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Rising swine flu cases: Health Dept on its toes
Only memorial in commemoration of Mohammad Rafi awaits completion
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2 smugglers nabbed with heroin worth Rs 10 cr
Fight over inauguration of statues hots up
Ward No 15
Oz shock: Gifts that never reached a father
Mission Aagaaz to set up Gender Devp Center
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Rising swine flu cases: Health Dept on its toes
Amritsar, December 25 Nevertheless, the Health Department has been put on high alert following three deaths in as many days. Dharamveer Singh, an Army jawan posted at Pune, had come to attend a marriage at Mianwind village in
Tarn Taran. He was admitted in critical condition in a hospital with symptoms of swine flu where he died on December 16. However, his samples could be taken during post-mortem only. The reports received from PGI Chandigarh today confirmed that he was suffering from swine flu. One Manpreet (21) of the Sultanwind area also died with the flu like symptoms. Although his tests were not conducted, the hospital authorities said the symptoms were of swine flu and he was admitted to swine flu ward of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in critical condition. Earlier, the reports of Surjit Kaur of Chabba village came out as the case of swine flu too. The daily footfall with moderate swine flu symptoms has been reported to be 20-25, the officials said. Meanwhile, the government has authoriaed Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals here for setting up a laboratory, which would further help in facilitating private hospitals for conducting tests. Dr H.S. Ghai, in charge Swine flu ward at Civil Hospital, said earlier they had to send the samples to PGI. Now, they would be able to get the sample tested at GMC here if the lab is installed here. Dr H.S. Sohal, Director Health Services, held meetings with Civil Surgeon of Amritsar besides visiting Jalandhar, Gurdaspur and Phagwara. A separate 30-bed isolation ward has also been established at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital by vacating plastic surgery and urology ward. Dr Ghai said the Health Department had geared up for any eventuality. He said the civil hospital have ventilators while District Health authorities had also collaborated with private
hospitals including EMC, Mata Kaulan, Sri Guru Ram Das and Beas Hospital in this regard. Till now out of 38 samples of suspected swine flu cases sent to PGI, as many as 12 cases have confirmed of swine flu. Nine patients have been discharged after treatment. |
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Only memorial in commemoration of Mohammad Rafi awaits completion
Amritsar, December 25 The construction of the library is the only bid to erect a memorial in the memory of the singer. The Mohammad Rafi Memorial Society organised a programme in the memory of the great singer at a local hotel, while Sohal Group of Arts held a musical programme at Virsa Vihar and another group of artists held a live concert at his ancestral village Kotla Sultan Singh, located about 25 km from the city, which falls in the Majitha sub-division. Son of a village barber, Rafi (who was informally referred to as Pheeko) had a fairy tale rise from rags to riches, thanks to his golden voice, which regaled and still entertains music lovers. His father Hajji Ali Mohammad lived in the village with six sons. Indifferent towards studies, Rafi dropped out of school. His father shifted to Lahore in 1935-36 and his family followed suit, a few months later. One of the greatest singers of Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi films, Rafi was born on December 24, 1924, in this nondescript village. He undertook a short apprenticeship at his uncle’s hair-cutting salon in Lahore, which was the famous film centre in pre-Partition days. It was a stroke of good luck for Pheeko that a famous music director visited the salon. The director heard Pheeko humming softly. He found his voice a divine gift and asked him to visit his studio. His elder brother Hamid chipped in to provide all the support needed by his brother to make an impression in the music world. Rafi assiduously learnt Hindustani Classical music under the guidance of renowned Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and Vahida Khan at a very young age. Starting his career with a Punjabi song “Soniye Hiriye, teri yaad ne bahut sataya” for the movie ‘Gul Baloch’, released in 1944. He went on to sing about 26,000 numbers. Memories of the great music legend, however, seem to be fading away in his ancestral village as his house could not be preserved. A library dedicated to him was announced to be raised in the village with much fanfare but its construction work was dropped mid-way. A room memorial in the village is in a dilapidated condition. Old villagers said the kaccha house of Rafi was demolished
by a farmer to construct his own dwelling. For the die-hard fans of Rafi the village is a
pilgrimmage center. The only solace for Rafi fans is the signboard announcing “Mohammad Rafi Marg” at the entrance of the village. Anita Devgan and her actor husband Hardip Gill, who belongs to the village, have been organising a fair in the memory of the legendary singer in the village, on his birth anniversary. Shockingly, the tree on which Rafi had written his name was cut off by ignorant villagers. For music lovers of the sub-continent, who seek common roots and heroes, building a Rafi Memorial at Kotla Sultan Singh could be an essential point in moving forward. Some of the old villagers recalled that certain villagers had met Rafi when the latter had come to Attari in 1954 to attend a concert in Amritsar in 1956. Before Partition, half the population of the
village consisted of Muslims. |
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2 smugglers nabbed with heroin worth Rs 10 cr
Amritsar, December 25 Terming it a major success, SSP (SNC) P.K. Rai said the accused were held near Gill Farm resorts situated on main Amritsar-Jalandhar GT Road where they were waiting for the party to deliver the consignment. A case under relevant sections of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered. Preliminary investigations revealed that Gurmit and Charajit were close associates of another notorious Indo-Pak smuggler Tehal Singh, alias Tehla, wanted in many smuggling cases. Tehal, a big name in illegal drug trade, was released from jail recently. After his release, he again revived his links and indulged in nefarious activities. He was absconding at present. Rai said the source of the contraband and the area from which it was smuggled, are being ascertained while raids are being conducted to arrest his remaining
associates. Investigations are being conducted on different lines to unearth the complete nexus and network of the gang, he added. The investigations also brought forward the active role being played by smugglers already lodged in jails across state. |
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Same old story of neglect
P.K. Jaiswar/Tribune News Service
Amritsar, December 25 “It’s difficult to explain how many problems the residents face,” said Sukhdev Singh of Indira Colony, falling in Ward 15.
The area came under the administrative control of the Municipal Corporation more than 20 years ago but there is nothing worth showing in the name of infrastructure and development. Residents said consecutive governments were to be blamed as they failed to take any steps to upgrade the area. The stagnant pool of water and choked gunda nullah become perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes and insects but nobody bothers to de-silt or clean it, added Sukhdev. As soon as The Tribune team entered the area, it came across a huge pool of stagnant water, also filled with heaps of cow dung. “We don’t get sound sleep as mosquitoes buzz all night,” said Gurjit Singh. Ironically, a tubewell bore was dug up about a year back for providing safe drinking water facility, that too on a private land donated by resident Gurmej Singh. However, the corporation failed to live up to the dream of the residents for round-the-clock water supply. The colony residents have installed hand pumps but those too have become unsafe for drinking purposes due to contamination of underground water because of gunda nallah. The conditions of other areas falling under ward number 15 including parts of Mustfabad, Sundar Nagar, Dhupsadi, Guru Nagar, Hawaldar Colony, Deen Dyal Colony etc are no different. Cracks have appeared in the residences of the Guru Nagar area due to seepage of open drain water into the foundations due to absence of sewerage. Surinder Kumar said more that 20 years of area coming under MC limit, open drains remains a bane of the area. He said after problem was highlighted, the corporation cemented the drains but the conditions remained the same. Open drains fell in the nallah situated on the land of Railways. However, due to absence of regular cleaning, the filthy water from overflowing drains comes out on the streets. For giving temporary relief, the corporation diverted the sewage into the open space (the land belonging to Verka Railway Station). “What would happen if the railway authorities banned the disposal of drain water into their land,” said Surinder.
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Fight over inauguration of statues hots up
Amritsar, December 25 Terming it a political gimmick, KS Kang, former Commissioner, MC, Amritsar and Raman Bakshi, councillor, representing the Congress party, said the ruling SAD-BJP government has been bent on grabbing the heritage status for the city whereas the spots where the heritage on the city lies, are being ignored. While briefing mediapersons at the Gateway of India, holding the statue of the great General of yesteryears Shyam Singh Attari, they stressed that it has not been officially inaugurated since its inception two years ago. “We have no ill will against the ruling party’s decision of unveiling the statue of BJP’s leader Dr. Baldev Prakash officially, but the ruling party’s double standards and couldn’t-care-less attitude towards the true warriors belonging to the city is shocking,” they said. “It is an irony that the late General Sam Manekshaw, belonging to the city only, who has been declared the top general of the world and given due honour by the American President, could not be remembered here at any state function despite his tremendous contribution to the country,” they said. “How can the ruling government afford to ignore the spots which signify the true heritage of the city? The government gives two hoots about maintaining the Gateway of India, which is full of filth and overgrown grass. If the government does not care to inaugurate Shyam Singh Attari’s statue officially till February 10, the 164th death anniversary of the great martyr, we would give due honour to the great departed soul and inaugurate it while involving the family members of the general,” said Bakshi. Kang condemned the representatives of the government for not doing proper homework before putting the matter of the heritage status in the Parliament. “What is the point of asking for heritage status for the city when there is hardly any provision left in the norms. The heritage status or Vatican status to the city is a welcome step but there is a proper channel. The local Municipal Corporation has to be involved in it”. While citing the tool kit for Programme Management Unit of JNNURM, Kang said only politics is being played in the name of getting heritage status for the city and thereby garnering extra funds. “There is no clause under which extra funds can be grabbed in this sense. The funds, under the JNNURM scheme took kit, specifically state that the state government would have to show its capability of sustaining the implementation of projects and bringing reforms”, said Kang. “The state government has to prepare proposals by using this tool kit as a reference. It is absurd that without working out on the reform and sustaining programme, the proposal of heritage status was put forth, only for getting it rejected in no time. The officials stats speak volumes about the poor infrastructure and progress at snail’s pace due to poor |
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Oz shock: Gifts that never reached a father
Amritsar, December 25 Surinder said more astonishingly the parcel with code number CVO98618855A was sent through sea route instead of air on November 23. The Indian postal services at Mumbai received the parcel on December 12 with the seal broken and weighing just 1.7 kg. He immediately filed a complaint with Senior Superintendent of Post Office here, which marked an inquiry to Ashok Madaan, Public Relations Inspector. Madaan said as per the parcel receipts, the seal was broken and material stolen before reaching India. He said Surinder Kumar should file a complaint with Australian authorities in this regard. Tara said action must be taken against the culprits and said
he should be provided with suitable compensation. |
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Mission Aagaaz to set up Gender Devp Center
Amritsar, Amritsar 25 The center would be operational from January 2010 and would hold gender awareness workshops under its programme Mahila Navchetna Abhiyan, to create self-awareness among women about their rights, besides making them self-dependent by imparting training courses of stitching, embroidery, tailoring, beautician courses and computer. Deepak Babbar, Executive Director, of the organisation, who recently attended a Gender Development Conference conducted by the Centre for Participatory Management and Voluntary Organisation (CPMVO), Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Punjab, Chandigarh, revealed that the centre would look into various issues concerned and required for women empowerment. The issues include how to quantify inequalities between men and women through research, case studies and documentation, how to enhance the capacity of state machinery for empowerment of women, how to increase women’s ability to participate in and have influence over the policy-making process, suggest remedies for job displacement due to marriage, affecting the professional career of women employees, examine opportunities for utilising the productive potential of housewives in part-time jobs; find ways of mitigating employment bottlenecks among women working in government departments in the age group of
25-40 years, etc. |
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Amritsar, December 25
Amritsar, December 25
Amritsar, December 25
