The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	PIMS runs OPD without approval, calls it a drill Amaninder Pal Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 21 Even after a month of issue of a note seeking explanation for allegedly running OPD services without getting prior approval from the authorities concerned, the PIMS Medical and Educational Charitable (PMEC) Society is still violating rules by continuing the OPD services in the PIMS building. In an official correspondence dated March 13 (a copy of which is with The Tribune), the society was asked to explain the reasons for the launch of OPD services as no work can be carried out at the project site without the issuance of a “notice of commence” certificate by the authorities. However, even after a month, the society is still running OPD services. In a smart move, doctors write prescriptions merely on plain papers which are without any registration or OPD number. However, to avoid any legal implications, the society provides services without charging any cost. What is shocking is the content of an explanation submitted by a representative of the PMEC Society (copy of which is with The Tribune) to the authorities which reads, “The management had decided to make a trial run to assess the viability of commencing services on a regular basis. Therefore, doctors on its roll were asked to examine patients and staff activity was also organised as a drill.” However, giving a reference about how long the drill will continue was given a skip by the society. “We have commissioned equipment worth crores in the building. Naturally we need to keep ourselves on the premises to take care of the equipment. As far as the case of OPD services is concerned, we are simply doing charity,” said Rajsekhar K, an authorised representative of the society. However, his cell phone went “out of range” when asked about how long the drill would go on. Though clause VIII of article 3.1.2 of the agreement prohibits the society from sub-leasing any portion of the building without the official approval, a revenue-generating venture in the form of a cafeteria is also being run by the society in a large corner on the ground floor of the main building where meals are available at Rs 20 to 30 per plate. Slips with inscriptions “PIMS Cafeteria” are issued at its cash counter. “I will look into the matter. I cannot comment now as I am not directly overseeing the day-to-day developments in PIMS,” said the Director, Medical Education and Research, Dr Jaikishan, who has the additional charge of Director, PIMS.
	Wheat Procurement FCI directed to shun online payment Varinder Singh Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 21 The Food Corporation of India’s quest to go high-tech has seemingly boomeranged on the agency in Amritsar as it was allegedly resulting in delaying the payment to farmers and arhtiyas, prompting the district administration to intervene and directing the FCI to resort to the traditional payment system. Farmers and arthiyas were allegedly subjected to inconvenience as the FCI had adopted a new online payment system in its pursuit to go high-tech. This had initially resulted in delay in the payments to around 30 per cent of farmers and arthiyas - a fact popped up in the procurement arrangement reviewal conducted by Deputy Commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu. Acting in time, the district administration directed the FCI to temporarily forgo the online payment and resort to the traditional system of issuing cheques. The timely intervention, Pannu said, bore positive results and the FCI had managed to make payment for 70 per cent of its total purchase of wheat from different grain markets. Answering a query regarding statewide problem of lifting wheat from mandis, Pannu said the wheat lifting had not been a problem in Amritsar. He said most of the purchased stock had been lifted from the mandis. He added that the “wheat specials” running from the railway stations near important grain markets of Amritsar, including Jandiala, Rayya and Chheharta, have proved a boon in the lifting process. So wheat lifting was not a critical issue in Amritsar but the process of timely payment to the parties concerned was being hindered by the inability of certain agencies to make the timely payment, said Pannu, adding that the matter had been resolved. He said 3,50,581 MT of wheat had been procured till date from the various mandis as against 3,05,333 MT last year. Nearly 1,63,937 MT of wheat had been lifted and a payment of about Rs 175 crore made so far to the arhtiyas. Irked by the slow procurement by PUNGRAIN and PUNSUP, the Deputy Commissioner directed the officials concerned to gear up or else be prepared to face the music.
	Showers bring cheer to people Tribune Reporters Jalandhar, April 21 Light showers in the region brought cheer to the people as the temperature dipped in the morning and the weather remained pleasant with cool breeze blowing throughout the day. The city dwellers woke up to overcast sky and a slight drizzle bringing respite from the intense heat wave over the past many days. The temperature has been hovering near the 40 degrees mark but was recorded at 36 degrees in the morning. People, especially children, could be seen enjoying the weather by being outdoors most of the time. The cool breeze, too, seemed to have applied balm to people sweltering from the heat. The only section worried at the overcast skies were the farmers who had brought their wheat to the mandis and those who were yet to make chaff from wheat stubble. If the fields become slushy this operation would have to be postponed. Labourers could be seen clearing the small puddles of rainwater collected in the low-lying areas in the grain market. Hoshiarpur: After a long dry spell and hot weather conditions, the town and its surrounding areas have experienced light showers on Wednesday afternoon. Though people in general heaved a sigh of relief from the scorching sun but majority of the farmers who have yet to harvest their standing wheat crop in the fields were perturbed by the showers. Phagwara: Rain in Phagwara, Phillaur, Nakodar and the surrounding areas on Wednesday led to a marginal dip in the temperature providing relief to people from the extensive heat.
	Rural craft bazaar opens at Hoshiarpur village Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, April 21 Dr Isher Judge Ahluwalia, Chairperson, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, inaugurated rural craft bazaar developed for artisans involved in the production of wooden handicraft under the Sfuriti programme of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) of the Union Governmentt at Boothgarh village, 8 km from here, today. The inaugural function was presided over by Kumad Joshi, Chairperson, KVIC, and former Governor of Andhra Pardesh. In her inaugural speech, Dr Ahluwalia said artisan should be helped to protect the traditional craft, which was otherwise dying. She appreciated the Sfuriti programme launched by the KVIC in the entire country. While addressing the gathering of a large number of artisans from 23 villages of Hoshiarpur district, Kumad Joshi said the KVIC was committed to provide economic empowerment to artisans involved in the production of traditional craft. Under the Sfuriti programme of the KVIC a large number of rural artisans were being benefited in different parts of the country. At the rural craft bazaar the shops would be available to the artisans for marketing their products. Awards were also distributed to 30 artisans for their skills and productivity.
	Man killed by wife, paramour Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 21 A newly married woman allegedly killed her husband in connivance with her paramour and his accomplice in a clinic at Lambra on Tuesday. The crime occurred near the police station in broad daylight. Amandeep Kaur, a resident of Ferozepore, was married to Davinder Singh, alias Buta Ram, of Lambra three months ago. In a complaint to the police, Gurvinder Singh, brother-in-law of the deceased, alleged that relations between Buta and Amandeep Kaur were not cordial following her illicit relations with parmour, also named Davinder Singh, a resident of Ferozepore. He alleged that Buta used to accompany his wife to the clinic in an effort to restrain her from meeting the paramour. Lambra SHO Gulshan Kumar said Amandeep Kaur and her paramour hatched a conspiracy and killed Buta. Davinder, along with two accomplices, reached the clinic when the couple were present. They hacked and killed Buta with sharp-edged weapons, he added. As per the conspiracy, Amandeep was left tied with ropes at the spot to mislead the police, the SHO said. The police has rounded up Amandeep Kaur, who is hospitalised, and registered a case of murder against her, paramour Davinder Singh and his two accomplices.
	SC teachers call off fast Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 21 After getting an assurance from the government, members of the Scheduled Castes Employees Joint Action Committee, who had been sitting on fast in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office for the past few days, ended their fast today. Chief Parliamentary Secretary (Education) Mohinder Kaur Josh, Chief Parliamentary Secretary (Health) Avinash Chander, SC/ST Land Development and Finance Corporation chairman Pawan Kumar Tinu and senior Akali leader Dr Harjinder Singh Jakhu reached the spot and offered glasses of juice to them, thus ending the protest. Demanding rectification in the seniority lists, lecturer Tarsem Singh, Bhag Mal, Kulwant Singh, Jaswinder Kaur, Sarbjit Singh, Das Ram and others had been sitting on fast unto death since April 6. Committee representatives Gian Sultanpuri and Sawarn Singh claimed that Josh assured of strict action against the erring officials.
	Applications invited for Army recruitment Jalandhar, April 21 The Army has invited applications for the recruitment of havildar (education) in Army Education Corps in science and arts stream for Group X and Y. In a press note issued here today, defence spokesman said the candidates applying for Group X should have passed BA, B.Ed or B.Sc, B.Ed, or BCA, B.Ed, or MA, M.Sc or MCA from any recognised university. While candidates applying for Group Y should have passed BA, B.Sc or BCA without B.Ed from a recognised university. The age of the candidate should be between 20 to 25 years as on October 4, 2010. He said eligible candidates of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, who wanted to apply for the recruitment of havildar (Education), were advised to submit their applications to the Headquarters, Recruiting Zone Jalandhar Cantonment, PIN-144005, on or before April 24, 2010. The candidates could also approach their nearest Branch Recruiting Office (BRO) for more details. — TNS