Ludhiana, October 20
Caught selling expired refined oil and cheese during a raid conducted by the health officials, the staff at Easy Day, a retail chain store near Laxmi cinema, manhandled photojournalists as they were trying to click pictures of the products.

A team of health officials seized 11 litres of expired refined oil and 1.2 kg of cheese from the store shelves. Much to the shock of health officials, the cheese packets, bearing nine month-old expiry date, were put on "50 per cent" sale.

Dr US Sooch, district health officer (DHO), stated that the samples had been taken and would be sent for the laboratory tests. "A action under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act will be initiated against the store, following the reports," DHO said.

Another senior official, while pointing towards the attitude of the store manager, stated that it was an offence to sell expired milk product to consumers as it could also prove fatal.

Meanwhile, photojournalists from the reputed English dailies were illegally detained in the store on the pretext of trespassing. Whereas, the photojournalists maintained that they had come to cover the raids conducted by the department of health and family welfare.

The photojournalists were locked in the store for almost an hour and it was only after the intervention of the police that security personnel at the store opened the doors.

The raids are a part of the routine check which the district health department plans to continue throughout the year. The civil surgeon, Ludhiana, Dr Maninderjeet Singh, had recently announced that an average of 50 samples would be taken from all big and small food stores every month.

Ludhiana, October 20
Accusing the health & family welfare department of protecting the interests of “influential” sweetmeat shops in the city, the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee today staged a protest against the health authorities for not having disclosed the names of major outlets using spurious ‘khoya’ and sweets seized during recent raids.

Party leaders and workers questioned the validity of the campaign against those selling spurious products that was recently undertaken by the health authorities in the district.

Addressing the protesters, Amarjit Singh Tikka, director of the food processing department (government of India), said: “Officials of the health & family welfare department, including Punjab health minister Laxmikanta Chawla and health secretary Satish Chandra, have put out ambiguous statements on the issue of revealing the names of outlets that were to use 700 quintals of spurious ‘khoya’ seized in Ludhiana. If the names are not disclosed within seven days, we’ll stage more protests and burn the effigies of the Punjab health minister and secretary.”

He added the department would be asked to reveal the names under the RTI Act.

The names of sweetmeat outlets found guilty of having procured spurious ‘khoya’ to make sweets, which was provided by the Ludhiana civil surgeon, were of small and insignificant outlets. These could not have consumed the 700 quintals that was seized by health officials during the raids.

The questions that had been left unanswered included the source of ‘khoya’ used by sweetmeat shops if they were not buying the spurious variety; whether the health officials had checked workshops where these big shops were making ‘khoya’ and, if yes, why were samples not taken from the bigger outlets during the initial stages of the drive.

Blaming the department of being irresponsible on matters concerning public health, former Congress district president Gurdev Singh Lapran claimed ‘khoya’ that had passed tests but was unfit for human consumption was given back to the respective sweetmeat shops.

“The ‘khoya’ was lying in cold storage for ten days before the seizure and for another ten days after the lab report came in but was unfit for human consumption, as it could be preserved only for 3 to 5 days in cold storage,” he added.

Ludhiana, October 20
Despite the ban on smoking at public places under the Anti-Tobacco Act, people are fearlessly smoking at railway stations, bus stands, cinema halls, restaurants and other private buildings.

The reason: Poor enforcement of the Anti-Tobacco Act in the district.

In complete contravention to the strict implementation of the Anti-Tobacco Act, the department of health and family welfare carried out just four or five drives against violators of the Act and, interestingly, succeeded in challaning just 12 persons last year.

Smoking in the form of cigarette, cigar, hookah, biri and pipe is injurious to the health of smokers.

Dr HS Bedi, cardiac surgeon of the city, says that out of every hundred patients suffering from cardio-vascular diseases, 50 per cent are smokers. Smoking leads to cardiac problem that results in heart attacks, peripheral vascular diseases and lung cancer.

"It is futile to operate upon smokers as even stents and grafts are unable to help smokers undergoing surgeries as their problems surface after a short span. Even three or four cigarettes for five years can do the permanent damage to the heart and lungs," Dr Bedi goes on to add.

Furthermore, the second-hand smoke can harm the cardiovascular system of non-smokers in the same way as it damages that of the active smoker. Medical experts state that effects are worst in children in the first five years as the second-hand smoke disturbs the child’s physical and cognitive development. Tobacco smoke is a powerful trigger of asthma symptoms.

Another senior physician in the city states that mere enactment of the law is not enough as it is defunct till the time it is executed with precision and it is for the individuals to raise their voice against the violation of tobacco Act. He cited an example wherein a passive smoker, after suffering from hearty ailment, sued his company on the pretext of allowing his colleagues to smoke inside the building.

Ludhiana, October 20
A three-year-old girl was allegedly raped yesterday evening by a man who had been staying as a tenant for the past one year in her parents’ house located at EWS colony near Focal Point. The matter came to light today after the police booked Sahib Ali, a resident of Gorakhpur, for the heinous crime.

The incident took place at about 8:00 pm on Monday when Sahib reportedly lured the girl to his room on the pretext of offering her some sweets. In the meantime Saffian Khatton, the girl’s mother, who was searching for her daughter, found Sahib raping her in the latter’s room. She immediately raised an alarm and called her brother in-law for help. In the meantime, Sahib managed to flee from the scene.

After the girl’s family members informed the police she was rushed to a hospital, where a medical examination could be conducted only this morning. The girl’s condition is stated to be fine.

According to investigating officer, Malkit Singh, the report on the medical examination was still awaited. He said Sahib had been booked for rape, adding in the meantime the police had launched a hunt to nab the suspect.

A distraught Saffian was blaming herself for being responsible for the incident. She said she had persuaded her husband and her brother in law to rent out the room to Sahib.

Ludhiana, October 20
A large number of shopkeepers blocked the Ferozepur Road, a national highway, near Ayali chowk, for more than an hour around noon today to lodge a protest against disconnection of power supply to them by the operations wing of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB).

Irate shopkeepers managed to bring in a number of tractor-trolleys which were parked right in the middle of the road as the staff of the Aggar Nagar division of the PSEB continued the task of snapping power supply amidst chaos.

While timely intervention by the police and senior officials of the PSEB saved the situation from taking an ugly turn and the protesters were persuaded to retract.

The shopkeepers dispersed and vehicular traffic was allowed to move on the highway only after further disconnection of power supply was stopped and an assurance was given by PSEB staff to restore supply to the disconnected meters forthwith.

The drive to carry out mass disconnection of power supply was launched in the area on the basis of instructions from the state public works department (PWD) that some shops along the highway were violating the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court that all structures along national highways ought to be 30 metre away from the road.

On the condition of anonymity, a middle rung PWD official told The Tribune that all structures, including shops, showrooms and residential buildings, located within 30 metres of the highway were “illegal” and had to be demolished as per the directions of the high court.

It was to carry out the demolition of these structures that the PSEB officials were asked to disconnect power supply to these establishments.

While the PWD officials maintained that the buildings with 30-metre violation were duly issued notices to voluntarily carry out the shifting, the shopkeepers refuted the claim saying no such notices were received by them.

Rajat, owner of a medical store near Ayali chowk, termed the action of the PSEB as arbitrary and uncalled for. “I am running the shop for the past many years. If I am told to shift my shop or move the structure further away from the road, it is practically impossible.

Moreover, no prior notice for shifting of the shop or disconnection of power supply was served to me, which made the action of PSEB authorities illegal.”

Pushing the ball in the court of PWD officials, PSEB authorities said the orders of the high court had to be carried out by the PWD.

“In the wake of protest by the affected shopkeepers, we can not have a major law and order problem at our hands. Hence, the drive for disconnection of power supply has been put on hold for the time being,” PSEB officials stated.

Ludhiana, October 20
The biggest laxity on the part of the excise and taxation department came to light today when the website of the department failed to click on the last date of e-filing of the Value Added Tax (VAT) returns.

Traders were left in the lurch as they were unable to file their return. Passwords were also provided late while a majority of the passwords were found invalid at the eleventh hour.

Earlier, the traders were not provided passwords on time. "Password is very confidential and should be provided in privacy while the department distributed the passwords in public. A register was put up at the counter and password for every trader was written on them," said Jagtar Singh, a trader.

Adding further, Arun Kanwal, member of the Taxation Advisory Committee, said it was the sheer negligence of the department as the website was not working while today was the last date for e-filing.

"In addition to this, making e-filing compulsory for every trader, who is dealing outside Punjab, has created many problems. Small traders are unable to understand the complicated system and they do not have the required infrastructure for e-filing," added he.

Jatinder Khurana, president of the Taxation Young Lawyers Association, said the return forms were complicated and it is not getting uploaded.

"Some of the passwords issued by the department were invalid which were originated again from the department. The things should have been planned systematically," he added.

Sources in the department reveal that the site was being upgraded at Patiala due to which the traders were facing problems. The department today accepted the cheques while they were considering to extend the last date for the e-filing due to the non-functional website.

Khurana further urged the department that VAT numbers of the traders should not be locked so that they were able to file their returns later on. "There is no revenue loss to the department as all traders have given the cheques to the department," he added.

Ludhiana, October 20
Residents of Moti Nagar locality in the city are up in arms against the ongoing construction of a mobile tower of a mobile service provider company. They have demanded withdrawal of the NOC granted to the company for erection of the tower, as the structure would become a permanent source of nuisance as also health hazard in the residential area.

Functionaries of the Moti Nagar (C-Block) Residents Welfare Association told Ludhiana Tribune that a representation signed by a large number of residents of C-block of the colony had been submitted to the municipal corporation authorities to press upon them to scrap the project in the larger interest of residents.

Area councillor Sukhdev Singh Gill has also lent support to the residents, assuring them that the matter will be taken up with the civic administration.

While officials of the building branch of the corporation maintain that the telecom company has obtained an NOC and the mandatory approval under the building bylaws, the matter is being reconsidered in the wake of objection raised by area residents.

Neeraj Chawla, president of the All-India Anti-Corruption Federation, who is leading the movement, said the corporation had already issued a show-cause notice to the company for withdrawal of NOC, while a lower court had issued a stay order against the erection of mobile tower.

“The owner of the commercial complex, who has provided the site for the tower on lease, does not reside in the locality, but by offering his building for the purpose, he has created problems for residents,” Chawla added.

Ludhiana, October 20
The local industry, be it hosiery, electroplating, spares, components or steel, is suffering due to labour shortage these days.

Industrial workers, most of whom are migrants from UP and Bihar, who had left for home around 15-20 days ago to celebrate Dasehra and Diwali, are yet to reach the city.

Moreover, many others are leaving the city to take part in Chhat Puja to be organised on October 24 at their hometowns.

Gurdeep Singh, who runs a hosiery unit at Sunder Nagar, said the problem of labour shortage was commonplace at this time of the year.

Many labourers had already left the city to celebrate festivals with their families while others were planning to leave to participate in Chhat Puja.

“The festival is primarily celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh with fervour. Migrant labourers make it a point to visit their families back home to observe the festivities. So we really do not stop them. Going for 10-15 days to celebrate the festivals is justified but at the same time work in the units suffers,” said Singh.

To clear extra rush of passengers during Chhat Puja, Northern Railway has started an unreserved special train between Ludhiana-Saharsa-Ambala Cantonment.

The train will run for two days i.e. today and tomorrow to accommodate the rush of migrant population and other passengers. Huge rush was witnessed on the train today.

Krishan Yadav, an industrial worker, said Chhat Puja was the festival of truth, non-violence, forgiveness and compassion. It was dedicated to Surya Dev (the sun god), Agni Dev (the fire god) and Lord Kartikeya or Muruga.

“The rituals usually consist of fasting, folklores, hymns together with somber hues on the banks of the celestial Ganga or any fresh watery body. Millions light lamps as they offer ‘arghya’ to the sun making it a delightful sight,” said Yadav.

Ludhiana, October 20
Research project titled “Management of the impacted dentures in the upper food pipe by endoscopy” by Dr Manish Munjal, ENT department at the DMCH, was recently honoured with the prestigious Tuli Sunder Dass Memorial Award for the best research work.

The Association of Otolaryngologists of India (AOI) conferred the award upon him during an annual conference of the association in Chandigarh.

The project was the outcome of an exhaustive and a unique twelve-years study in the management of 120 dislodged and impacted dental plates in the oesophagus or the upper food pipe.

Dr Manish said now-a-days awareness was replacing the missing teeth making eating an easier and a pleasant experience, enhancing speech clarity and improving ones facial appearance. Moreover, improved alignment prevented collection of food in mouth spaces, thereby an increase in the number of people wearing dentures compared to the past twenty-five years.

In the study, the rural patients, especially males involved in drunken bouts outnumbered the females presenting with these foreign bodies. Fall on the face during the night and dislodgement during hurried meals was very common. Double wire dentures were the worst to deal with.

The doctor said the denture used by middle and elderly age group people were the most vulnerable lot and surgical intervention was also required to avoid complications.

Dr Munjal described the type, number and orientation of wires on dentures.

Under general anaesthesia, rigid endoscopes of different sizes, depending on the age of the patient were passed through the mouth. The denture plates and the arising wires were visualised in the neck or the chest. With specialised instrumentation, the entangled sharp edges and one or two wires were freed from the surrounding tissues of the food pipe.

Sometimes the wires or the dentures plates had to be cut and extracted meticulously. In cases where extraction was not possible, the denture was removed by approaching from outside through the neck or the chest. Post removal, a re-evaluation of the food pipe, was done and in some cases malignancy of food pipe was found which was treated likewise, he added.

Jagraon, October 20
“Rotarians are committed towards their goal of eradicating polio worldwide,” said Sanjiv Sethi, DGN (20011-12) of District 3070 of Rotary International, on the occasion of installation of new president of Rotary Club, Jagraon, at Rotary Bhawan here recently. He was accompanied by educator KK Dhir.

He said Rotary International had spent Rs 6,500 crore on this initiative during the past eight years.

He said in the past few years no polio case had been reported worldwide except India where 380 cases had been detected.

Of these, 287 were in UP alone, followed by 54 in Bihar, four in Rajasthan.

Sethi was here as installation officer for the installation ceremony of Swaranjit Sehgal as new president of the Rotary Club for 2009-10.

Outgoing president Dinesh Malhotra handed over the charge of the club to the new president. SDM Mukand Singh Sandhu, presided over the function.

Outgoing secretary and district chairman of District 3070 Bikram Sharma along with the new secretary OP Bhandari said the new team would reinforce the attitude of serving mankind among club members.

Earlier, Sethi along with other members planted 1,170 saplings on the divider of the Tehsil road here and distributed books and stationery to 340 needy students of 34 schools.

Jagraon, October 20
Rich tributes were paid to writer, producer and lyricist Inderjit Singh Hassanpuri at a shardhanjali samaroh organised at his native Hassanpur village on Sunday.

Zila parishad chairman Manpreet Singh Ayali, former deputy speaker, Lok Sabha, Charanjit Singh Atwal, MLAs Darshan Singh Shivalik, Tej Parkash and Gurdeep Singh Bhaini, former MP Gurcharan Singh Galib and SSP (rural) Harinder Singh Chahal paid tributes to Hassanpuri.

Earlier, jail and tourism minister Hira Singh Gabria visited the home of the departed writer and expressed grief with his sons and wife.

Shivalik announced a grant of Rs 3 lakh for a library to be constructed in the memory of Hassanpuri.

Ayali said Hassanpuri had worked for the promotion for Punjabi language, culture and literature through his writings and raised voice against social evils.

He said Hassanpur would be developed as a model village and Rs 4 lakh would be released within a week for its development.

He also announced Rs 2 lakh for the library to be built in the memory of Hassanpuri at the village.

He said the road from Ludhiana-Ferozepur Road to Hassanpur would be named after Hassanpuri.

Dr Upinderjit Kaur, in a message, also paid tributes to the writer and said the literary world had lost a distinguished writer and film producer, whose writings and films gave it a new identity and a social purpose.

She said the government was celebrating November as a month to promote Punjabi language and culture and various functions would be organised at district headquarters of the state. One such function would be dedicated to Hassanpuri, she said.

Jagdev Singh Jassowal, chairman of Prof Mohan Singh Foundation, said Prof Mohan Singh Memorial Mela would be organised at Sham Chaurasi and dedicated to Hassanpuri.

He added that a portrait of Hassanpuri would be installed at Virasat Bhawan, Ludhiana.

Among others who paid tributes included Malkit Singh Dakha, Pargat Singh Grewal, Prof Gurbhajan Gill, Nirmal Jaura, Surjit Pattar, Lovely Nirman, Dev Threeke, K Deep, Karnail Singh Gill, Pali Detwalia, Kuldip Manak, Hakam Bakhtriwala, Amrik Singh Talwandi, Saroop Singh Alag, Dr Sukhdev Singh Sirsa, Ram Singh, Tej Parkash Sandhi, Ranjodh Singh, Pritam Singh Bharowal, Pala Rajewalia, Tarsem Jodhan, Kanwaljit Singh Shanker, Gurpreet Singh Toor, Jagpal Singh Khangura, Nahar Singh Gill, Baldev Singh Gill, Pammi Bai, Ranjit Kaur, Ninder Ghuganvi, Dr Deepak Manmohan, Pawan Harchandpuri.

Ludhiana, October 20
The operations wing of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has imposed a penalty of Rs 14,38,523 on an ice factory in Dashmesh Nagar locality under Janta Nagar division here after it was found stealing power.

Rachhpal Singh, deputy chief engineer, city west circle, today said the factory, with a sanctioned load of 55 kW, was drawing electricity by tapping cable and creating a bypass to the energy meter.

An FIR under relevant provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003 has been lodged with the anti-power theft police station here against the owner of the factory, Baldev Singh.

Ludhiana, October 20
A resident of Sher Singh Nagar, near Raghunath Enclave, was robbed of her gold chain, earrings and bangles by three persons, including a woman, here yesterday.

The victim, wishing not to be identified, said she was riding her scooter when a woman in a Maruti stopped her midway asking for help stating that her car had broken down. The car was parked on the roadside.

Thinking that a woman was in need of help, the victim stopped her scooter. In the meantime, two unidentified youths hiding in the rear of the car came out and snatched her jewellery. Within a few seconds after robbing her, the trio fled from the spot in the car. The woman has complained to the police.

Ludhiana, October 20
Work on the building of the Institutional Management Laboratory-cum-University Cafeteria of Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), the foundation stone of which was laid 12 years back, is yet to start.

Reason: The perpetual fund crunch that the university has been facing for the past many years. The venture is just one of the numerous projects of the PAU that is hanging fire due to lack of adequate funds, hindering education, research, extension and linkage works.

Dr Gurkirpal Singh, estate officer-cum-chief engineer, PAU, said, "The fund crunch is the root cause of all problems that the university is facing."

He added, "As far as the construction of the Institutional Management Laboratory-cum-University Cafeteria is concerned, the project is stalled because grants have not been received from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in spite of the repeated reminders."

Dr Gurkirpal Singh expressed ignorance about the expected time frame for the project. "I do not know," he remarked.

The foundation stone of the Institutional Management Laboratory-cum-Cafeteria was laid by Balwinder Singh Bhunder, then chairman of the Punjab Mandi Board and member, Board of Management, PAU, on December 20, 1997, on the 36th foundation day of the varsity when Dr Amarjit Singh Khehra was the Vice-Chancellor of the PAU. The management laboratory was meant to be a part of College of Home Science, PAU.

Ludhiana, October 20
As many as 2,350 students of BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, took part in Decade Global Vote 2009 for the World's Children Prize for the Rights of the Child (WCPRC).

The vote day was celebrated with bright decorations and students were excited to be a part of the day.

Millions of children will participate in this year's Global vote to decide who will be the decade child right hero.

Ludhiana, October 20
After trying all possible means to get rid of the growing stray dog menace, residents of Kitchlu Nagar have planned to counter MP and famous animal lover Maneka Gandhi.

A group of Kitchlu Nagar residents have decided to catch stray dogs and send these to Aonla in Utter Pradesh, the constituency of Maneka Gandhi, as post-Diwali gift.

The residents are of the view that Maneka Gandhi, who has been instrumental in moving a Bill in Parliament against the cruelty on animals, should be presented with the stray dogs, which are on a biting spree in the city.

Varinder Bhakoo, president of the Dr Kitchlu Nagar Residents Association, in a letter to the former minister, the copy of which is with The Tribune, requested her to handle the stray dogs which had bitten over 20 residents for the past one month.

"Since the Municipal Corporation (MC) has expressed inability to keep a check on the increasing number of dogs, we have decided to send these dogs to Maneka," said Bhakoo.

There are over 50 dogs in Kitchlu Nagar alone, who are causing trouble to the residents. As MC officials have expressed inability to check the growing population of dogs, the residents have planned to take up the issue with Maneka to get rid of the dog menace.

In a stinging remarks to Maneka Gandhi, he said, "I salute the woman, who has made the life of a stray dog more precious than human. If a human dies of rabies, it is acceptable, but killing a dog is not acceptable to the so-called dog lover."

Taking a dig at the much-hyped sterilisation programme of the MC to keep a tab on the growing number of dogs, Bhakoo said, "Even MC officials are scared of the animal right activist and due to the fear of legal proceeding, the MC is not initiating the sterilisation programme. I believe the MC authorities have forgotten that the Municipal Corporation was established by humans and its primary purpose is to serve humans, not dogs."

The residents have decided that the stray dogs will be loaded in two trucks. One truck will be sent to Maneka Gandhi, while the other truck be sent to the local chapter of the People for Animal Organization (PFA).

"The only problem we are facing right now is how to catch a dog without being bitten. We also do not want to injure a dog," said Bhakoo.

It is leant that the residents are seeking the MC's assistance for catching dogs.

Ludhiana, October 20
A delegation of officials of the industries and commerce department from Assam interacted with local industrialists today for setting up industry in Assam.

A team of 14 officials of the Industries and commerce department, deputed by the Government of Assam for studying important industrially developed places in Punjab, visited the CICU Complex, Focal Point, here. The aim of the delegation was to visit growth centres and industrial estates to meet industrial associations, export organisations and to familiarise with the functioning of various important committees. The delegation also interacted with officials of the District Industry Centre.

Avtar Singh, general secretary, CICU, said the main objective of this delegation was to develop the industrial scenario of Assam, obtain suggestions and gather working knowledge from various industrial institutes and government departments from Ludhiana.

The officials, who attended the meeting, included H.K. Sharma, general manager, DIC, Chirang, W. Deka, general manager, Cram Gunj and J.Rangi, GM, DIC, Halflong.

Avtar Singh requested the team to amend the policies to create industrial atmosphere in the state, which was the need of the hour for the growth of new industries. The success and survival of new industrial units in Assam would depend on innovations and inventiveness, he said.

Ludhiana, October 20
Pandit Shardha Ram Phillauri Memorial Welfare Society today felicitated a city-based industrialist and the CEO of the Oswal group of industries Jawahar Lal Oswal for his contribution towards bringing the industrial capital of the state on the global map.

Patron of the society Jagdev Singh Jassowal, a former legislator, and Krishan Kumar Bawa, chairman, Punjab Housefed, presented a framed copy of famous Hindu aarti “Om Jai Jagdeesh Hare” penned by Pandit Shardha Ram Phillauri to Oswal.

Speaking at the function, Jassowal and Bawa said the Oswal group had created a niche for itself in the field of garments and knitwear and taking hosiery products from the city to the world. “It was the commitment, dedication and vision of Jawahar Oswal, the flag bearer of the group, which had taken the company to the front ranks in the field of hosiery and knitwear.”

Oswal, also known for his keen interest in the field of education, creation of healthcare facilities and other philanthropic activities, lauded the role being played by society to perpetuate the memory of a forgotten writer -- Pandit Shardha Ram Phillauri -- who had given a unique gift to the mankind through his religious hymn (Om Jai Jagdeesh...), which had become an integral part of the Hindu families around the world.

Doraha, October 20
The participating teams of Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, added yet another feather in its cap by winning 15 more awards thus making the total to 36, on the concluding day of the Youth and Heritage Festival, organised by Kamla Lohtia Sanatan Dharam College, Ludhiana, recently.

Out of total 43 items, the college participated in 42 and won 36 awards. The college won 11 first positions, nine second prizes and five third prizes in both group and individual items and brought laurels to the institution.

The items that were presented on the concluding day of the festival included orchestra (Indian), instrumental music (non percussion), embroidery (dasuti), crochet work, ladies traditional and ritualistic songs of Punjab and Punjabi folk dances along with group shabad, light music (gazal), group dance general, drama and skit.

Isher Singh was declared first in instrumental music while Jugraj Kaur and Manpreet Kaur stood first in embroidery and crochet work, respectively.

Gian Singh was second in instrumental music along with Sukhjinder Singh and Jaspreet Kaur who stood second in folk instruments and knitting.

Gian and Isher were, however, culled out first and second, respectively in orchestra (Indian).

Prof Balwant Singh Pangali, general secretary of the college attributed the achievements of the participants to their hard work, dedication and team spirit.

Mandi Gobindgarh, October 20
Principal of Gobindgarh Public College Dr Suresh Tandon congratulated faculty members and participants here today for their performance in the Zonal Youth Festival, Ludhdina Zone-A, held at K.L.S.D. College, Ludhiana.

This achievement of the college would inspire other students to participate in such activities, he added.

The college bagged 15 positions in various competitions. More than 12 colleges of Ludhiana, Khanna, Samrala, Doraha and Sidhsar participated in the festival. Classical music vocal and clay modelling of the college have been selected for participation at Inter-Zonal Youth Festival to be held at Dev Samaj College, Firozepur city from November 5 to 8.

The college got first position in classical music vocal. In mime, skit, clay modelling, geet, phulkari, pakhi designing and mehandi, the college got second position and in collage making, histrionics, poem recitation, creative writing (essay writing), group song, classical dance and sithnies (Individual) the college got third position.

Gobindgarh Educational and Social Welfare Trust chariman Piara Singh Kalsi, secretary NK Khanna and Gobindgarh Public College chairman Vimal Vinod Bansal congratulated the winning team.

Ludhiana, October 20
“It is a matter of satisfaction and appreciation that Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences (GADVASU) is utilising grants and funds in an appropriate way to develop infrastructure, research and educational facilities,” felt Dr SP Tiwari, deputy director general (education), Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), New Delhi. He was on an official visit to the university.

Dr Tiwari held a meeting with deans, directors and officials of the university wherein Dr VK Taneja, vice-chancellor, elaborated on the new initiatives of the university like construction of new laboratories and renovation of old ones, pilot project of milk processing, biogas plant, etc.

After the meeting, the official went round the university campus.

Dr OS Parmer, dean, college of dairy sciences and technology, briefed him on the newly developed milk processing pilot project that was in its trial stage. Dr Tiwari said such efforts should be replicated in other institutes as well.

He later visited college of veterinary sciences where Dr Simrat Sagar Singh, dean of the college, explained the functioning of different departments.

Dr Tiwari appreciated the newly built and renovated laboratories of the college. He also appreciated the veterinary university library, which he termed a “new generation library”.

He later visited college of fisheries where Dr Kamaldeep Kaur, dean, fisheries, showed him fish ponds and explained the working of the college.

She said the college was developing new-age fish farmers who were dedicated to the profession of fish rearing.

Ludhiana, October 20
Government Model School, Cemetery road, could make public schools go pale, claimed a proud alumnus of the school," Ranjeev S. Dalal, DGP, Haryana.

The school holds a record of producing IAS, doctors, engineers, businessmen and eminent educationists. The school authorities today organised an alumni meet in which students of 1967 batch were honoured.

The old students were, however, disappointed to see the plight of the school, which was once the pride of Punjab.

Although here the medium of instruction is English, the school is still devoid of basic infrastructure.

Madhu Vij, who is running an institute of paramedical sciences, said she was upset with the deteriorating standard of the school. She recalled how spick and span the school campus used to be.

Teachers used to check nails and polished shoes. She lamented that devotion and dedication was lacking among teachers now.

Ranjeev Dalal, an alumnus, said he respected his teachers for helping him imbibe values, leadership qualities and personality development.

On deteriorating standard of the school, he said: "We will do everything possible to repay the debt we owe to the institution."

Welcoming the old students, Karamjit Kaur Gill, principal of the school, said she was proud of them.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 20
With stalemate over unloading of 24 trucks of procured paddy at a rice sheller continuing, activists of the Punjab Kisan Union and the Zamhoori Kisan Union have threatened to block roads in case of inaction against erring officials.

Officials in Punsup and the Punjab Warehouse Corporation maintained that commission agents and owners of all rice shellers had been directed to handle paddy according to norms.

According to Sikandar Singh Jartoli, secretary, Punjab Kissan Sabha (East Ludhiana), activists of farmer unions — Arhtia Union and Truck Operator Union — had blocked a road at Latala village on the Ahmedgarh-Raekot to impress upon the authorities to streamline procurement of paddy at Latala grain market yesterday.

As officials of the state procurement agencies had not procured paddy for the past four days harassed farmers had sought the intervention of the organisations working for the welfare of farmers.

Activists of Truck Operators Union and Aarhtia Union also joined the protest to resent alleged arbitrary decision of the owner of a rice sheller not to get 24 truckloads of paddy procured through commission agents.

Senior officials in State Food Supply department had persuaded leaders of various outfits to lift the blockade on the assurance that procurement process would be speeded up and truckloads would be handled for further processing.

Punsup MD Sher Singh and Punjab Warehouse Corporation MD Gurnam Singh tried to break the impasse but the attempts bore no fruit.

“Now when the authorities have failed to save interest of farmers, we are left with no choice but to resume protest in case action is not initiated against erring officials,” said Jartoli.