Over 3,400 elementary teachers to be recruited
Chandigarh, January 11
To fill the remaining vacancies in elementary schools the Punjab Government will recruit more than 3,400 primary teachers before the new academic session. This was stated by Dr Upinderjit Kaur, Education and Languages Minister, here today.

Patiala, January 11
The Local Bodies Department is reportedly losing revenue amounting to crores annually due to “advertising mafia” active in the state.

Though prevalence of the such “mafia” is a known fact, for the first time the municipal authorities across the state have admitted that the corporations of Amritsar, Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Bathinda are suffering “huge losses” because of the illegal hoardings, glow signs, unipolars and other advertising stuff being put up by advertisers.

Recently, even Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal had also said that “advertising mafia” was active in Punjab and was under scanner.

The authorities also stated that besides illegal advertisement stuff, “flaws” in the existing system of awarding advertising rights to private companies also needed to be reviewed.

According to senior officials of the Local Bodies Department, if stringent measures are initiated to streamline the advertisement sections of the civic bodies, the revenue collection from advertisements in Punjab can touch Rs 100 crore.

It is learnt that at present, the five corporations of the state are annually generating advertising revenue of approximately Rs 10 crore.

Figures available show that for 2008-09, the Ludhiana MC generated Rs 3.56 crore from advertising, whereas Amritsar figures stands at Rs 1.12 crore. The MCs of Jalandhar, Patiala and Bathinda separately generated advertising revenue of not more than Rs 2 crore annually.

Admitting the presence of such “mafia” in the state, senior Deputy Mayor of Ludhiana Praveen Bansal said, “What we are getting currently is just peanuts. Revenue collection of Rs 25 crore from advertisements is not a big deal for a commercial hub like Ludhiana. Open auction system for awarding various advertisement rights to private advertisers can increase revenue generation.”

Laying stress on need for a complete review of the present tendering system, he said under the existing terms and conditions for bidding, only a few companies passed the eligibility criteria, which clearly implied that there was need to encourage the competition.

Amritsar Municipal Commissioner DPS Kharbanda too admitted “revenue from advertising can go up drastically” if the open auction system was enforced for awarding advertising rights to private players.

Sources in the department said due to a “nexus” between politicians and officials, private advertisers managed to get the advertising rights for a very minimal amount. “If such rights are awarded in a transparent manner, it can multiply the revenue collection by 10 times”, said a senior MC official.

It is learnt that Ludhiana and Patiala are on the top when it comes to illegal unipolars and hoardings. “There are around 1,200 illegal unipolars in Ludhiana,” claimed a civic official.

Likewise, in Patiala, the number of illegal hoardings is in hundreds. Patiala Mayor Ajit Pal Singh Kohli, however, maintained that he had not received complaints about the illegal advertisement hoardings.

Chandigarh, January 11
Punjab is lagging way behind other states in terms of providing medical insurance cover to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. Besides the coverage of families being minimal, almost half of some of the other states, even the hospitals that have been empanelled for treatment do not have adequate facilities to accept the smart cards given to the families covered under the National Health Insurance Plan.

Anil Swarup, Director-General Labour Welfare, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, has said that in Punjab only 35 per cent people from the eligible categories have been covered till date under the scheme that was started by the GoI on April 1, 2008. The insurance company that has been entrusted with the task of covering the families under the scheme is finding it hard to do so on account of incomplete data available with it.

Sources sad the Punjab Health Systems Corporation, the nodal agency in this case, has supplied lists of BPL families based on a survey conducted in 2002. As a result, the insurance company has not been able to locate all people mentioned in the lists.

Without giving out any reason, Swarup said that work was on in eight districts of Punjab, but so far only 35 per cent of the targeted BPL families had been provided smart cards. Besides, he said that out of the 200 hospitals empanelled to take care of such cases, only 65 had the facility to read the smart card that bears the picture and thumb impression of the head of the family.

Swarup was here to participate in a joint labour convention for the six north Indian states at Chandigarh.

According to this centrally sponsored health insurance scheme, out of the premium of about Rs 500 to Rs 600, the Centre contributed 75 per cent, while the remaining 25 per cent comes from the state share. In many other states, nearly 60 to 65 per cent of the BPL families had been issued smart cards, while in case of Punjab the number was less than half of other states. The scheme enables a BPL family to avail treatment at the empanelled hospitals up to Rs 30,000.

Punjab has also recently reviewed its own operational framework of the healthcare institutions. In a report submitted by Prof JS Bajaj, Vice-Chairman, Punjab State Planning Board, and Chairman of this Review Committee, a fresh look has been taken at health institutions in the 10 districts. This review committee was constituted by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal way back in 2007.

Ludhiana, January 11
When the state was yet to recover from the shock of the deaths of Nitin Garg and Ranjot Singh in Australia, the news of the murder of yet another man from Dholanwal village near Kohara here in east London has sent the region in gloom.

Sukhwinder Singh (31) had immigrated to London 10 years ago and was all set to visit here in April. He was planning for the journey when he was murdered on Friday.

He was attacked while pursuing two muggers who had robbed a 28-year-old woman near Barking station; and when he caught them, a fight broke out and he was knifed. He was taken to Royal London Hospital but later died.

Members of the family said they were awaiting his body that would take a month.

With the news of his death, the little world of her elderly mother, Swaranjeet Kaur, and his wife, Sandeep Kaur, was shattered. “I was going to see him after a decade. We were waiting for his arrival as he had bought a ticket also to be here in April. But we never thought that his body would arrive instead,” said his wailing mother.

Tragedy struck his wife and his 10-year-old son, Gurjinderpal, who was born after he had left for London. He was to see his father for the first time, as only his pictures have been reaching them.

“I never knew that I had to live with him for two years only. My son could not see his father alive,” said Sandeep Kaur, who was married to Sukhwinder in 1998. After two year of their marriage, Sukhwinder had decided to go to London.

The condition of the deceased’s father, Pakhar Singh, too was pitiable. “My heart would burst if I will talk about him,” he said, refusing to speak about his murder.

Chandigarh, January 11
The Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Manohar Singh Gill, has been touched by England-based NRI Sukhwinder Singh’s gallant act and wants the Union Parvasi Minister V Ravi to recognise and felicitate unsung heroes like Sukhwinder Singh besides commoners from the NRI workforce worldwide.

Sukhwinder Singh, by his selfless act of helping a woman in distress, has made the NRI community proud. Without worrying about his own safety, Sukhwinder Singh chased the two snatchers who in turn fatally stabbed him.

“His bravery reminds us all of those acts for which the Sikhs are known for. Everyone in the United Kingdom and the police has deeply praised Sukhwinder Singh’s action.

“I will write to PM Manmohan Singh, and Parvasi Minister V Ravi to recognise his gallant act by conferring upon him a bravery award posthumously besides announcing a big financial assistance to his widow and one-year-old child left behind by him,” says Gill.

Honouring and felicitating well-established and known NRIs is alright, but people like Sukhwinder Singh should also be recognised at functions like those of the Parvasi Bharati Divas, argues Manohar Singh Gill maintaining that a five-million strong NRI workforce has been working worldwide under hard and trying circumstances, helping in building infrastructure there. All these workers have been great ambassadors of our country’s goodwill towards other nations.

“This strong workforce that contributes nearly seven billion dollars to country’s foreign exchange reserves every year never figures in any Parvasi Bharati Divas function or celebration. Even no one worries about their working or living conditions overseas. They all have been silently working for bringing a good name to their motherland,” adds Gill.

Thousands of unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled Indians are working in Arab countries, Africa, Europe, Americas and other countries. Efforts should be made to make them a part of the Parvasi Bharati deliberations by inviting their nominees to all Parvasi Bharati Divas celebrations. Some of the outstanding members of this silent NRI workforce should also be felicitated along with eminent and well-established NRIs.

“I remember having written to the Parvasi Minister sometime back about that Gujarati woman who single-handedly fought for Indian taxi drivers in New York and won the battle. Such exemplary actions of NRIs also need due recognition so as to encourage others to help our community overseas,” adds Gill.

Chandigarh, January 11
To fill the remaining vacancies in elementary schools the Punjab Government will recruit more than 3,400 primary teachers before the new academic session. This was stated by Dr Upinderjit Kaur, Education and Languages Minister, here today.

At a meeting with representatives of the unemployed ETT Teachers Association, the Minister said the department had already submitted a memorandum in this connection to be approved by the Punjab Cabinet. This requirement of teachers had been finalised after the rationalisation of posts in schools as well as retirements to be over up to March 31, 2010, she added.

The Minister added that the government had already recruited 14,000 teachers and 10,000 were to be recruited before the coming academic session as the process was on fast track. Besides, more than 7,000 computer teachers were being recruited by the department.

She assured the association that the government was committed to imparting quality education in the state so that students could compete at the national and international levels.

At another meeting with the substitute Computer Teachers Association, Upinderjit Kaur advised them to appear in the fourth and final computer test to be conducted on January 17, as fulfilment of their service conditions. She added that the department had conducted three such tests for the computer faculty but 408 computer teachers were to yet to clear the required examination so that their pay perks could be increased.

Jalndhar, January 11
The Punjab government has framed a new policy for in-service regular PCMS doctors for admission in the postgraduate and diploma courses.

Doctors would have to take no-objection certificate (NoC) from the Director, Health Services, Punjab, before applying to appear in entrance test, interview etc. After passing the test and before admission, the doctors would have to take NoC from the state government.

There are 60 per cent reserved seats for the PCMS doctors, who have rural service of three years and have completed their probation period, in the PG and diploma courses. There should not be any pending vigilance, department inquiry or action against them. Only those doctors would be eligible for admission in the PG course who have 10 years of service after completing the course. In case of admission in diploma course, there should be six years of service after completing the course.

Sources said new policy had to be framed because earlier one had several loose ends. Some of the doctors, who had left with 3, 4 years of service, had got admission earlier in the PG course. The government had to give leave and salary to such doctors. However, the government hospitals did not get much benefit, as such doctors were to retire in 3, 4 years after completing the PG course.

“We want that a doctor doing PG course after taking full salary from the state government should at least serve the Health Department for 10 years after completing the course,” said a senior official of the department. He said “the government spends about Rs 25-30 lakh on a doctor doing the PG course because he is treated as on a paid leave and also gets admission against the reserve seat. Hence, the department should get at least some benefit from his services after doing the PG course,” said the official.

The PCMS doctors taking admission in the PG course would be treated on deputation to the medical college concerned and would not be paid any deputation allowance. On their admission in the PG course, the doctors concerned would have to fill a bond with the state government. In case, any doctor does not complete his PG course in stipulated time, he or she would have to report back to the department and would have to complete the remaining part of the course after taking his or her accumulated due leave from the department.

Changes have also been made for doctors applying for admission against the open 40 per cent seats. Only 10 doctors would be given permission to do the PG course against open seats. In case, more than 10 doctors applying for the PG course, the permission would be granted on basis of seniority in service. Such doctors would be granted their accumulated due leave, provided they have five years of service after completing the degree course and three years of service after completing the diploma course.

For super speciality courses, only those doctors would be eligible who have completed five years of service, including three years in a rural area. The NoC for the super-speciality course would only be issued in case there is a need to the department of a super-specialist doctor in any discipline. Only five doctors would be allowed to do super-speciality course and in case, the number of applicants would be more than five, the senior criteria would be applied. The doctor concerned must have five years of service after doing the course. Such doctor would have to fill a bond of Rs 12 lakh and would get due accumulated leave. 

Bathinda, January 11
Harsimrat Kaur Badal, MP, today demanded that a special session of Parliament should be convened to discuss the serious issue of Chinese incursions and occupation of a substantial portion of Indian land along the Line of Actual Control.

Criticising the Centre for maintaining silence over the issue, she said the government that has failed to guard the frontiers of the country had no moral right to continue in power. She demanded resignation of the Prime Minister and Defence Minister for having “failed” to curb these incursions.

She said it was a matter of great concern that the Chinese troops by threatening and assaulting the locals had been grabbing the Indian territory, with the Indian Government keeping its eyes shut. She said despite the SOS message sent by the J& K government to the Centre that the Chinese army had threatened the nomads and burnt their tents, India instead of taking measures to take back its own land was trying to keep this issue under the wraps.

She said the UPA government, by such instances, has conveyed to the world community that it was a soft state unable to take any hard action against attack on its sovereignty and our neighbours were taking undue advantage of this. The failure of India in forcing Pakistan to book conspirators of 26/11, its failure to extradite Headly from the US and incursions by China were indicators of the fact that the country was not safe in the hands of the UPA government. 

Chandigarh, January 11
An official spokesman of the state government disclosed here today that in terms of rehabilitation package issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, rehabilitation grant at Rs 2 lakh per family was to be disbursed to families affected by the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

He further said families holding the red identity cards and residing in the state of Punjab, who could not earlier obtain the rehabilitation grant could apply on plain paper along with documents to the respective Deputy Commissioners of the districts in which they were residing for getting the rehabilitation grant up to 31st January, 2010.

The families whose application for getting the rehabilitation grant was already pending for consideration in offices of Deputy Commissioners, need not apply again.

No such application would be entertained after 31st January.

Chandigarh, January 11
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today announced an ex-gratia grant of Rs 5 lakh each to the family of Nitin Garg and Ranjot Singh who were killed in “racial” attacks by unidentified assailants in Australia last week.

Stating this here today, a spokesman for the Chief Minister’s Office said Badal had already taken up the issue with the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, asking him to take up the matter with higher authorities in Australia to ensure adequate security and safety of the Indian students pursuing higher studies there.

Sharing his heart-felt condolences with the bereaved families, Badal said all these incidents go against the spirit of any civilised society and assured them that his government would pursue the matter with the Government of India to mount pressure constantly on the Australian Government to take immediate and effective steps to ensure the security of the members of the Indian community in general and the Punjabis in particular.

The Chief Minister hoped that the authorities in Australia would comply with the international norms on hate crimes against immigrants and take tangible steps to ensure the security of life and property of Punjabis in Australia. 

Moga, January 11
India-born Canadian citizen Jagdev Singh, who is facing a charge of murdering former MLA Nachattar Singh Gill, father of state DGP Paramdip Singh Gill, was again picked up by the police his morning.

A case of theft under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC has been registered against him, his two cousins, Gursewak Singh, Sarabhjit Singh and Shamsher Singh and one of his friends, all residents of this town, in the city police station.

ASI Shiv Chand, who is investigating the case, said Jagdev Singh and Gursewak Singh had been arrested and would be produced in a local court tomorrow. Meanwhile, Ramesh Grover, the counsel of the NRI, moved an application in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Karunesh Kumar Kakkar alleging that the police was unnecessarily harassing the NRI and was trying to implicate him in false cases.

The CJM sought a reply from the police by 2 pm today, but the investigating officer demanded more time. Accepting the plea of the police, the CJM sought the reply by tomorrow morning.

Vijay Kumar, son of Amar Chand, a scrap dealer, who had got a shop on rent from NRI’s cousins, complained to the police that the four alleged persons had broken the wall of his shop and stolen a few scrap items and bricks.

However, Jagdev Singh refuted allegations. “I have moved an application in the high court and the State Human Rights Commission stating that my life and liberty is in danger,” he added.

Chandigarh, January 11
Following a notice by the CBI special court for his approval or disapproval of the closure report filed by the CBI in the infamous cash-for-judge scam, Amrik Singh, the complainant in the case through his counsel, today requested for the copy of the said report first.

The case, which came up for hearing today in the CBI special court of Darshan Singh, had hit a roadblock following the helplessness as expressed by the investigating agency in its closure report filed in the court on December 19.

During the proceedings that lasted for nearly 15 minutes, the counsel for Amrik Singh, Rajdeep Singh Cheema, appeared on his behalf and requested for a copy of the closure report.

However, the judge stated that it was not under the provisions of law to provide them with a copy of the report and that they could obtain a certified copy of the report only after replying for the same.

The court has now fixed February 1 as the next date of hearing. Meanwhile, the counsel has already filed for a certified copy and they are expected to get the same in a day or so.

Rajdeep Singh, when contacted, said they would decide the response of the closure report only after reading the entire report.

It must be recalled that in its closure report, the CBI had reportedly stated its helplessness seeking it and had asserted that in the absence of sanction for prosecution by the Chief Justice of India, it was not in a position to go ahead in the matter. This despite having ample evidence in this case, suggested the report.

During the last hearing of the case on December 24, Darshan Singh had verbally rapped the CBI for including the names of the other alleged accused in the report. It was stated that the sanction was required only in the case of Justice Nirmal Yadav. In its absence, the CBI could have proceeded against the other accused, he had said.

It may be recalled that the Chief Justice of India had already refused to permit the CBI prosecute Justice Nirmal Yadav of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, who was the alleged intended recipient of the Rs 15 lakh that was mis-delivered at the residence of another judge with a similar name, Justice Nirmaljit Kaur by clerk of a Haryana law officer in August 2008.

The Central government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India had decided that there was no action required in this case. The sanction was only needed for Justice Nirmal Yadav, she being a public servant.

However, the same was not required for the other accused, including Delhi-based businessman Ravinder, former Haryana additional advocate general Sanjeev Bansal and his clerk Parkash.