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Get PGI-type status for PIMS from Centre, CM asked
Chhoti Baradari-II cries for basic amenities
Centre should compensate Punjab farmers: Sukhbir
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Revenue Dept records to be fully computerised in next 2 years
Inoperative lift at DAC irks elderly visitors
AIDS education: What the signs say
Move for women’s section at district library
Water shortage ghost haunts localities
Lieut-Col Manmohan gets 14th extension
Winged guests adorn science city exhib
‘Recruit differently abled, get PF share from Centre’
Young World
Truth aajkal
2 arrested for forging documents
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Get PGI-type status for PIMS from Centre, CM asked
Jalandhar, August 11 The prestigious institution, built on prime commercial land in the heart of the city, today stands as a monument of neglect and public money gone down the drain. Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira and former Improvement Trust Chairman Tejinder Bittu said the PIMS society was set up by the government in 1994 with the object to start a hospital and medical college. The college was supposed to admit 150 students for MBBS course each year, run postgraduate courses and provide modern research facilities. A 1,000-bed hospital providing treatment in various super specialities on the pattern of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, and the PGI, Chandigarh, was also envisaged, they pointed out. It was an endeavour of the then government to provide quality healthcare to the poor and underprivileged. Approximately 60 acres of prime land out of the 160 acres of land of the erstwhile sugarcane research station of PAU at Garha was earmarked for the project. The total cost of PIMS was assessed at Rs 156 crore that was to be funded from the proceeds of the sale of the surplus land by PUDA, they added. However, due to abnormal delay, red tapism and bureaucratic wrangles, the estimated cost of the project had now shot up to approximately Rs 361 crore, more than double the original cost over a period of more than 15 years, they said. PUDA, which was originally supposed to finance the entire project, had transferred only Rs 156 crore to the PIMS, while it was expected to earn more than Rs 420 crore from the sale of the land. “Should PUDA be allowed to earn profit at the cost of PAU land involved in sugarcane research work?” they questioned. Needless to say, the state healthcare system was in a state of shambles, government hospitals and dispensaries did not meet the needs of the people and private health services, like private education, were beyond the reach of rural and urban poor of Punjab, they said. The PIMS was a ray of hope for the people of Doaba, in particular, and Punjab, in general. Unfortunately, the government had wilfully chosen to dump the premier institution due to gross negligence, as a result now the state was proposing to pass PIMS on to private hands, they added. “We, on behalf of the Congress wish to question the government that can the ordinary and underprivileged sections of society afford exorbitant health services being offered by private commercial hospitals? If at all this institution was to be privatised, what was the need to squander and waste 170 acres of prime PAU land that would have been worth Rs 2000 crore today?” they questioned. “We request CM Parkash Singh Badal to take personal interest in the matter and if need be approach the Centre to obtain PGI-type status for the PIMS and allow this medical college to remain in state hands,” they said.
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Chhoti Baradari-II cries for basic amenities
Jalandhar, August 11 Arun Trehan, a spokesperson for the Residents Welfare Society, said the colony came into existence six years ago but the authority had done little to develop the area ever since. The roads and parks were in a bad condition and despite repeated representations, the authorities had done nothing. PUDA had been earning crores by selling commercial property in Chhoti Baradari but was reluctant to even spend 5 per cent of these earnings on the development of the colony. An announcement was made by the ACA, PUDA, in 2007 that everything would be fine after the monsoons but things had changed from bad to worse after that, he pointed out. A ray of hope was kindred when the area MLA and councillor laid the foundation stone of repairing the roads in the area but that turned out to be to be an exercise to favour a private school in the vicinity. Only the road in front of the school was repaired while the rest of the roads remained with potholes, he alleged. The callous attitude of PUDA could be gauged from the fact that no action had been taken even after the numerous orders of the consumer courts. It seemed that some vested interests were at work that did not want the area to develop, he added. Meanwhile, residents who had paid lakhs to buy plots and construct houses felt cheated, he said.
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Centre should compensate Punjab farmers: Sukhbir
Jalandhar, August 11 Deputy CM Sukhbir
Badal, who was in the city to condole the death of senior Akali leader Kuldip Singh
Wadala, said the farmers of the state contributed 60 per cent to the central food pool and it was only befitting that they be compensated in their hour of need. The Centre should realise that the cost of inputs had increased and the farmers had been forced to use diesel to nurture their crops. The immediate step should be to increase the paddy MSP by Rs 300 and subsidy on diesel. Punjab should also be allowed to draw more power from the national grid, he added. Listing his priorities, he would strive to bring greater transparency in the functioning of the government. Efforts would be made to remove the grievances of the people at the village level so that they do not have to come to the district headquarters. Providing potable water ands sewerage facilities in the rural areas was also a
priority area. |
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Revenue Dept records to be fully computerised
Jalandhar, August 11 Commenting on the Ludhiana Naib Tehsildar assault case, he said no one would be spared. He gave away cheques to victims of natural calamities, accidents and insurance claims. The bank has announced a hike of .25 per cent in the rate of interest on bank deposits. The bank was started in 1909 with a deposit of only Rs 2 lakh, which had increased to over Rs 1,600 crore. The net profit for the financial year 2007-08 was over Rs 800 lakh.
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Inoperative lift at DAC irks elderly visitors
Jalandhar, August 11 The visitors to the complex and the employees working here rue that the lift has been in an inoperative condition for the past over two months due to the want of an operator and the fact that an annual maintenance contract is awaited, causing much inconvenience to aged and physically challenged persons. Many visitors to the four-storey building said they found it hard to climb the stairs to meet officials in various important departments, including the Employment Exchange, the Welfare Department and the Labour Department which are situated on the third floor. The second floor also houses some important offices such as those for getting pictures clicked for driving licences, office of Additional District Transport Officer, District Consumers Redressal Forum, Election Office and Languages Department. Ashok Sharma, a lawyer, said he was 80 per cent disabled with both his lower limbs affected due to polio. “Holding onto the railings, I had to literally drag myself up since I had to climb the stairs for an important case,” he fumed. He fretted as he said, “I was once told that the lift cannot run regularly as there is no post for a lift operator and an employee from the SSP office was hired for the purpose now and then. I wonder why no one is bothered to ensure accessibility to the public offices. I am often forced to shoot off a complaint to the Chief Commissioner for Disabilities to lodge a grievance in this regard”. He said the SSP office is in the worst state, for there is no ramp or elevator to the double-storey building. “The offices of the SPs and DSPs are located upstairs and I often see the elderly finding it difficult to move up for an inquiry,” he said. DC Ajit Singh Pannu, when contacted, said, “We do not have an operator for the lift but a proposal has been sent and we hope a person will fill the post soon.”
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AIDS education: What the signs say
Jalandhar, August 11 The foundation members were here to conduct a three-day workshop on ‘Awareness and Health Education for Adult Deaf’, in which causes and prevention of HIV/AIDS was discussed through sign language. The workshop concluded here today. A voluntary organisation, the foundation has been working for the welfare of the hearing-impaired for the past seven years. An attempt to empower deaf people through the sign language, the workshop was held to create awareness among deaf people, aged above 18, regarding HIV/AIDS. Another key aspect dealt during the workshop was that of human relationships and abusive relations. Talking to The Tribune, Roy said there was a dire need to educate these differently-abled youth regarding HIV/AIDS. “Due to their inborn deformity and lack of awareness, many of these deaf youth end up falling prey to sexually transmitted diseases (STD), HIV/AIDS, rapes, child abuse, prostitution and much more. Even their parents never discuss issues pertaining to human life, which often creates serious repercussions in the society”, he added. The workshop, conducted through sign language, was interactive in nature in which queries of the youth were addressed. Yogesh Kumar, the instructor of the workshop, maintained that we had a total of 22 youth who registered for this workshop. “The youth was taught through group discussions and visual images on internet. We have been working to create a safe and aware deaf community, which otherwise is at grave risk”, he maintained. Roy maintained that in this fast changing world, it is of utmost importance to aware these people about kinds of relationships existing in society. “We, at the deaf foundation have been working for the past seven years in this field”, he added.
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Move for women’s section at district library
Jalandhar, August 11 The library has approximately 15,000 members from all over the district. Talking to The Tribune, Gurdyal Singh Kahlon, librarian and head of the children’s section, said the library was popular with small children as they had books, including comics and pictorial story books, catering to the need of children above four years. Children from poor families were the main patrons, he added. “Seeing the popularity of the children’s section, we have sent a proposal for the formation of a women’s section to B.S. Poswal, Director of the northern zone. The proposed section would stock reading material pertaining to women’s issues exclusively, he added. He said 90 per cent of the books were donated by the Raja Ram Mohan Roy Foundation, Kolkata, every year. This foundation is also the sponsoring body for various district libraries in India. The Hindi Directorate, Mysore, also supplies books to the library free of cost. Books of various categories, magazines, newspapers in Hindi, Punjabi, English and Urdu are available here. The library celebrates National Library Day on November 17, birthday of M.L. Ranganathan, a great mathematician and votary of having centre of knowledge, every year. An inter-district competition is held every year in which the best librarian award is given by the foundation, he said.
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Water shortage ghost haunts localities
Jalandhar, August 11 The womenfolk and children of the Panj Peer area were today seen lined up at community taps in the outer lower side of the colony, armed with pitchers and plastic containers to store water for domestic use. Minnu, Urmal, Shashi Bala and Rama, all residents of the area, said they got water supply in the colony only for three hours. “Water simply trickles down from one or two low taps in the colony, from where all of us collect it,” they rued. The MC officials, when contacted, said they would look into the problem and send water tankers to the area, if need be.
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Lieut-Col Manmohan gets 14th extension
Jalandhar, August 11 The officer is an example of sorts as he has provided training and job facility to scores of youth across Punjab. In his vast gratifying career of 22 years he has trained approximately 30,000 wards and nearly 60 per cent of them have found jobs in various services. His recent success saga is selection of 71 girls as constables in the first-ever women battalion of the BSF. Col Manmohan said that his services had been extended till July 2011. The Deputy Director, besides being a great source of motivation, is an avid learner himself. He is pursuing his MA (Urdu) from Jamia Milia Islamia. This is the eighth master’s degree of the officer. He has done MSc (physics), MA in defence studies, English, political science, economics, history and public administration. He has also learnt Persian. He was bestowed the “state award” by the Punjab government on August 15, 1991, and was awarded “Chief of Army Staff Commendation (COAS) Card” on January16, 1992. He has been awarded eight merit certificates by the Punjab government. Lieut-Col Manmohan Singh was commissioned in the Regiment of Artillery in June 1963.
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Winged guests adorn science city exhib
Kapurthala, August 11 The artiste, Arsh Rup Singh, a software engineer by profession, and son of Dr. Jai Rup Singh, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Punjab, Bhatinda, showcased photographs of different animals and birds of the state captured in different positions and settings. Dr. Ajayab Singh Brar, Vice Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, inaugurated the exhibition and said birds are the most conspicuous co-inhabitants of the human beings on the Earth and constitute an integral part of the ecosystem. Dr. Jai Rup Singh said people from rural areas are quite familiar with a number of species of local birds. Besides having significant ecological importance, birds have an aesthetic contribution to our surroundings also. Besides visitors and students of local schools, Dr. RS Khandpur, Director General, Science City and other employees were also present on the occasion.
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‘Recruit differently abled, get PF share from Centre’
Jalandhar, August 11 Sharma was here to distribute account slips during the annual function of
the Employees Provident Fund Union.
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Young World
Jalandhar, August 11 Function held
The management of BD Arya Girls College, Jalandhar cantonment, organised a special function in the honour of Lt. Governor of Puducherry Iqbal Singh. He was accompanied by his wife Gurwindervir Kaur. During his speech he emphasised on the development of Punjab in the field of education, industry and health. College management along with Director Swaraj Mohan and Principal Sarita Verma gave vote of thanks. Library inaugurated
A library-cum-administration hall was inaugurated by Amardeep Singh Samra, CEO, Midland Group, at Government Senior Secondary School, Hazara, near here, on Tuesday. The construction was conducted by UK-based NRI Kuldeep Singh Behlay in the memory of his parents. He had donated 200 books along with an almirah and furniture. Those who attended the function included Principal, Gohrina, Major J.S. Aulakh, and Gurinder Singh Sangha, Director, Physical Education of the school and international hockey umpire. Extension lecture
An extension lecture on “Fundamentals of quantum physics” was held at DAV College under the aegis of Physics Association on Friday. Dr Arvind Dhillon, Dean, Science Education Research Institute, Chandigarh, was the chief speaker on this occasion. In the first part of his lecture, he dealt with the topic of expanding universe, then discussed quantum aspects of super conductivity and the third was quantum entanglement. An interaction session for the students of the physics department was also held. Training workshop
The Universal Peace Federation of India and the NSS Department of DAV College, Jalandhar, organised a youth leadership training workshop on August 8 in the college. Urusala from Germany, David from England, Dr Jyoti and Sandeep from Delhi participated in the workshop and addressed the students on different issues concerning youth. Sandeep, joint secretary, Universal Peace Federation of India, appealed to the young students to come forward to fight against social evils like drugs, female foeticide, dowry and much more. Science exhibition
The bio-diesel manufacturing model of the students of the local CT Public School bagged the fourth position in the regional level (north) science exhibition of the CBSE, which was held at Greenland Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana, on August 6 to 8. As many as 272 teams from the northern region participated with their models based on various topics. Principal Lakhwinder Kaur said the students prepared the bio-diesel in school lab under the guidance from engineers of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Plantation drive
A plantation programme under the Green Revolution Campaign-II was held at St Soldier Divine Public School, New Model House, in which the students planted saplings on the school campus. The students wrote save environment slogans as well. Principal Anuradha urged the students play an active role in preserving the environment. Swimming tourney
Police DAV Public School won the overall CBSE Schools Sahodaya Cluster Swimming championship held on August 6 and 7 on the school campus. Police DAV won overall championship with 314 points in both boys and girls categories. Deshdeep Ghai and Aman Ghai of Police DAV bagged seven gold medals in their respective events. The students participated in as many as 78 events in the u-12, u-14, u-16 and u-19 categories. Poetry competition
MGN Public School organised English, Hindi and Punjabi poetry competitions in which the students of primary wing took part. In the English poetry, the first position was achieved by Palak of class I, while Riya also of class I, bagged the first position in the Punjabi poetry. In the Hindi poetry the first position was achieved by Kanwalpreet Singh of class III. Road safety
A guest lecture on road safety was held on August 8 in which ASI Sewa Singh, in charge of the education cell, traffic staff, spoke at length on traffic rules and road safety. Inspector Kuldeep Kaur, anti-eve teasing cell, was also present on this occasion. Science week
Lawrence International School observed science week from August 3 in which all sections of the students participated. They prepared charts, models and projects related to science. Prize distribution
Army Public School, Beas, celebrated Annual Prize distribution function on August 10. Major Gen. J.S. Kataria (Vishisht Sewa Medal) and his better half were the chief guests at the function. |
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Truth aajkal
The resplendent aura of truth has always girdled the Indian mind like a shield. Our esthetic magnanimity of truth makes us the most revered nation in the realm of spirituality. Starting from Lord Rama to Bhishma Pitamah there are innumerable examples when these towering personalities have withstood the mighty impact of the atrocities of time with their staunch faith in truth. India may have lost her materialistic glamour because of some weaknesses in the political set-up, but she has always maintained her dignity in strictly following her moral code which imbibed the practice of truth.
Nowadays, when media dominates the scenario completely and TV channels are promoting a lot of gabble-babble which really aims at nothing concrete, the question of the relevancy of these programmes arises naturally. “Sach Ka Samna”, a show being aired on Star Plus, is drawing a lot of attention because of its controversial format. The viewers are enjoying at the revelations being made by the participant and the contestant is confessing the truth in front of his or her relatives with the sole purpose of making money. Isn’t it the height of gross covetousness that the people are ready to put at stake everything precious to them only for the tinkle of money? The confession of truth is not a simple thing which can be easily performed like a proficient performer. Swami Vivekananda once said, “Truth is purity, truth is all knowledge, truth must be strengthening, must be enlightening, must be invigorating.” But the truth being accepted by the participants is neither enlightening nor elevating. This is just a farce. Such kind of acceptance means nothing as the sole purpose is to make money. Moreover, the authenticity of the polygraph machine is under question. People who are adept in telling lies can not be caught by this machine. On the other hand, there are people who fail because of their qualms in answering a question. We must remember that we have given the world the beautiful message of “Satyam, Shivam Sunderam”, which means truth is the form of Lord Shiva Himself and that is the only reality which is the most beautiful and the most serene. We can’t allow ourselves to be swayed by the torrent of fake glam of money. |
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2 arrested for forging documents
Jalandhar, August 11 Sources said the accused, Rishi Kumar and Vimal Kumar,
had submitted a fake revenue document to bail out their friend, Om Parkash, in a case registered under section 306 of the IPC by the GRP six months ago. On scrutiny, the documents were found to be fake following that CJM H.S. Grewal ordered arrest of the accused. Accordingly, a case under section 419, 420, 461 and 468 of the IPC was registered by the Division 4 police. |
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Providing medical services seem to be the least priority of the government and this can be gauged from the pitiable condition of the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) here.
Jalandhar, August 11
Jalandhar, August 11
A group of five students of Saffron Public School, Phagwara, went on a visit to Rashtrapati Bhavan to meet President of India Pratibha Devi Singh
Patil. The students had a brief interaction session with the President. Manvi
Virmani, one of the students, tied Rakhi on the President’s wrist.
