Jalandhar, August 20
The meeting of the 11-member committee of cantonment residents, along with the Jalandhar Cantonment board officials today, concluded on an optimistic note with assurances on almost all the key issues of the residents.

Although the committee members gathered at sharp 10 am in front of the Cantonment Board office, the meeting began exactly after an hour. Fearing any untoward incident, adequate police deployment was made in the Cantonment Board Complex.

The major relief for cantonment residents came with the declaration of conducting a ‘Lok Adalat’ every Wednesday.

It was decided that the weekly Lok Adalat would be conducted by Cantonment Executive Officer (CEO), Rakesh Mittal for easy reddressal of grievances.

A special once-in-a-month Lok Adalat would be headed by the Sub Area Commander, Brigadier AK Sharma.

Committee members, coupled with selected attendees of the meeting, expressed their resentment against army authorities for not allowing any repair or reconstruction of their houses. Addressing this issue, Brig Sharma said a ‘Review Committee’, to access and find ownership records of cantonment lands, would be made.

“The committee will be headed by CEO Mittal, Som Dutt Nahar, the elected member of the board, and an official from the revenue department,” added Brig Sharma.

Regarding the controversial and long-pending demand of abolishing octroi, the officials said formalities pertaining to the octroi have been fulfilled by the Cantonment Board.

“The delay is on the part of the Punjab government,” said CEO Mittal.

The residents also argued that the approach roads of the cantonment, which were closed, should be made open for the public. Addressing this issue, the officials declared that barring two approach roads, the rest 11 would be opened for the public. Even the Mall Road was opened for the cantonment residents with a ban on the plying of heavy vehicles.

Varinder Sharma, the General Secretary of the Punjab Congress, who led the committee, argued that owing to the high-handedness of the army authorities, residents couldn’t get their names registered in the revenue records.

“It was decided that according to Cantt Board Act 2006 and land policy, maximum possible relaxation would be given in the repair and reconstruction works to the residents,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention here that the cantonment comprises army, Defence Estate Office (DEO), civil, wakf and rehabilitation land. At the time of partition, the residents in the cantonment were given rehabilitation land, leading to problems till date.

The cantonment residents had observed a ‘Gulami Divas’ on August 15 raising their voice against the barbaric attitude of the army authorities. It was due to the agitation that a meeting was held today. The meeting was attended by SDM-I, RP Singh and councillors of the seven wards of the Cantonment Board.

Jalandhar, August 20
Peeved at the deplorable condition of roads in the city, a local NGO has challenged the Municipal Corporation Jalandhar through the RTI Act to provide information about any road of its choice constructed and repaired during the last two years as per specifications.

Anil Vashisht, president of Uprala Society, in an application filed yesterday to the Public Information Officer of the MC, said he had to seek information through the RTI after the MC officials concerned showed reluctance in providing details, which could prove that the road construction or repair work carried out in the past two years (August 16, 2007 to August 15, 2009) was as per specifications.

He has even listed out the specifications, “Roads of thickness 50 mm Bitumen Macadem and 20 mm mix seal at site, roads which have been constructed after cleaning the surface with mechanical blower, roads in which required quantity of tack coat has been spread, and roads in which quality bitumen and mix seal has been used.”

Vashisht has also asked for allowing joint inspection (in the presence of engineer in charge) of such roads at the site and to provide inspection reports thereafter.

He has also called for allowing inspection of documents and records of roads, including the contract agreement, contract file, work order placed, material record register, purchase vouchers of materials, material testing registers, test results of materials and samples, comments of visiting MC officials and Mayor, any work declared sub-standard, details of plant, machinery and vehicles, measurement books and log books of mechanical appliances.

Vashisht has specifically quoted that the RTI Act in its section 2 (j) means, “Right to information held by or under the control of any public authority including right to inspection of work, documents and records and taking certified samples of materials”, claiming that the details he had asked was not beyond the provision of the Act.

Jalandhar, August 20
Even as the administration continues its drive against chemists selling intoxicating drugs, no action has been taken against the 37 chemists whose cases were pending before the Drugs Controlling Authority (DCA), Chandigarh.

This, despite the fact that DC Ajeet Singh Pannu had urged the Health and Family Welfare Department to take strict action against defaulters. The magnitude of the drug menace can be gauged from the fact that 37 chemists have been found stocking and selling scores of drugs within a span of six months, in violation of norms.

In normal course, the authority would have acted promptly by acting on the seizure report submitted by the District Drug Inspector and cancelled their licenses or ordered the closure of the shops.

But nothing of the sort happened and the sale of the drugs goes on with impunity in these shops, defeating the efforts of the authorities in carrying out the drive against drug abuse.

Ironically, the CM, his cabinet and senior ministers miss no occasion to score brownie points with the masses that they were dealing with the drug menace with a heavy hand. Such cases highlight their hypocrisy and doublespeak.

Several NGOs, besides various departments of the state, have been warning the government that a vast majority of the Punjabi youth was into drugs, especially synthetic ones. The fact that these were easily available at the counters of the neighbourhood chemists, makes the situation worrisome. Pannu, said he had written to the Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, to get the needful done in the matter. It is a matter of serious concern and the closure of such shops across the state would be the first step in stemming the tide of drug abuse among the youth, he added. The Drug Inspector has recommended action against the defaulters under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. 

Jalandhar, August 20
A meeting of block presidents of the Youth Congress was held to review various Central government schemes like NREGA and the formation of the “aam adami ka sipahi schemes” at the village level.

DYC chief Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary said the meetings were being held as per the directions of AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi.

The formation of village committees was to ensure implementation of NREGA and to chalk out people-oriented policies for the 
common man.

He said block presidents were directed to identify and involve the Youth Congress members to start enrolling more youngsters in the party fold.

They were further asked to initiate a mass contact programme at the panchayat level to identify and constitute village committees at the earliest.

Voters’ lists of the existing Youth Congress members were handed over to the block presidents who were asked to contact and involve each member in the programmes given by the Indian Youth Congress, he added. Those present included block presidents Paramjit Pamma, Ashwan Bhalla, Tajinder Singh, Baljinder Singh, Jaswinder Gill, Gurjit Kang, Varinder Kumar and Jamsher Singh Shera. — TNS

Kapurthala, August 20
The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Kapurthala, will organise seminars on free legal aid at the subdivision, block and village levels soon.

Addressing a DLSA meeting here yesterday, District and Sessions Judge-cum-DLSA Chairman Fatehdeep Singh said these seminars would be held as a part of a special campaign to spread awareness among the general public regarding free legal aid.

DC Raj Kamal Chaudhary, Additional District and Sessions Judge Atwinder Singh Chahal, Senior Sub Judge-cum-DLSA Secretary Sanjay Agnihotri were also present in the meeting.

Fatehdeep Singh further said as many as 14,646 out of total 22,594 cases were disposed of in the 170 lok adalats in Kapurthala so far.

Jalandhar, August 20
Though the rising price of sugar continues to pinch, there is a bit relief for consumers as prices of some of the seasonal vegetables have come down. Right from tomato to seasonal vegetables like bottle guard nearly every vegetable saw a downward trend in their prices this week.

While sugar, which was selling at Rs 32 per kg last week reached an all-time high price of Rs 35 this week. Till six months back it was priced at Rs 25.

Traders maintain that they were expecting an upward trend in the prices of sugar during the approaching festival season but it has taken place all of a sudden burning a hole in the pocket of the consumers.

Among vegetables tomato witnessed a decline of Rs 10 in its prices and was available at Rs 30 per kg. Even stocks of cauliflower have also come in the market. At present cauliflower is available at Rs 60 per kg. Onion and potato remained at Rs 14 per kg this week and witnessed a decline of Re 1 in the prices.

Even the price of lemon witnessed a decline of Rs 20. This week lemon remained at Rs 80 per kg. Lady’s finger and beans were available at Rs 30 per kg, while bitter gourd was at Rs 40 per kg this week.

Among fruits, pears saw a decline of Rs 10 in its prices and remained at Rs 50 per kg, while the prices of banana varied from Rs 35 to Rs 40 per dozen. Meanwhile, mango remained at Rs 55 per kg. 

Jalandhar, August 20
Wipro BPO and CT Group of Institutions would organise a mega two-day job fest for the youth of the region to explore a career opportunity in the BPO industry. The job fest would begin at 10 am at the CT Group of Institutions, Maqsudan on August 22 and conclude on August 23. The youth above 18 years of age from the city and neighboring regions can apply in this fest.

At present, WIPRO is looking for graduates and post-graduates, diploma holders across streams of 2009 and 2010 batch (other than BE, B Tech, MCA & MBA). The company would also organise an orientation session on August 22 at 11 am at the same venue.

Vikas Dua, Head of Campus Initiatives of Wipro BPO, said, “We provide the talent pool an opportunity to create a career in the industry, where students can choose locations from across the country where we have centres”.

Jalandhar, August 20
A crooning voice, a super fit bod, some crisp, retro clothing and a new hairdo for topping. Tada! You’ve got the recipe ready for the perfect metrosexual pop star. Not everyone can master this mix, especially if you happen to be singing for the Punjabi masses, but he does, with panache.

A break from the chadra-kurta types, Ashok Mastie is the urbane face of the Punjabi music industry. His friends, however, say when alone he takes to melancholy folk.

The networking types, he is known for complimenting and acknowledging people, be it another village native Deepak Dhillon (to tell him to call for help whenever he needed it) or Aamir Khan (after he saw his “honest” performance in “Lagaan”. Currently he’s driving desi masses crazy with “Saare de saare”, the newest chartbuster on the Punjabi music circuit.

Born and brought up at Gidderbaha village in Faridkot, he grew up listening to the songs of Rafi and Gurdas Maan (also a Gidderbaha native). He had decided early on that music was his true calling but his passion was mistaken for lack of seriousness in studies. Things at home were glum too. Parents thought it was just a craze that will pass and constant requests to buy a harmonium fell on deaf ears.

The turning point came when Mastie started training under Master Moni Sharma who taught him the basics of music, playing the harmonium and voice modulation.

He studied at Gobind Singh College, Gidderbaha, where his participation at youth festivals brought him much-needed satisfaction as an artiste. His search for fame took him to Chandigarh where he met playwright Kamal Vidrohi.

Attractive and heavy voiced, Vidrohi thought he was perfect catch for theatre.

The perfect romantic hero, he did musicals like “Heer Ranjha”, “Mirza Sahiban”, “Allhe Zakhm Punjab De”, “Ishq Jinna De Haddi Racheya” and “Oedipus”.

Widely lauded both for his theatrics and singing, Mastie also had a penchant for comedy which he satisfied by writing parodies that he sung during intervals in plays.

Once performing such a parody at Delhi, he was approached by the secretary of the Punjabi Academy (PA), Delhi, to become part of the youth wing.

He auditioned for the youth wing at the SPM College, Delhi, where he was first booed by a crowd of 4,000 slinging paper planes and orange peels at him before he could open his mouth.

But Mastie hit back with defiant rhetoric which settled the audience a bit and the performance that followed (again a parody) lasted an hour, leaving the crowds craving for more. In 1993 he came up with his first album “Munde Vikau Ne” which was followed by the hits “Punjabian Di Ho Gai Wah Bai Wah” (1998), “Masti Hi Masti” (2000), “Yaari Jaan Ton Pyaari” (2003), “Khadke Galasi Tere Naa Te” and the latest “Crossover”.

He has regularly done shows at Dubai, Canada, America and Pakistan.

What do you think is the need of the industry today?

Out of the box thinking, and new experiments.

What’s your strength as an artiste?

Honesty, energy, zeal and positivity.

What’s your big break?

It hasn’t come as yet.

Message.

I think people in the industry should appreciate each other.

Do you plan to act?

Yes. Have got 5-6 offers but am waiting for the right ones.

Upcoming projects.

An untitled album on contemporary Punjabi songs. It will also have a “Mirza” which might be done by a foreign composer.

The members further warned the management of intensified protests in case their demands were not met.