjit Singh said, "We detected the problem only yesterday. A manhole near Ghuri Gurdwara had caved in, due to which the water supply pipe developed cracks and there was mixing of sewer. The problem was corrected this morning and by 8 pm this night, the area would get clean water. I have already suggested area people to keep their taps open for sometime, as due to deposition and remains in the pipe after repairing work, dirty water was supplied."
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Mini-secretariat without water for three days
Ludhiana, August 4 The problem surfaced three days ago and residents are suffering because of non-availability of the drinking water. Due to the scarcity of water, the toilets too are stinking and have been locked by sanitation staff. Visitors to various offices, including administration, education, transport, treasury and several others said they were suffering, as they had to buy water. It was a hot weather and the drinking needs had multiplied. The snag was creating a problem for them. While it was easy for some to shell out a few rupees to buy the bottled water, it was not possible for others, who were living below the poverty line. “For me shelling out the fare for an auto rickshaw to reach here is a hell of problem. I have to make several rounds as my son has thrown me out. I have nobody else to look after me. I have applied for old age pension and have to meet officials. There was no water and I could not pay Rs 15 for buying a bottle of water, said Parsannta Devi, a visitor. She said even the toilets were locked and she faced a lot of trouble. A sanitation employee said he had no option but to lock the toilets, as they were stinking badly. He said the toilets outside the complex were opened and people were asked to use those. “We are not doing it deliberately. There is a problem of technical snag. Once it is rectified, things would go normal,” he said. Deputy Commissioner Vikas Garg said he had held a meeting with officials of PWD and MC today. Seeing the gravity of situation, they had asked the MC to send a water tanker for the visitors. He said the tanker was sent in the morning so that people did not suffer. The problem would be sorted out soon, said the DC.
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Workshop on
precision farming
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, August 4 PAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr Manjit Singh Kang, was the chief guest in the inaugural session. In his remarks, he said while developing models for application of farm research and technology, profitability, income generation and poverty alleviation needed to be key considerations. Dr PS Sidhu, senior agricultural specialist, World Bank, told National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) led by the ICAR was aimed to implement the shared understanding of the Government of India and the World Bank on technology-led pro-poor growth. Dr A Bandyopadhyay, national coordinator, informed that the project was designed to assist the Government of India motive to transform the agriculture sector from being primarily focused on food self sufficiency to a more market-oriented approach in support of poverty alleviation and income generation. Dr PS Minhas, director of research, told although PAU had been involved in other projects as consortium partner but it was the first project as a consortium leader. Global warming is becoming an important issue for sustainable agriculture. Understanding its effects and developing adaptation and mitigation strategies should receive attention, he said. Dr VK Sharma chaired the Consortium Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting. The participating institutes presented their progress, problems faced and projected their future plans. Dr Sharma told the participating teams should work in well-defined partnership groups with common goals and understanding. PAU is having the ICAR-funded project under the component 4 (basic and strategic research in the frontier areas of agricultural sciences) of the World Bank-funded NAIP, as a lead centre with a budget layout of around Rs 450 lakh. The Consortium Principal Investigator (CPI) of the project, Dr Manjit Singh said the project had a multi-disciplinary flavour as other departments of PAU, namely agricultural meteorology, soils, botany and entomology, were involved therein. A souvenir was released on the occasion. Prof VK Sehgal, coordinator research (Engineering) welcomed the delegates and Dr IS Dhaliwal, head, department of farm machinery and power engineering presented the vote of thanks to the delegates. Media role in farming stressed
Discussing the role of electronic and print media for rapid and effective communication, PAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr Manjit Singh Kang, said due to these technologies the world had become small. Although the communication mode traversing from physical delivery of messages, sending surface-mail, air-mail, tele-printer transmission, facsimile messages, use of Internet, etc. has shown progressive degree of rapidity, yet some still consider the need of further faster communication, he added. Dr Kang was sharing his ideas with UNI Chief of Bureau, VK Jalali, Chandigarh, who visited Punjab Agricultural University today. Jalali appreciated the standing of the university among farmers and general people not only in the country but also abroad. Jalali said the UNI was having a tie-up with a number of global portals and agencies concerned with the
media. He showed keen interest in the PAU system of communication and said the UNI would join in this endeavour so that farm-worthy information was transmitted to the audience concerned sitting far and near. Additional Director of Communication, Dr Jagtar Singh Dhiman, also participated in the parleys and explained the working of the Centre for Communication and International Linkages to Jalali.
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Freehold plots offer a huge draw
Ludhiana, August 4 Though the closure of offer for allotment of plots through draw of lots is still two weeks away (August 20 being the last date for receipt of applications), different branches of the State Bank of India (SBI), the nodal bank for sale of brochure-cum-application form and receipt of application forms, have already sold some 11,500 application forms in Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Jammu and New Delhi. According to GLADA officials, 12 plots of 250 square yards each and another 146 of 200 square yards each were being offered for allotment. The reserve price of the plots has been fixed at Rs 10,000 per square yard, and accordingly the applicants have to deposit earnest money of Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh which is equivalent to 10 per cent of the total cost of the plot with area of 250 and 200 square yards, respectively, along with the application form. Successful applicants will have to deposit another 15 per cent of the cost of the plot within 30 days from the date of issue of allotment letter and GLADA will hand over the possession of the plots to the allottees within 90 days of issue of allotment letters, provided the applicant has deposited 25 percent amount of the total cost of the plot. The balance 75 per cent amount can be deposited by the allottees either in lump sum within 60 days of issue of allotment letter, in which case a rebate of 5 percent on the balance amount will be allowed, or else the same can be paid in 6 equated half-yearly instalments along with 12 per cent interest per annum, the officials added. A representative of the Aggar Nagar branch of SBI told The Tribune that the bank had made arrangements to finance the earnest money for free hold GLADA plots for which the intending applicants have to make an upfront payment of Rs 10,000 for 200 square yards plot and Rs 12,000 for 250 square yards plot. The amount includes interest on the amount of earnest money and processing fee. The SBI would also offer housing loans for construction of houses to the successful applicants as per prevailing terms and conditions of the housing loans.
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CPI activists stage dharna
Our Correspondent
Ludhiana, August 4 Various speakers addressing the rally termed the government claim of negative inflation as farce since the prices of essential commodities had skyrocketed during the last month. Citing the report of the Arjun Sen Gupta committee, appointed by the previous government, which had concluded that over 77 per cent population in the country subsisted on less than Rs 20 a day, the CPI leaders said no wonder majority of the Indian population was under-nourished. “On the basis of prevailing prices, minimum cost of food necessary to just sustain life is more than Rs 50 per day, which will barely provide basic food items like flour, lentils, vegetables, tea, rice, ghee and spices. It was high time that the government looked after the interests of the low income groups and ensure that each and every citizen received a balanced meal and a quality life.” The speakers took a strong exception to the proposal that people would be provided just six LPG (cooking gas) cylinders a year at control (subsidised) prices while the rest of them would have to be purchased at the open market prices. “Under this scheme, the affluent persons will be able to manage their households whereas the poor and the lower-middle income group will have to stretch their resources,” they said. In a note of caution, the CPI activists remarked that such “anti-people” measures, coupled with job cuts, contractual jobs with low wages and no job security, the life of people was to become miserable in the time to come. “The government is hell bent upon privatisation of everything and is running away from its responsibility of even providing education and basic health healthcare to the people, they said. The CPI demanded immediate steps to stabilise the prices of essential commodities. Moreover, the excuse of rise in international prices of crude oil was untenable as when the prices had trickled in the global market, the government of India had only marginally reduced the prices of petrol and diesel, and that too under pressure from the people and the Left parties, said the protesters.
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A challenge for traffic cops
Mohit Khanna Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, August 4 In the absence of clear directions to the police, a policeman has no other option but to move the person away from the spot. A mentally challenged man stripping himself in the middle of Bharatnagar Chowk on Sunday was just one among many weired occurrences in the city. The scene proved to be a traffic obstruction and a pure embarrassment for the women and children. The police expressed its helplessness and said it did not get any directions or support in handling such cases. “The brunt of such incidents is borne only by the ones on duty or the lower-rung officers,” said a policeman on duty at Aarti Chowk. Shehnaz Kapoor, a boutique owner, said, “I am witness to several incidents where the police has thrashed innocent mentally challenged persons. Even the ones on duty are not aware about any special home for the mentally challenged.” Another policeman said, “I have on several occasions taken these mentally challenged people to sites far from where they were causing public inconvenience. We sometimes stop an auto-rickshaw and ask the driver to take him to another place.” A senior police official said, “It is not an easy procedure to remove any person with abnormal behaviour. An application has to be moved in the court of the CJM who, only if satisfied, will allow the police to get him medically examined.” Kuldeep Singh Khaira, a city resident, said the police should be vigilant in such cases and should maintain a proper record of any such person with dubious background. The SSP said whenever the police found such persons, after taking legal recourse, they were handed over to a mental hospital for treatment.
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Thread of love and protection
Ludhiana, August 4 Distance can never come between sisters to reach their brothers to tie rakhi. Married girls come to their brother's place to tie the thread. This ritual not only strengthens the bond of love between them, but also transcends the confines of the family. Social binding
When a Rakhi is tied on the wrist of close friend or neighbour’s hand, it underscores the need for a harmonious social life, where every individual co-exists peacefully as brothers and sisters. All members of the community commit to protect each other and the society in such congregational Rakhi utsavs were popularised by the Nobel laureate, Rabindranath Tagore. Family ties
Guarding the country from enemy at the border, Prateeksha's brother get courage after seeing the Rakhi tied on his wrist. Though Prateeksha cannot meet his brother on every Rakhi, she sends it in advance so that her brother can adorn it on the festival. While the unfortunate ones, who have landed into the jails will be able to get the Rakhi tied after Hira Singh Gabria, Minister for Tourism, Cultural Affairs and Jails, has given a green signal to the sisters to visit their brothers in jails on this festival. In history
Turning the pages on the Indian history, the strong bond represented by Rakhi has resulted in innumerable political ties among kingdoms and princely states. It has been testified that the Rajput and Maratha queens have sent Rakhis even to Mughal kings who, despite their differences, have assuaged their Rakhi-sisters by offering help and protection at critical moments and honoured the fraternal bond. The great Hindu king Porus refrained from striking Alexander the Great because the latter's wife had tied a Rakhi on his hand, prior to the battle, urging him not to hurt her husband.
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Insurance staff strike work
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, August 4 Condemning the government for this "uncalled for" move, Amarjit Singh, divisional secretary, said the Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha was a step further in implementing the recommendations of the Malhotra Committee which recommended opening up of the insurance sector to private capital. It was to meet the demands of the foreign capital to further liberalise the insurance sector. The Bill was detrimental to the interests of the policyholders and the national economy. The Bill proposed to raise the capital of the LIC from the present Rs 5 crore to Rs 100 crore. The Malhotra Committee had recommended the raising of capital to Rs 100 crore and divesting 50 per cent of the stake. The LIC did not require additional capital. For the past 56 years, LIC has provided for the finances for its expansion from its own internal resources. The agitated employees feel that all these proposals were made to weaken the LIC. It was the premier national institution serving over 26 crore policyholders. It had made enormous contribution to the national development. Even after opening of the sector for competition, it had retained undisputed leadership over the insurance market. Any attempt to weaken the organisation was against the national interests, said employees.
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Mesmerised with the world of Nihangs
Ludhiana, August 4 Gurbir Singh Brar, a photo artist also feels that there is no colourful subject as compared to Nihangs. Nihangs belong to a martial tradition started by the 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. A photo exhibition by Brar under the theme “The Valiant Ones” was inaugurated today at Dr MS Randhawa Art Gallery, PAU. Their way of life, style of dress, and weaponry has not changed much over the centuries and this was what capitulated Brar to spend five months with Nihangs around Punjab. During this period, he lived with them, learnt their way of living and captured them in his camera. Brar is all praise to the sense of discipline that prevails among Nihangs. “They are very hospitable and are strict when it comes to disciple. Watching their practice session was the thing I enjoyed most during my five months stay with them all over Punjab,” adds Brar. Brar said they are a semi-nomadic people and are organised into armies and live in camps known as cantonments. Men and women both train in horsemanship, swordsmanship, and in the Punjabi martial art known as ‘gatka’. During times of persecution in the past, the Nihangs defended Sikh shrines and the Sikh way of life and become known for their bravery against all odds. In times of peace, they travel to festivals and fairs throughout India, staging displays of horsemanship and martial skills. The annual Hola Mohalla fair held at Anandpur Sahib on Baisakhi is especially notable for the Nihangs' colourful displays of pageantry. Brar has also formed an organisation “Sava Lakh Foundation” with the help of Nihangs. With the active involvement of Akal College Council Gursagar Mastuana Sahib and ace horseman Maghar Singh, a training programme in traditional horsemanship and martial arts has been initiated at Mastuana Sahib. “In today's competitive world, Sava Lakh Foundation exhorts the younger generation to live up to the ideals of the Gurus. The endeavour is to instil pride and enthusiasm in the present day youth, a youth morbidly impressed by the wrong influences and drawn towards drugs and wallowing in mediocrity,” he adds.
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Exporters demand scheme for the youth
Ludhiana, August 4 Other such sponsored schemes, including the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme/Act
(NREGA) or the Prime Minister Rozgar Yojna, are successful, feel
exporters. S.C.Ralhan, chairman, northern region, EEPC, said the council had recently written to
R.S.Gujral, Director General Foreign Trade, New Delhi, that it was a long desire of exporters that there should be a Centrally sponsored employment scheme for enabling the youth to work in export houses. "The demand was first mooted during an open house of exporters in February at
Jalandhar. This will ease employment situation for the skilled and educated unemployed youth and also utilise their skills and add value to it if they work with established exporters. Simultaneously, exporters will be able to play a greater role in the nation-building process by sharing the wages cost between themselves and the government,” said
Ralhan. The exporters have proposed this new scheme with a difference, which makes it easy to administer and monitor. It will enable to assess the goals in 15 to 18 months. It will be available to all unemployed educated and skilled adults with less cost to exchequer. The government will pay 75 per cent of the wages as per the Minimum Wages Act and the amount or more will be paid by the exporters. "In case it is not possible to implement the scheme at all-India level within one go, the government may then consider the pilot scheme in Punjab as it is far away from port and has suffered more due to global meltdown and otherwise also lags behind in exports,” said Nitish
Jain, another exporter. "I hope that government will consider our request and will invite us for more discussions on this issue,” said Ralhan.
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Rakhi celebrated with fervour
Ludhiana, August 4 Rajinder Sharma, president, Association of the PSEB-affiliated Schools, Punjab, was the chief guest on the occasion. A fancy dress competition was also organised. Students came in traditional Punjabi dresses and performed giddha and bhangra. Principal Asha Sharma emphasised on the physical and mental development of children. Prizes and sweets were distributed among the tiny tots. Maple Bear (Canadian Playway and Nursery School) celebrated the festival of Raksha Bandhan with gaiety. Kids made beautiful rakhis and greeting cards. Veena Aggarwal elaborated on the importance of the festival. Students of Rising Star, Kindergarten and Springdale Public School, celebrated this festival with great enthusiasm. A Rakhi-making competition was organised at Springdale School and the makers of best rakhis were awarded by director and founder principal Avinash Kaur Walia and Principal Sandeep Raikhi. A Rakhi-making competition was organised on the premises of GMT Public School . Students of Classes I to XII participated. Principal Amarjeet Kaur Dhaliwal and directors S. Kashmir Singh Thind and S. Jasbir Singh Thind appreciated the students for their work. — TNS
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Christians protest attack on minorities in Pak
Ludhiana, August 4 The protesters, carrying mottos and placards, called for an end to atrocities against Christians and other minority communities in the neighbouring country while pressing upon the government to take up the matter at the appropriate level with its counterparts in Pakistan. Albert Dua, president of CUP, who led the protest, observed that the inhuman act of burning six Christians alive by the majority community in a Pakistan town had caused great anguish to the members of the minority community, which had always believed in peace and amity. The protesters also burnt an effigy of the Pakistan government in front of the Mini Secretariat and later submitted a memorandum to the President of India, the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of Punjab through the district administration.
— OC
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Students honoured in Amloh school
Amloh, August 4 Principal Navtejinder Kumar appreciated the efforts of the bank of motivate the students to further improve their skills in
the field. Each student of +2 in four streams were given cheques of Rs 1001 and the facility to open account with zero balance.
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AP Solvex awarded
Ludhiana, August 4 A.R. Sharma, chairman-cum-managing director of the company, received the award from Dr B Soma Raju, chairman, CARE Hospitals, Hyderabad, at the 12th national seminar on rice bran soil. The seminar was aimed at creating awareness about the health benefits of rice bran oil.
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The teams of health officials had collected the water samples following a major gastroenteritis outbreak in Punjabi Bagh wherein almost 400 cases have surfaced in the past five days. 
