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Staff shortage plagues DTO office
Patiala, October 31 Even though the workload in the district transport office has increased manifold on account of increase in the number of vehicles during the past one decade, the staff strength at the office has continued to decline as the vacant posts on account of retirement of employees have not been filled. Shortage of employees and increase of workload has hit the district transport office hard following which the common man has to face many hurdles. No wonder then that people have to take the help of “agents” who hover around the office to get routine jobs like registration of new vehicles and renewal of licences done. People feel that the job done through agents ensures that there are no rounds of the office and the work is done only for a price that they do not mind paying to save time. Following the issuance of new guidelines by the state transport department, work at the DTO offices has increased manifold. Currently, the total employee strength at the Patiala DTO office is just 20. Out of this, one is the district transport officer, two assistant district transport officers, one section officer and around 16 other lower-rung officials. The entire burden of work is shared by these employees. The new transport policy has resulted in increase in workload. However, the number of employees has dwindled significantly as no posts are being filled on retirement of old employees. Although the DTO office records are computerised, the staff have to maintain a majority of records manually. The district transport office, already under stress, has now been asked to fulfil the obligation of challans due to which the staff are overworked. To complete the work pertaining to challans, three clerical employees have been shifted, putting extra burden on the remaining employees. A source at the office revealed that there was a need to increase staff by at least 20 to handle the current workload properly. He added that the work pertaining to challans should be handled by at least five employees. While most employees remain busy in the work pertaining to the auction of fancy numbers, others have to take driving tests of people who have applied for driver’s licence. Still other employees have to see work related to routine checking and issuance of road worthiness certificates to vehicles. District transport officer Jaswant Singh said with computerisation the workload had come down and there was no shortage of staff as of now. He asserted that there was no inconvenience to the visiting public and no works were being done through “agents”.
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Firemen ill-equipped to fight blazes
Patiala, October 31 To add to their woes the fire fighters are also burdened with the responsibility of taking care of fire accidents in nearby towns that include Samana, Rajpura, Bhadson and Devigarh. Of the brigade’s six fire tenders only five are in working condition, apart from a foam tender that has a capacity of 4,500 litres. Strange as it may sound while multistoried buildings and shopping malls are coming up in all parts of the city, the fire brigade has no basic services like a hydraulic lifts and platforms. Corporation health officer YS Banga said the fire brigade has a total of 37 staff members, which includes fire officers, station officer and sub officers. He added the issue of staff shortage had been taken up at the highest level but without any results. MC commissioner Manjit Singh Narang said the matter of recruitment of new staff was taken up with the local bodies department. He said though it was pointed out that, to ensure residents’ safety it was necessary to recruit more staff but the proposal was shot down on the plea that the Punjab government had banned all new recruitment, he added. Assistant divisional fire officer Gurveer Singh said the encroachments in the walled city limits pose a major challenge and are a bottleneck in the movement of fire tenders. The fire tenders have to zigzag their way into narrow bylanes in the event of a fire in the walled city and in such emergencies precious time is wasted in getting to the scene. Banga said there was a need for recruitment of at least five more drivers and 20 firemen. However, he said the matter has been pending at the top level for many years. He added the fire brigade organises training programmes for students and public to educate them about the do’s and don’ts during fire accidents. As the district fire brigade’s office is located in an old building near the busy Bahera Road fire tenders find it difficult to move out during peak hours when the traffic is busy. |
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Veggie prices fail to come down post Diwali
Patiala, October 31 This is being attributed to unseasonal rainfall in the southern states that had affected the onion crop. Erratic monsoon in the neighbouring Himachal Pradesh from where Punjab gets supply of many vegetables has cause a steep increase in the prices of peas and tomato. This has triggered a steep increase in vegetables prices. Ram Lubhaya, a wholesale vegetables dealer, said tomato production in Himachal Pradesh was down by 40 per cent. This had led to massive rise in tomato prices. The wholesale prices of tomato had gone to Rs 20 and in the retail market it was available at Rs 30 a kg. Kulwant Singh, a vegetable dealer, said most vegetables except potato and onion were now in the range of Rs 30 to 40 per kg. This included common veggies like French beans, bottle guard, bitter guard and peas. Surjit Kaur, a resident of Tripuri, said with pulses going out of the reach of the common man, she was left with no choice but to purchase seasonal vegetables. However, the rising prices had upset her kitchen budget. “My kitchen budget has increased manifold because of the rising vegetables prices. I used to spend Rs 100 on vegetables per week last month. When the same quantity of vegetables cost Rs 200 last week, I decided to become selective. Now I buy only select vegetables and focus more on dishes prepared from potato and onion.” Prices: Potato: Rs 15-25, cauliflower Rs 60 to 80, jack fruit Rs 30-35, bottle guard Rs 10-15, bitter guard Rs 30-35, lemon Rs 60-70, brinjal Rs 25-30, tomato Rs 30-35, onion Rs 20-25, ginger Rs 80-90, green chilli Rs 15-30, peas Rs 45-60, cabbage Rs 35-40, lady’s finger Rs 30-35, capsicum Rs 40-50, radish Rs 40-45 and garlic Rs 90-100.
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Inter-College Wrestling Meet
Patiala, October 31 In the girls’ competition, Government College of Physical Education, Patiala, won the overall trophy. Modi College and Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib, girls bagged second and third positions, respectively. Dr Satish Bhardwaj, college principal, and Prof Nishan Singh congratulated the winning teams and presented mementoes to officials and coaches who conducted the tournament. He also gave away trophies to the winning teams. The results: 50 kg category (boys): 1 Mandeep (Govt Mohindra College), 2 Sumeet Kumar (Barjindra College), 3 Munir Ahmad (Govt College, Malerkotla); 55 kg: 1 Sandeep (Desh Bhagat College), 2 Bhim Singh (Govt College, Mohali), 3 Aman (Govt College, Mohali) and Abdul Sattar (Govt Mohindra College); 60 kg: 1 Vijay Kumar (Modi College), 2 Rajeev Kumar (National College, Chupki), 3 Mohd Nasar (Govt College, Malerkotla) and Sahil Gupta (SD College, Barnala); 66 kg: 1 Dinesh (Modi College), 2 Rinku (Govt College, Mohali), 3 Parwinder Singh (Punjabi University Campus) and Sukhmander Singh (GB College, Faridkot); 74 kg: 1 Paramjit (Modi College), 2 Wazir (Desh Bhagat College), 3 Gurdhyan Singh (Khalsa College, Patiala) and Lovepreet Singh (GB College); 84 kg: 1 Kamaljot (Desh Bhagat College), 2 Bikramjit Singh (Barjindra College), 3 Saroop (Modi College) and Gurdarshan Singh (Govt College, Nabha); 96 kg: 1 Krishan (Desh Bhagat College, Dhuri, 2 Surajbir (Govt College of Physical Education), 3 Hardeep (Govt College, Mohali) and Paramvir (Modi College). 48 kg (girls): 1 Jyoti Sharma (Modi College), 2 Harpreet Kaur (Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib), 3 Chhinder Pal (University Campus, Talwandi Sabo), and Sarabjeet Kaur (SD College, Mansa); 51 kg: 1 Lalita (Govt College of Physical Education), 2 Ramandeep (Govt College, Nial Patran), 3 Charanjeet (Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib) and Varsha (Modi College); 55 kg: 1 Rekha Kadyan (Public College, Samana), 2 Reeta Devi (Govt College, Malerkotla), 3 Satbir Kaur (BZFS College, Morinda) and Gurpreet Kaur (SKR College, Bhagomajra); 59 kg: 1 Manpreet Kaur (Govt College of Physical Education), 2 Paramjit Kaur (University Campus, Talwandi Sabo), 3 Veerpal Kaur (SD College, Mansa) and Kuljeet Kaur (Govt College, Malerkotla); 63 kg: 1 Vishaldeep (SKR College, Bhagomajra), 2 Kamya Joshi (Modi College), 3 Meena (Govt College of Physical Education); 72 kg: 1 Rupinder Kaur (Mata Gujri College), 2 Bhagwant Kaur (Govt College, Malerkotla), 3 Daljeet Kaur (Govt College of Physical Education).
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Annual sports day at YPS
Patiala, October 31 Maj-Gen BS Grewal, an old student and Deputy Commandant and Chief Instructor, National Defense Academy
(NDA), Khadakwasla, Pune, was the chief guest. The function, besides the mandatory athletics events, which included an old students’ race too, had an array of other performances like march past by houses, PT and aerobics exercises, yoga and gymnastics feats, tent-pegging and Arabian dance by senior and junior school students. Old students of the golden and silver jubilee year batches of 1959 and 1984, respectively, were specially invited for the occasion as part of a new practice the school administration. Later, the chief guest handed over the prizes, congratulated winners, praised the efforts put in by the students and staff. |
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Football trials on Nov 31
Patiala, October 31 |
Two bank officials acquitted
Chandigarh, October 31 The CBI had booked the duo on charges of irregularities in the disbursement of loan and favouring Sinha’s wife by taking her premises on official lease.
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Trials for national games begin
Chandigarh, October 31 The games and venue are as follows: baseball: GMSSS-44, U-14, U-19 boys and girls, from Nov 3 to 6 for boys and from Nov 7 to 11 for girls during the inter-school tournament; ball badminton: GMSSS-23, U-19 boys and girls, Nov 3 to 6 for boys and Nov 7 to 11 for girls during the inter-school tournament; lawn tennis: Lake Club, Chandigarh, U-14, U-17, U-19 boys and girls from Nov 3 to 6 for boys and from Nov to 11 for girls; netball: GMSSS-20, U-14, U-19 girls from Nov 3 to 6 for boys and from Nov 7 to 11 for girls during the inter-school tournament; kick boxing: Sports Complex-42, U-19 boys and girls from Nov 3 to 6 for boys and from Nov 7 to 11 for girls during the inter-school tournament; wushu: Sports Complex-42, U-19 boys and girls, Nov 3 to 6 for boys and from Nov 7 to 11 for girls during the inter-school tournament; rifle shooting: Shooting Range-25, U-17, U-19 boys and girls, Nov 3 to 6 for boys and from Nov 7 to 11 for girls; roller skating: Skating Rink-10, U-11, U-14, U-17, U-19 boys and girls, Nov 3 to 6 for boys and from Nov 7 to Nov 11 for girls. |
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Teaching pros hone putting skills
Chandigarh, October 31 The Harold Swash team has done putting wonders with top golf icons like Padraig Harrington, Thomas Bjorn, Henrik Stenson, Martyn Kaymer and many other top PGA professionals. The Swash putting experts unfolded before the teaching professionals a whole new concept about the use of the Sam Putt Lab. Jessie Grewal, director of the National Golf Academy of India, just could not contain his happiness at the “new discovery”. “I was half in the dark about the finer points of the Sam Putt Lab. It was a great experience. We have a long way to go,” Jessie added. He said the experts showed how the Sam Putt Lab video detected even a slight wrong alignment of the shoulder, a slight variation in the focus of the eyes or movement. “And to top all, it showed how to make a perfect putt with the ball just rolling, without skidding or jumping,” Jessie added. From now on, the focus will be on putting, which makes up for almost 45 per cent of the game, said Jessie. Organised by the National Golf Academy of India with the help of the Indian Golf Union at the CGA Golf Range on October 30 and 31, the course was attended by Nonita Lal Qureshi (Delhi), Vijay Divecha (Bangalore), Suresh Vasudeva (Mumbai), Benny D'Costa (Mumbai), Col AK Majumdar (Lucknow) and Jessie Grewal (Chandigarh). The Harold Swash duo analysed data using SAM Putt and video software. They demonstrated the use of teaching aid drills and also stressed the importance of putting fitting and how all these factors can influence the technique of a player. Dilip Thomas, council member of the Indian Golf Union, was instrumental in contacting the Harold Swash School of Excellence and contributed financially towards being able to get them here. JS Cheema, general secretary, CGA, said such courses would give a boost to the game and improve the teaching excellence of those taking part in the course.
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Rink Hockey
Chandigarh, October 31 Haryana got the better of Jammu and Kashmir 5-3, while Chandigarh defeated Punjab 7-5. For Haryana, Malak (2), Shuntry, Ravi and Vishanmani (1 each) were the goal-getters. For Jammu and Kashmir, Krish Gupta, Paramvir Singh and Atul Sharma scored one goal each to reduce the margin. Chandigarh were served well by Gaurav Raheja and Abhishek, who netted three goals each. Nony contributed with a goal for the winners. Harman (3) and Lohit (2) were the Punjab’s scorers. Vidushi of The Banyan Tree School, Sector 48, won the gold medal in the quad rink race II. Kirti and Kawleen (both Ryan International School, Sector 49) got silver and bronze, respectively. Other results: quad rink race II: boys u-4: 1 Sammervir (St Kabir-26), 2 Digvijay Singh (YPS, Mohali), 3 Ishtpreet Siingh (St Kabir); girls u-4: 1 Yashika (St Anne’s), 2 Puneet Bajwa (Ryan International), 3 Parmita (Shmerok Mohali); boys u-6 (inline): 1 Ravin Makal; quad rink race II: boys 4 to 6: 1 Raghav (St Xavier’s, Chd), 2 Akhil Hazarika (DLF, Sahibabad), 3 Shobit (Pathankot); girls: 1 Simridhi (Ryan International), 2 Divya (St Anne’s), 3 Gurleen (Carmel Convent). Boys 4 to 6 (inline): 1 Sayam (Ryan International).
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