Jalandhar, August 21
Demanding implementation of the notification of the University Grants Commission (UGC) pay scales, members of the Punjab Federation of University and College Teachers Organisations (PFUCTO) held a protest dharna at Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall here today.

Under the banner of the PFUCTO, college teachers from Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Nawanshahr and Kapurthala took part in the protest. President of the union Dr S.S. Dhillon said that despite accepting the UGC notification on June 18 this year the Punjab government had failed to implement it. The UGC implemented the pay scales on December 31, 2008.

The union decided to hold a similar protest at Chandigarh on August 25 in which college teachers of Ropar, Mohali and Chandigarh would take part. “A protest march would be held at Patiala on August 28 as well,” Dhillon added.

He maintained that the union would observe a final rally on September 5. “The teachers will go on a mass casual leave,” he added.

Jalandhar, August 21
On a call given by the Private Colleges Non-Teaching Employees Union Punjab and Chandigarh, non-teaching staff of Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya observed a pen-down strike here today.

The members demanded immediate implementation of the Fifth Pay Commission report and raised anti-government slogans. President of the union Kulwant Singh said the union would cease work and intensify the protest if the government failed to meet their demands.

Nawanshahr: The activists of Private Colleges Non-teaching Employees Union, today struck work and held dharnas outside offices of the principals in their respective colleges in the district.

Amritsar, August 21
After a long wait the Punjab government has completed all formalities to hand over 44 acres of land to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) for augmenting infrastructure at Rajasansi International Airport.

Deputy Commissioner K.S Pannu announced this during a meeting of Airfield Environment Management Committee held at the airport today. He said that Rs 12.50 crore would be paid to the owners of the land within the next fortnight.

He said the Air-India Express would operate Delhi-Amritsar, Mascut-Abu Dhabi and Amritsar-Delhi flights on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, respectively, from September 4. He said the airway was expected to introduce flight for London to Toronto from here.

Pannu also said six-day-a-week flight from Amritsar to Dubai was made a daily three days back. He said the AAI was handed over the Air Cargo Terminal after completing it.

Airport Director V.S. Panacle, officials from the CISF, Air Traffic Management, Customs Department and from various airlines also participated in the meeting. 

Jalandhar, August 21
Rain played spoil sport with an awareness rally on swine flu in Khambra village, organised by more than 200 nursing students of different nursing colleges, here today.

Having placards and banners, the students held a procession and raised slogans educating the general public about the virus. They were forced to wind up the procession and take shelter in nearby buildings as the heavy rain caught them midway.

Earlier, District Health Officer Dr. Roop Lal, addressed the students asking them to make the general public aware about the factors responsible for the spread of swine flu. He also stressed upon cleanliness and hygiene. — TNS

Jalandhar, August 21
The district today got the first supply of tamiflu tablets from the Union Health Ministry.

District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Roop Lal said that delivery of 10,000 tablets of tamiflu arrived this afternoon. He claimed that the medicine was enough for the suspected and confirmed patients of swine flu in the local Civil Hospital.

According Dr Lal, 10 tablets are prescribed for one swine flu patient. The arrived quota of the medicine was sufficient for 1,000 patients, he said. Meanwhile, the reports of two suspected patients of swine flu which were reported in the Civil Hospital almost a week ago were found negative.

Dr Lal claimed that the patient, Sukhwinder Singh of Model Town, was suspected for the virus after his arrival from France. Another patient Mandeep Kaur of Defence Colony showed symptoms of the virus when she returned from Pune.