Jalandhar, November 16
The Civil Hospital and Civil Surgeon office today encountered sudden rush of thousands of patients in the morning hours. Nearly 1,000 newly appointed Class IV employees of the Municipal Corporation along with their guardians turned up at the hospital and Civil Surgeon office to get their general medical check-up done.

Metres-long queues of employees and their guardians in the packed reception hall of the Civil Hospital and compound of the Civil Surgeon office was the self-narrative picture of mismanagement of the local authorities.

On November 4, 1,099 temporary posts of sanitary workers were regularised. The corporation dispatched letters to all these candidates between November 5 and 13. Though there is no body in the corporation to tell the exact number of letters dispatched per day in these days, it is learnt that most of the candidates got their letters on November 13 and 14. Strictly mentioned clause in the letter, according to which candidates have to join within five days after receiving the letter, made the situation more panicky.

Not only corporation employees, but also the routine patients were let to suffer due to this act of corporation. “I have been waiting for my turn to get OPD slip for the last two hours, but after facing this anarchic crowd of thousands I have decided to go to some private physician,” said Savitri Rani, who came with abdominal pain but failed to get an OPD slip.

It is also learnt that district health officials constituted a board of six doctors in the last week but few patients reported for medical check-up. But as Pulse Polio started from November 15, now only two doctors are available to do medical check-ups.

“As the corporation failed to specify medical check-up date to each candidate, board members remained nearly free in the last week,” said a senior official in the Civil Surgeon office.

Though higher officials of the corporation could not be contacted despite repeated attempts, but as per sources, officials of the corporation are planning to forward a request to the Civil Surgeon regarding the structure of batches of candidates.

On the other hand, the Civil Surgeon office has made arrangements of their own. “We can do only 50-60 medical check-ups per day. Now we have decided to do checkups in the batches of 50 per day. Otherwise, there will be a chaos,” said Civil Surgeon Dr S.S. Walia.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the corporation is planning to extend the date of joining to December 4, as it needs nearly 10-15 days to do medical check-up of 1,000 employees.

Jalandhar, November 16
A deputation of the Municipal Corporation’s Safai Mazdoor Union called on Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday in Chandigarh to express their gratitude for accepting their demand to provide permanent jobs to the safai karmcharis of the Mohalla Sanitation Committees in the Municipal Corporation and Municipal Committees.

The delegation also honoured Badal in the presence of Local Government Minister Manoranjan Kalia and assured that they would work with sincerity, dedication and commitment.

On this occasion, Badal reiterated the firm commitment of the SAD-BJP government to ensure the welfare of safai karamcharis all over the state and said the government had already taken an initiative to improve their working conditions.

The deputation of the Nigam Safai Mazdoor Union was led by its chief patron Naresh Kumar. President Chandan Grewal, secretary Ashok Bheel, chairman Ashok Grewal, cashier Mimal Sondhi and its members Raju Chhota, Kamal Thapar, Sunny Sahota, Rajan Hans, Sikander Gill, Sonu Lahoria, Sumit Sahota, Lovely and Surjit were also present. — TNS

Batala, November 16
In an annual convocation of Baring Union Christian College (BUCC), degrees were conferred on 370 postgraduate and graduate students of arts, science and commerce faculties in its college hall here today.

Dr Raghbir Singh, Dean, Academic Affairs, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, was the chief guest. Dr Edward Masih, Principal, BUCC, R.M. Chaudhary, secretary, Baring Union Christian College Association (BUCCA), and Dr David Teja, Registrar, BUCC, were present on the stage.

The programme started by a prayer offered by R.M.Chaudhary. In his welcome address, Dr Edward Masih apprised the gathering of the major achievements and glorious history of the college.

Dr Vinita Roy, counsellor of the college, spoke about the significance of the convocation to the students.

Dr Raghbir Singh congratulated the management, Principal and staff of the college on its completion of 65 years in providing quality higher education to the students of the region.

R.M. Chaudhary blessed the students.

Later, Dr Edward Masih thanked the chief guest, conveners of various committees as well as the teaching and non-teaching staff for their support in the success of the convocation.

Hoshiarpur, November 16
To provide employment to illiterate youths and ensure the overall development of villages during the next financial year, the Punjab government has formulated a scheme of Rs 1,125 crore under NREGA and has sent the same to the Union Government for the said money to be granted at the earliest.

Disclosing this at the installation ceremony of Harjinder Singh Dhami, a lawyer, as the Chairman of the Improvement Trust, Hoshiarpur, here today, advisor to Chief Minister, Punjab, Daljit Singh Cheema said SAD was the only political party in the state which gave due reward to all its party workers who were doing a commendable job for the upliftment of the party.

Member Rajya Sabha, Varinder Singh Bajwa, Minister for Medical Education and Research, Forest, Parliamentary Affairs and Labour, Punjab, Tikshan Sud, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Punjab, Bibi Mohinder Kaur Josh, President of district unit of SAD Thakedar Surinder Singh, local workers and leaders of SAD and BJP were also present on the occasion.

Prior to the installation of Dhami, the Additional Deputy Commissioner (general) had been holding the dual charge of Chairman of the trust since April 13, 2007, following the expiry of the tenure of previous Chairman Pawan Kumar Adia.

Nawanshahr, November 16
Burglars broke into “The Karnana Multipurpose Society, Karnana” and decamped with cash amounting to Rs 14.42 lakh lying in the safe, on Saturday night.

According to Joginder Pal, Secretary of the multipurpose society, on Saturday morning they had gone to receive the award from CM Parkash Singh Badal at the state-level function organised at Nawanshahr, in connection with the Cooperative Week.

“In the evening, the society premises were decorated with lights to celebrate the winning of award for the best performance in the district. On Sunday morning, when the electrician went to the society to remove the lights, he saw the locks of the doors broken and informed me,” he said adding that when he reached there he found the safe broken and cash missing from it. Police was immediately informed about the burglary.

SHO Banga, Swarn Singh Bal, said during preliminary investigation, the police got some clues and started further investigation on the basis of these and hoped to solve the case soon. A case under sections 457 and 380 of the IPC has been registered at the Banga police station.

Burglars also struck at nearby Gunachaur village on Sunday night. The locks of two shops and the branch of Punjab & Sind Bank situated at the bus stand, Gunachaur, were broken.

Manvir Singh, a mobile phone shop owner, said burglars had broken into his shop and taken away cash amounting to 15,000, four new mobile phones, about 15 old mobile phone sets lying in the shop for repair and recharge cards worth Rs 5,000.

Another mobile phone shop owner, Manpreet Singh said burglars had taken away about 20 mobile phones lying in the shop for repairs and some recharge cards.

Burglars had also broken into the Gunachaur branch of the Punjab & Sind Bank. They broke almirahs but could not find any valuable thing except the bank files. The burglars also tried to break into the strong room but in vain. Though they could not get any cash from the bank, they reportedly took away 12 live cartridges from the bank. The police registered cases under different sections of the IPC, said SHO, Banga. 

Amritsar, November 16
Coming to the support of former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, the District Youth Congress (DYC) yesterday termed the allegations of rape levelled by a woman against him as baseless and politically motivated.

Dinesh Bassi, District Youth Congress (urban) president in a press conference here today said it was a political conspiracy to defame Capt Amarinder Singh, who was a strong Congress leader.

Addressing mediapersons, Bassi said the woman, who had accused former CM of rape, had earlier levelled similar charges against a Judge, while Shamsher Singh Jangera, who accompanied the woman, was also facing rape charges. 
He said the whole drama was enacted on the “directions” of leaders who are afraid of Capt Amarinder Singh.

Bassi said opposition leaders had come to petty politics. He warned that if they would not retrain themselves from such petty politics, the Youth Congress would be forced to agitate against them.