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Thanks to admn, beggars get a home in holy city
‘Forbidden delights’ on sale near educational institutions
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Valentine’s Day
Two killed in road mishaps
AIHSS threatens to stop Samjhauta Express
Seminar on role of Punjab
in freedom struggle
Ward 26
Octave 2010
Body found in vacant plot
Young World
Mahashivratri celebrated
It’s strike season at colleges as thrust shifts to teachers’ protests
Seminar on scope of tourism in city
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Thanks to admn, beggars get a home in holy city
Amritsar, February 12 Wearing a new kurta-pyjama, he was thankful to those who gave a thought to his cleanliness, arranged clothes and made available a place for him to live in. He was among the nearly 150 beggars who received this unthinkable treatment. In a first of its kind effort, many beggars were traced from various places of the city during the past 24-hours and were allowed to live in an abandoned building of the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, popularly known as the Karam Singh Ward. Originally hailing from Tarn Taran, Jagjit used to beg at various religious places in the city, depending on the day on which the faithful throng them to pay their obeisance. He does not remember for how long he has been seeking alms in the city but that he was just a child when he arrived here from the adjoining town of Tarn Taran. About his earning, he said he sometimes he used to earn as much as Rs 200 in a day in alms. Deputy Commissioner Kahn Singh Pannu said ever since the deplorable condition of shelter-less people and beggars was reported in the columns of the Tribune, in the severe winter, he has been searching for a place to accommodate them. He said he found the abandoned building as an ideal place for providing them with shelter. He said various NGOs and religious organisations, besides government departments, have been involved in the programme. He said people who were willing to go to join their families, would be provided railway and bus tickets to reach their destinations. While those who do not have the support of families, would be allowed to live there. He said physically fit persons would be arranged jobs in factories and other locations to earn their livelihood, while the rest would be allowed to live there. He informed that medical offers and staff members of the Health Department diagnosed the beggars and referred three of them to the mental hospital. He said some of them needed intensive medical care. Undoubtedly, the administration has taken upon itself the ambitious humanitarian service but a large number of beggars could still be seen in various streets of the city. Apparently, gathering them under a roof and providing regular meals Is indeed an uphill task. Some constables have also been deployed at the place to ensure law and order. Three barbers were arranged to provide them with shaves and hair cuts. A resident of Merrut, Bhutari said he was picked up from near the Golden Temple. He said his father resided at Meerut and would prefer to join him. He said he had been wandering in various cities of the country and earning livelihood by begging. It was for the first time that he found that a district administration had taken pains to provide shelter to homeless people. Sant Baba Bhori Wale is providing food to the beggars. |
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‘Forbidden delights’ on sale near educational institutions
Amritsar, February 12 Supreme Court guidelines specifically mention that no liquor or tobacco vends can be located within a 100 yards radius of educational institutions. The prohibition warnings regarding this ruling have to be painted in bold at the gate of the educational institutions. But a survey of some other educational institutions, especially schools, revealed some hard-to-believe facts. An astonishing example can be noticed at Majitha Road. Enshrined between three schools - Sacred Heart, St Mary’s and Sophia Memorial - is a vendor selling all kinds of tobacco products. Ironically, this vendor is at a stone’s throw from the area’s police post. When The Tribune team approached the vendor, he proudly said no one had ever objected to his running the business from here, rather some of the school teachers and the class four staff of these educational institutions were among his regular clients. “What to talk of police? They do not bother you, if you take care of them,” he added. Neither mandatory ‘prohibition warnings’ were painted on the boundary walls, nor was there any check on the tobacco sellers by any authority. Shops and kiosks located just a few steps from the schools openly offer banned products for sale to the students. A vendor, proudly sitting just adjacent to the main gate of Sohpia Memorial School, admitted: “I sit from 8 am to 10.30 pm. We cater to teachers and nearby shopkeepers. When it comes to schoolchildren, I usually restrict my sales to flavoured paan masala. Since the teachers know me well, they never object to anything. By the way, who are you to question me?” said the vendor authoritatively. Neverthless, the ‘service’ was found to be a bit ‘better’ opposite the Sri Ram Ashram School, Four S Chowk, where a vendor sells cigarattes, gutaka and paan masala on credits. But he showed his awareness about the Prohibition Act. Interestingly, he put it this way, “Bachhon ko nahin dete hain, sahib,” Some vendors reportedly sell cigarettes and other tobacco products while ostensibly running juice, chana kulcha or tea stalls. What Supreme Court guidelines say
The SC has directed the state authorities to issue directions to all educational institutions to adhere to the provision of Section 6 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 more popularly known as COTPA. This Act regulates sale of cigarettes and tobacco products to minors. Section 6 of the Act clearly mandates that no cigarettes or tobacco products shall be sold to any person under the age 18 years in an area within 100 yards of an educational institution. |
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Valentine’s Day
Amritsar, February 12
After visiting the main spots of the city on the eve of Valentine Day, ie February 14, it was found that except for a few trading firms, which deals in jewellery or cloth merchandise, hardly any firm has taken initiative to give incentives to customers on the special occasion. One more aspect, which hinders the Valentine’s Day celebration here, is the opposition by some political parties, especially saffron groups, to it. Interacting with the youth revealed that they prefer to drive out of the city to celebrate the occasion. The Subway’s joint on the outskirts of the city is the hot spot this time, it is presumed. Some youths have decided to visite “Haveli” food joint on the Jalandhar road. “How can we let this day go like any other day? Since, there is a risk in enjoying on the streets inside the city we will prefer restaurants or joints outside the city.” Some residents say the Indian society resents Valentine’s Day celebration mainly due to the manner in which it is being celebrated. “It encourages our youth towards permissive culture like entering pubs, discotheques, which are somewhat alien to our culture. There are cases where they are drawn towards dating without realising the consequences,” they said. “The result of a free society in the western countries is in front of us. It is taking even school-going children in its fold resulting in the record growth of teenager mothers. There is a steep rise in child abandonment cases in our district. The ‘Panghura’ scheme rings the alarming bells in this regard,” opined N.S. Gabhria, retired
Assistant Station officer from the Railways. “Young girls are appearing in TV reality shows to narrate the tragic end of their short-lived love entanglements, said Harcharan Singh, a bank officer. Sunil, a flower vendor, who is in the business from the last five years outside a college, said he too had fear of being assaulted by the political sects. “But it’s our living, we have to take risk. Even the policemen, instead of protecting us, ask us to open shop ot our risk. Who cares?” he said. “It is one of the few occasions when people buy flowers, but the craze for this day is deteriorating year after year. Though the flower business rises a bit, but keeping in mind the risk factor of attacks by political groups, we, too, prefer to limit the stock,” said another flower vendor Ravi. Meanwhile, Divine Solitaires, has introduced magnificent patterns of heart and arrows on the occasion. The Celebration Mall, Batala Road, is already conducting “Valentine Week”. Starting from February 5 and up till February 14, the couples ordering for meals would be gifted with their photograph fixed in a picture frame. |
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Two killed in road mishaps
Amritsar, February 12 Kashmir Singh of Japani Mill, Chheharta, stated that they were going to Jalandhar in their car when the incident took place. While Ramesh died on the spot, he and three more persons were seriously injured in the accident. In another incident, Baljit Kaur (28) of Gagrewal village died when the motorcycle
she was riding collided with a bus. Baljit Singh, brother-in-law of the deceased, in his complaint alleged that they were going to Beas from Khalchian when a bus hit his motorcycle. His brother Kuldeep Singh was injured in
the mishap. Cases have been registered. |
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AIHSS threatens to stop Samjhauta Express
Amritsar, February 12 Surinder Kumar Billa, president of the AIHSS, pointed out that as per the Rajiv Gandhi-Benazir Bhutto joint agreement in 1989 Hindu pilgrims could visit the neighbouring country twice a year while the religious jathas from Pakistan could visit six times. He said the neighbouring country had agreed to two visits consisting of 200 pilgrims each annually to Shri Katasraj shrine. Owing to prevailing situation in the neighbouring country, the Indian Government has asked the members of the jatha to sign a declaration that neither the Government of India nor any individual or organisation of India would be responsible for any damage that may happen to person or property during the visit. While refusing to sign the declaration, the Hindu pilgrims have decided to not boycott the jatha. Billa urged the government to immediately stop the declaration system and ensure security of the pilgrims by taking up the issue with their Pakistani counterparts. |
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Seminar on role of Punjab
in freedom struggle
Amritsar, February 12 Informing this, SN Agarwal, Chairman, Punjab State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission and author of the book “Freedom Fighters of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands”, during his presidential address in the seminar, “Role of Punjab in the Freedom Struggle of India from 1857-1931”, organised by the Department of History, Khalsa College here. He opined that countries which forget their freedom fighters could not progress. He urged the audience to pay respect to all those who had sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country. Dr. Parm Bakshish Singh, Prof. and Head (Retd.) Department of Historical Studies, Punjabi University, Patiala, while hailing Punjab’s role in attaining freedom, reiterated that had there been no active participation from Punjab, the freedom movement would not have materialised. Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, Honorary Secretary, Khalsa College Governing Council, delivered the valedictory address. —
TNS |
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Garbage dumps, stagnant water, green belt encroachments galore
P.K. Jaiswar Tribune News Service
Amritsar, february 12 Scrutiny of the problem revealed that this garbage dump is the contribution of adjoining marriage palaces on the Chamrang Road, which throw its wastes on this site in the absence of regular lifting of garbage by the MC authorities. The place has become a favourite spot for stray cattle and dogs, besides becoming a breeding ground for an epidemic anytime. “Life is virtually miserable due to the smell emanating from the dump which has also become a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes, flies and poisonous insects,” said Rohit Arora, a shopkeeper of Jahajgarh Pataka market. People passing through the area cover their nose because of unbearable smell and garbage littered all over the dump where stray animals and cows can be seen roaming, he added. The garbage dump could not be removed allegedly due to the political connections enjoyed by the owner of a marriage palace, whose employees throw garbage here, said another shopkeeper, ruing that their repeated requests fell on deaf ears. Ironically, the corporation authorities demolished the four walls, which lead to the littering of rubbish all over the market, he said. Just a few yards away, a slum has come up which has encroached upon a large chunk of land of the green belt in the Transport Nagar area just close to Ekta Nagar. The Transport area, constructed by Amritsar Improvement trust, also cries for attention. Pools of stagnant water can be seen at every nook and corner of the area due to the absence of any gardner or safai karamcharis to maintain the green belts. “Nobody bothers to see whether we are living or dead once the elections are over, during which they show their faces and urge for votes with folded hands,” said Sanjay Kumar, a resident. “During polls they promise to wipe out our grievances but after that they forget that we exist,” he rued. Other areas which fall in ward number 26 include Katra Baggian, Cheel Mandi, IDH Market, City Centre, Ajit Nagar, Kot Bhagat Singh, Jahajgarh, Ekta Nagar, Transport Nagar etc. Another biggest problem that the area faces is encroachment. As the area consists of major markets like IDH, Guru Ram Das Market, Jahajgarh area, the unauthorised extension of shops in these markets leaves no place for pedestrians. Vehicles can be seen dumped in the entire Jahajgarh market. The pool of stagnant water outside Guru Ram Das Market tells the sorry state of affairs. “Even slight downpours result in water logging in this market,” complained Hardeep Singh, a shopkeeper adding, “But no body is there to listen us and we are still awaiting remedial measures from the authorities who have turned a blind eye to our repeated complaints so far.”
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Artistes from Northeast bring their cultural heritage to Amritsar
GS Paul Tribune News Service
Amritsar, February 12
The programme would be inaugurated with a craft exhibition by the tribal Cooperative marketing development federation of India limited (TRIFED), at the Khalsa College Campus at 6.45 pm. Besides this, plays of north east state by the National School of Drama would be staged at the Dashmesh Auditorium Guru Nanak Dev University on February 16-17. During the festival, the programme will be a choreographic presentation of folk dances, traditional costume show and fusion music presentation, choral singing, rock show at Khalsa College Campus from February 13-17. Besides this, a book exhibition by the Sahitya Academy would also be conducted at the same venue. DS Saroya, Director NZCC, Patiala, said Amritsar has been chosen for the programme by NZCC Patiala, in collaboration with North East Zone Cultural Centre Dimapur, Sahitya Academy, National School of Drama, and Tribal Cooperative marketing development Federation of India limited under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India.
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Body found in vacant plot
Amritsar, February 12 Some people passing through the vacant plots in the wee hours saw the body and informed the Islamabad police. Jagbir Singh, SHO, Islamabad police station, said the deceased was identified by his wife Neetu, who reached the spot after hearing the news of finding a body. He said the family had filed a missing person report on January 8 stating that Basant Giri had not returned home. The body was sent for post-mortem. —
TNS |
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Microsoft gives placements to 100 DAV students
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, February 12 Martyrdom day observed
Sri Guru Harkrishan Senior Secondary Public School obsered the martyrdom day of Baba Deep Singh with reverence and traditional fervour. Students of the pre-primary section rendered kirtan of Gurbani. President, Chief Khalsa Diwan, Charanjit Singh Chadda and Principal of the school Dharamvir Singh presented gifts to the winning students in oral recitation of Gurbani and painting contest. Annual function
Member of Parliament Navjot Singh Sidhu presented prizes to brilliant students and sportspersons of DAV Senior Secondary School during its annual prize distribution function held on February 10. Students presented colourful cultural programme. Dr. C. Prakash, Vice President, DAV Managing Committee and Director, DAV Schools JP Shoor were also present. |
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Mahashivratri celebrated
Amritsar, February 12 Oldest Shivalya Virbhan and Bhaiya Da Shivalya saw serpentine queues forming from dawn. |
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It’s strike season at colleges as thrust shifts to teachers’ protests
Amritsar, February 12 Though, their agitation, they claim, was being carried out during the “no-teaching” hours, the fact cannot be denied that these moves directly or indirectly divert the attention of pupils and consequently tell upon their studies too. Nevertheless, the on-strike teachers, under the banner of Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union, representing over 150 colleges in Punjab and Chandigarh, intensified their agitation against the indifferent and callous attitude of the state government towards their problems. Due to the partial implementation of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) recommendations, the state government could not implement the promotional and monitory benefits of Punjab and Chandigarh college lecturers in a uniform manner. Consequently, mass anomalies have cropped up, affecting hundreds of lecturers associated with private and government-aided colleges. They became victims of enormous disparity compared to their counterparts in government colleges. The General Secretary of the association, Prof HS Walia stated that there has been inordinate delay in resolving few issues which included inter-alia, implementation of Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) for the Directors Physical Education (DPE) and librarians as per the UGC letter dated October 19,2006, relaxation in refresher courses as per UGC guidelines, restoration of security of service for the teachers working against aided posts and provision of additional funds for the implementation of the revised pay scales. Around 4,000 teachers today ceased work for two hours (11 am to 1.00 pm) and organised campus rallies. Elaborating on the action plan, Prof. Walia stated that though talks are on with the managements of non-aided colleges, the PCCTU has decided to hold district wise day-long fast and dharna, if their demands were not met. Similar protests were made in various districts of Punjab. Meanwhile, all the members of the non-teaching staff of BBK DAV College for Women, Amritsar, observed a 2-hour strike and held gate rally today on the call given by the Private Aided Colleges Non-teaching Employees’ Union, Punjab and Chandigarh. Their demanded included release of revised pay scale and allowances according to 5th pay commission, interim relief of five per cent, revised medical allowance, release of ACP under 4-9-14 scheme, implementation of pension and gratuity, deduction of CPF on basic along with DA as per jurisdiction of colleges under Panjab University/ DAVMC/GNDU employees. |
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Seminar on scope of tourism in city
Amritsar, February 12 However, in order to make use of its tourist potential to its optimum, there was need to develop secondary tourist attractions. They could be religious centers of the city. Besides, Jalliawala Bagh, historic Ram Bagh, magnificent buildings of the Khalsa College and heritage village in Guru Nanak Dev University, Gobindgarh Fort, Sarai Amanat Khan and Pul Moran could be included as other destinations in the itinerary of a visitor. He observed that tourism was sure to give a big boost to the hotel industry and the overall economy of the city and its surrounding areas. Deputy Commissioner KS Pannu informed that Rs 120 crore Integrated Check Post (ICP) at the Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post would bring in state-of-the-art infrastructure and attract investors not only from Punjab but also from outside. World class infrastructure would be provided in shape of elevated roads, upgrades and beautification of the Amritsar railway station. He said the proposed mammoth investment would bring in more opportunity for youngsters, entrepreneurs and common people. Principal of Khlasa College Dr. Daljeet Singh informed that the college would launch a light and sound programme every evening depicting
the history of the holy city, Sikhs and Punjab. He hoped that tourists visiting Attari to see the retreat ceremony would be intrigued by
the ceremony. |
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After days of wandering on streets and braving the cold dressed tattered clothes for days, Jagjit just got a shave and a hair cut.
A bath with a soap and fresh clean clothes to wear after that, these are privileges.
Amritsar, february 12
Amritsar, February 12
