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MC’s clean-up act ahead of CM’s visit!
Education Upgrade |
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To Accommodate 1,600 Students
2 killed, one hurt in mishap
The science of social awakening
UGC Pay Scales
Make Punjabi compulsory or face action, Upinderjit to schools
DCA amendments anger chemists, docs think otherwise
Killing of Farmers
Firing incident: PLF rues police inaction
Khalsa College in football final
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MC’s clean-up act ahead of CM’s visit!
Jalandhar, November 3 Though a drive to modernise Company Bagh is yet to take off, the corporation did not bother to think twice before razing the wall of this park, alongside the main entrance of the MC office. A part of the wall of the park, facing the MC’s new building, was demolished a few years back to construct temporary accommodations for the labour. A part of the park from where the wall was dismantled today was an undeclared garbage dump used by public. But corporation officials never noticed the existence of the dump before. It is only the visit of the CM which sensitised officials to clear
the dump. Though temporary installation of flex board hoardings within the limits of the corporation is prohibited, close aides of local politicians are eager to show their proximity with them. A flex board, highlighting the faces of the Mayor, the Chief Minister and the Local Bodies
Minister has been erected just adjacent to the MC office entrance. According to the PMC Act, only religious bodies are exempted from taking permission and paying charges for erecting temporary hoardings. Moreover, unipoles are provided by the corporation to display flex boards. Temporary installation of flex boards except religious bodies is not at all permitted, said an official of the MC. “It is our duty to bring it down if we notice any such hoarding,” he added. Cong councillors to boycott function
Meanwhile, all councillors belonging to the Congress have decided not to attend the inauguration ceremony. On being asked about their participation in the function, Mr Jagdish Raj Raja, who is also the leader of opposition, said, “It will purely be a private show of the Akali-BJP alliance. We know that nobody will attend us there. Moreover, we are not in favour of spending taxpayers’ money to organise functions of this magnitude. It would have been exemplary if the corporation preferred to shift in this complex by organising a simple ceremony.
We did not get any formal invitation also.” |
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Education
Upgrade
Jalandhar, November 3 The move is aimed at improving the understanding of basic concepts of students and towards the enhancement of their practical knowledge. The quiz competition would be held for students of government upper primary schools of classes VI to VIII at the block, district and state levels. The quiz at the block level would be held on November 18, at the district level on November 28 and at the state level on January 6, 2010. Each government school would send one three-student team. The selection of students would be based on the monthly test held in September. “It has also been decided that booklets of questions, along with answers, would later be distributed among the rest of students. This would help fellow students in understanding subjects,” said an official. Talking to The Tribune, Director-General School Education Krishan Kumar said, “This quiz would definitely help students in improving their understanding of these subjects.” He said the winners at the block level would be awarded Rs 800, Rs 600 and Rs 400, at the district level, the winning team would get Rs 1,000, Rs 800 and Rs 600 and the winners of the state-level contest would be get Rs 5,100, Rs 3,100 and Rs 2,100 as prizes. He said students would be awarded cash prizes under the Research Evaluation Monitoring and Supervision (REMS) grant of the SSA. “The winners of the block-level quiz would participate in the district level contest and the winners of the district level would compete at the state-level function,” he added.
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Octogenarian’s fight for a home
Jalandhar, November 3 A retired subedar, Raghubir Singh has been forced to spend the rest of his life in an ashram at a private hospital after being thrown out of his own house by one of his relatives in 2002. After the death of his wife Niranjan Kaur, the elderly man has been living at the mercy of good Samaritans who often visit the old-age home and donate for inmates there. Relying on a walker, his only constant support for some years now, Raghubir Singh has been running from pillar to post to fight for the possession of his house located in Old Jawahar Nagar, but no to avail. The octogenarian has knocked the doors of the court, besides giving representations to the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister, Punjab Chief Minister, the Governor, the Sainik Welfare Officer, Jalandhar, and various other authorities, but he is still waiting for his efforts to bear fruit.Talking to The Tribune, Raghubir Singh alleged that his relative Darbara Singh from Haripur village, near Adampur, deceived him and illegally occupied his 14-marla house in 1979. The house is situated at a prime location and presently costs about Rs 75 lakh. Raghubir Singh said to complicate the case, Darbara Singh, allegedly in connivance with an advocate, also filed a case of fake documents against him (Raghubir) so that the proceedings could be prolonged. He further alleged his counsel also betrayed him by not appearing in the court. Raghubir Singh alleged that the opposite party even tried to run him over under a car to eliminate him. In the accident, he broke his hip joint. What adds to the agony of this old man is that three of his daughters and a son are settled abroad and the son in India, Iqbal Singh, who is mentally unsound, lives in a separate house.
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To Accommodate 1,600 Students
Jalandhar, November 3 The institute received a grant of Rs 120 crore from the Ministry of Human Resource Development for the completion of the mega boys hostel with a capacity of 1,600 students. It is expected that the construction work on the 2.5 acres of the hostel would be over by March 2011. Talking to The Tribune, NIT Director Dr Moin Uddin said, “Though we have six boys’ hostels on our campus but with a strength of approximate 4,000 students it was important for us to expand the hostels. The construction work would be done by the CPWD and grants would be allotted in phases for this purpose,” he added. The highlight of the hostel would be visiting rooms for the parents and guardians of the students. “Earlier the parents and the guardians who came to meet their children from far off places had to stay at the hostel guest room. Especially during the admission time the rush is more and it was felt that as a leading college, the campus should have a separate wing for the visiting parents,” he said. Other features of the hostel would be entrance foyer, services, cafeteria, mess and recreational block facilities. The hostel will comprise 835 rooms with 24X7 Internet facility. “The newly constructed hostel complex would provide a world-class experience to the students,” said Dr Moin Uddin. At present, the hostels on the campus have the capacity to accommodate as many as 1252 boys and 250 girls. The institute authorities are also working on the expansion of the girls’ hostel. “The expansion of the girls’ hostel is underway and it is expected to be over by next year”, he said. Apart from this the work on the ambitious four-story ‘Lecture Theatre Complex’ is also coming up on the campus. The complex would house 14 lecture theatres with capacity of 120 students each and another lecture theatre with a capacity of 220 students. “The project is being completed with an estimated cost of Rs 32.59 crore. It is expected that the work would be over by next year,” maintained the Director. |
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2 killed, one hurt in mishap
Kapurthala, November 3 According to information, they were returning to their homes on motorcycles after paying obeisance at Gurdwara Ber Sahib in Sultanpur Lodhi on the occasion of Gurpurb when a vehicle hit them. Pargat Singh and Deepak Goswami were working as computer operators in the Kapurthala sub-office of
a newspaper, while Harwinder Singh was an engineering student. |
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The science of social awakening
Jalandhar, November 3 He is Vinod Kumar Dutta, a retired lecturer of botany and the founder of Janavadi Writers’ Association. Dutta isn't the kind of science teacher we are used to. He combines Darwin and Karl Marx to give a comprehensive picture of our society. Teacher, writer, painter, grandpa, Dutta balances many roles. Excerpts from an interview: You were a science teacher, what inspired you into social activism? Science minus humanity would lead to disasters. I was always interested in botany and simultaneously inclined towards social sciences too. I was in the ninth standard when my first article “Chita ki Dhool” was published in a Bombay-based magazine called “Saptahik Hindostan”. It was about dowry deaths. Actually, the unjust dynamics of our society forced me to raise my voice against the exploitative system, and for that purpose, what could be a better medium than pen and brush! What kind of change you intend to bring about through your writings and paintings? We achieved political independence 62 years ago, but Bhagat Singh’s dream of a society based on scientific and socialist principles remains unfulfilled. A society, free of exploitation, corruption, poverty and injustice, is yet to be constructed. It’s a long struggle. And the responsibility rests with the youth. Mine is a small initiative to awaken the sleeping masses. One of your posters reads: “Politicians, officials and rowdies belong to those who have the power to purchase them”. What scope do you see for reforms in the current Indian political system? Much rests with the common man. Unless people start questioning their representatives and demand that every unjust policy be scrapped, nothing will change greatly. Equal participation of women is a must. Till this day, women are viewed as someone’s property. Take the concept of Kanayadan for instance. In the epic Mahabharata, Lord Krishna has clearly stated in Subhadra’s episode, that woman is not an item or a property to be donated. But such social rots, including others like dowry and female foeticide, are still prevalent. Women should fight for their rights and together we should fight for all people. Only then can we reform the system. Some of your paintings are very sharp comments on religious fundamentalism. What is its root cause in your opinion? Religion, caste, language and region are the four issues that can be misused to manipulate the masses. Some people mix politics with religion to serve their vested interests. Gorakh Pandey’s lines say it all: “This time the riots have been diabolic, much blood has rained; the harvest of votes will be excellent.” What are your future plans? I will continue with what I have been doing all these years, until the mission of a just and exploitation-free society is accomplished.
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UGC Pay Scales
Jalandhar, November 3 Declaring open support in this regard the members of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU) decided to launch an agitation against these managements from November 6. The agitation would be intensified in the coming days. PFUCTO general secretary Dr Jagwant Singh termed the decision of the management federation as irrational that contradicted the undertakings and affidavits given by them under the grant-in-aid scheme to the government and universities. He said the Finance Department while awarding sanction to the revised UGC pay scales had asked the department of higher education to get the budget allocation for both 80 per cent share of the Union government and 20 per cent share of the state government. Dr Jagwant urged the management federation to immediately implement the pay scales if they intend to seek cooperation of teachers on the issues concerning colleges. |
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Make Punjabi compulsory or face action, Upinderjit to schools
Kapurthala, November 3 Punjab Education and Languages Minister Dr Upinderjit Kaur stated this on the sidelines of the state-level celebrations of the Punjabi month by the Languages Department in Sultanpur Lodhi on Monday. If these private schools failed to ensure study of Punjabi in their educational institutions, action would be taken against them as per law, she added. Dr Upinderjit Kaur said the government was ready to solve their problems in the implementation of Punjabi as a compulsory subject up to class X in their schools. If these schools failed to implement the decision, the state government would be left with no option but to first impose penalties as per law and then write to the CBSE or ICSE for the cancellation of their affiliations. Answering a query, she said the government respected other languages. As many as 1,000 English teachers were recruited recently to promote the English language. English teachers were even being provided training from experts of UK universities, she added. The minister further said district-level committees had been set up to ensure the implementation of Punjabi as a compulsory language in schools and government offices. These committees would report about the dilly-dallying tactics in implementing Punjabi, to state-level committees, she said. Apart from Dr Upinderjit Kaur, Tourism Minister Hira Singh Gabria and Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh also addressed the function.
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In the memory of Baba Bilga
Jalandhar, November 3 Baba Bilga’s family was here to attend the 18th Mela Gadhari Babeyan Da, the annual fair which was started under his patronage in the year 1991 at Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall. The museum would house rare collection of pictures of Baba Bilga and that of fellow comrades, his participation in different movements and his life history till date. Talking to The Tribune, Kulbir Singh Sanghera, the elder son of revolutionary, said, “In his message during the last Gadhari mela, my father had said ‘Utho naujawano, badal do zamana’. These words still echo in my ears. He always advocated the need to pass on the ideologies of the freedom fighters to the youth. And the museum would definitely serve the purpose. We have started the preliminary work on this museum. If things went as per plans we will inaugurate it on the birthday of Baba Bilga on April 1 next year,” he said. He said the initial expenses of renovation of the house would be borne by them. “We have chalked out a plan to start the work soon. The initial renovation work would be done by us and later on we will form a management committee to look after the museum. In fact both of my sons have been working hard to get the minutest details of Baba Bilga from across the globe. We are looking forward to complete the book on ‘Village Bilga’ written by Baba”, he added. The house constructed with Nanak Shahi bricks was constructed by the father of Baba Bilga in the year 1904. “Baba was very much attached to every little belonging of his house. Such was his love for his home, village and the country that he would often bow before the entrance of his house and feel proud on being a revolutionary,” he added. Apart from this, it will also have a rare collection of books, magazines and journals, a reading hall and a display board with newspaper cuttings of Baba Bilga all these years. The highlight of the museum would be a special section on Baba Bilga and Ajeet Singh, the uncle of Shaheed Bhagat Singh. “Ajeet Singh had a great influence on the ideologies and thinking of Baba ji”, said Sanghera.
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DCA amendments anger chemists, docs think otherwise
Jalandhar, November 3 In the past, usually licence-holding chemists were found involved in the racket. But nowadays, these rackets are being run by owners of kiosks, rickshaw-pullers and tea vendors. The practice thrives in villages and urban areas inhabited by lower and middle income group categories. “These rackets are run by those who supply these drugs at the ground level like salesman to small shopkeepers, rickshaw-pullers, barbers and tea vendors. Offenders, who supply these drugs, are called ‘two percentees’ as they get a commission of nearly 2 per cent from the wholesaler or retailer, for whom they work,” said Drug Inspector Kulwinder Singh. “We can trace a chemist shop owned by a licence holder, if involved in such a racket. But it is very difficult to crack this kind of channel operated by adopting new modes. Moreover, drugs like dextropropxyphene and loperamide fall in the lifesaving category, so it is not possible to stop the production of these drugs,” he added. On the other hand, adding to troubles, fresh amendments in the Drugs and Cosmetic Act-1940 by the government, to put an end to the sale of spurious drugs, are also being opposed by a section of chemists. As per the new amendments, owner of the chemist shop will be considered solely responsible if any spurious drug is recovered from the store. “Due to a large-scale sale and purchase, it is not possible for us to check the batch number of each strip of medicine and tally it with the bill given by the wholesaler. Sometimes, spurious drugs are found in these strips. How can only a chemist be labelled guilty in such circumstances? Rather, manufacturers should come under the scanner,” said Jatinder Singh Chawla, President of the Retail Chemists Association. However, sections from the medical fraternity feel that conditions are a bit better only due to these amendments. “It is only after the amendment that there has been a marked decrease in the involvement of chemists in the sale of spurious drugs. But problems in the implementation of these amendments still exist,” said a senior doctor. As per the new amendments, there is a provision of three years to life imprisonment for a convict involved in the sale of spurious drugs and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh. Similarly, if a person without licence is found selling drugs which need a doctor’s prescription, he or she can be charged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act or can be fined three times the amount of drugs abused. Even a licensed chemist has to retain a carbon copy of the prescription slip in his record.
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Killing of Farmers
Jalandhar, November 3 General secretary of organisation Darshan Khatkar said in a press release that the killed peasants were working on this land for the past few decades and this land was the only source of earning for their families. “The nexus of SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar, Punjab Assembly Speaker Niraml Singh Kahlon and one sant named Narayana is trying to forcibly displace poor peasants from the land. Though the court has passed a stay order in favour of peasants, firing opened by the task force of the SGPC killed two and injured dozens of peasants,” reads the press release. “All over the state, Akali leaders, under the patronage of the state government, have launched a drive to take illegal possession of government and panchayati lands by displacing poor people,” he added. Meanwhile, the party demanded that cases should be registered against religious and political figures involved in the conspiracy of attack.
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Firing incident: PLF rues police inaction
Jalandhar, November 3 After getting assembled in Central Park in the leather complex, protesters from over 80 leather units staged a dharna demanding the arrest of two suspects, Hemant Berry and Abhay Thakur, wanted in the incident. City-based leather exporter Ranbir Singh Bhatia was shot at by an assailant in Hotel Radisson on the night of October 30. A press note issued by PLF president Lt-Col J.S. Paul (retd) alleged the police had failed to make any headway even after three days of the incident. “The police has even failed to trace the whereabouts of suspects,” added Paul. |
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Young World
Jalandhar, November 3 The chief guest, Lt-Governor of Puducherry, Iqbal Singh, gave away prizes to the meritorious students. Students presented a colourful cultural programme. Annual function
The annual function of State Public School was held on Monday in which the students presented a colourful cultural programme. Prizes were distributed among students for academic excellence and co-curricular activities. University toppers
Shalu Arora, a student of B.A-III (Sanskrit honours) of the Prem Chand Markanda S.D. College for Women secured first position in Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, examination, followed by Jyoti. Neha Kukreja bagged fourth position in the varsity. Wall magazine
A wall magazine of the Gandhian Studies Centre of Kanya Maha Vidyalaya was inaugurated by the college Principal, Dr Atima Sharma, on Saturday. Dr Monica Sharma, Director of the centre, was
also present. Parkash Utsav
The primary wing of Guru Amar Dass Public School celebrated the Parkash Utsav of Guru Nanak Dev with religious fervour. Mannat Kaur, a student, was honoured for reciting ‘Chaupai Sahib’. A shabad gayan competition was also held. KMV achievers
Chandni Malhotra, a student of BA-II (Hindi honours) of Kanya Maha Vidyalaya (KMV) secured first position in the Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, examination
by securing 164 marks out of 200, followed by Cherry Garg and Hemlata Tripathi, who secured 163 marks. In B.A-II (History honours), Rupinder Kaur bagged first position in the varsity by scoring 179 marks out of 200, followed by Jyoti, who secured
178 marks. Law toppers
Students of St Soldier Law College bagged top positions in Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. Shivani, a student of BA LLB (five-year course) stood first in the university by securing 381marks out of 600, followed by Barinder who secured sixth position with 361 marks out of 600. Deepkiran Kaur, a first-year student of LLB (three-year course) got second position in the university with 404 marks out of 700. Chairman of the institution Anil Chopra congratulated the achievers and honoured Shivani by awarding a scholarship of Rs 10,000, whereas Deepkiran and Barinder were given scholarship of
Rs 5,000 each. |
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Khalsa College in football final
Jalandhar, November 3 In another match of the day, the Youth Football Club, Rurka Kalan, failed to reach the venue due to a Punjab bandh. The Chahal Sporting Club got the walk over. In the first semi-final match, the scorers for Khalsa College were Subodh, Gurwinder Singh and Satwant. The lone goal for the Daroli Kalan team came from Narinder. The final match would be played between the Chahal Sporting Club, Jalandhar, and Lyallpur Khalsa College. |
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Jalandhar, November 3
Young
World