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PSEB Class X Results
Ludhiana, June 14 While Shilpa Garg of BCM Senior Secondary School, Focal Point, has stood first in the state, Ankit Luthra of RS Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, is second in Punjab. Pooja of the BCM is third and Ishit Sehgal of RS Model is fourth in the state. Nidha of BCM has stood fifth in the state. The others among the top 10 are Parul Gupta of Sanmati Vimal Jain Senior Secondary School, Jagraon, (7th in state); Bhavjot Kaur of Teja Singh Swatantra Memorial School, Shilapuri, (8th); Shivjeet Mishra of BCM School (9th); and Sweety Sinha of BCM (10th) in the state.
BCM shines like no other
Of the state’s 10 toppers, five are from BCM Senior Secondary School, Focal Point. Out of a total of 92 students of the school who appeared for the exam, 27 have made it to the merit list. Students of the school have been performing very well in all board examinations, with a large number of them making it to the merit list of Class XII boards. Says Surinder Kumar Mehta, manager of BCM Schools: “Our students are brilliant and staff members are very hard working. This success is due to their combined efforts.”
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Child Labour: The buck stops where?
Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 14 An equal number of child labourers can be seen working on roads, factories, schools and in government offices in cities, too. Investigations by The Tribune revealed that various government projects (like the building of roads and flats), which are being undertaken by private contractors, employ labourers below 14 years. The government is hardly bothered about the sort of work force being employed by these contractors. A government official said once the work was given to a contractor, “We are responsible for quality and not the quantity of labour employed”, adding that officials could not visit each and every site to check if children had been employed. Raju, 10-year-old, who works with a road contractor, said: “My parents also work for the contractor and since I don’t go to school, they used to bring me here.” The owner told his parents to employ him, too, to get more money. Even at the mini secretariat, small children can be seen working on ‘rehris’ right in front of the authorities. Raghu (11), who has been serving tea to government officers, said they called him Chottu. He said no one told him about the ban. “My younger sister is 9 years old and she works at a home and looks after children,” he said, adding that he wanted to go to school.
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Three contract assaulters arrested
Ludhiana, June 14 They were arrested from a police check post near Barota. The accused were travelling in a car and were headed towards the Shimlapuri area. The police seized a .12 double barrel rifle, a .15 gun and a . 32 revolver from their possession. As many as 20 cartridges were also seized. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Narinder Rubbi said the accused were nabbed following a tip-off from a source. The police barricaded the road and indicated the driver of the car to pull over. However, instead of stopping the vehicle, the accused tried to speed away. The police managed to stop them after a chase. Police sources alleged that the accused were members of the Mika and Mani gangs and were involved in a murder case and had thrashed a traffic cop a few years ago. The ACP claimed that the accused would threaten people and assault residents for ransom. Another contractor assaulter and a third accomplice, Gurvinder Singh, was also later nabbed by the Sadar Police. |
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Metal detector at temple doesn’t work
Ludhiana, June 14 The gravity of the situation can be gauged from the fact that the police has rated the temple among sensitive religious sites. Devotees have complained that the nonfunctional DFMD could give easy access to anti-social elements. However, the temple authorities have made adequate arrangements and deployed private security guards and police personnel to man the temple. Ten CCTV cameras have also been installed on the premises to monitor the movements of the devotees. A devotee said: “Who would be responsible if someone sneaked in and took devotees hostage. If the temple authorities know that the temple is sensitive, they should not take the security issue lightly.” A woman security guard, who was frisking women devotees, said the detector had been temporarily switched off as power department employees were fixing a snag. A power department official, however, said the detector was not working due to some internal problem and not because of a snag. Also, with the opening of a charitable hospital in the basement of the temple, the temple urgently requires another metal detector. Only a security guard equipped with a manual metal detector frisks patients.
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Couple abduct baby
Ludhiana, June 14 The matter came to light here this evening when the police booked Ajit and Rekha in a case of kidnapping and theft. Akhilesh Kumar, father of the baby, alleged that the accused abducted his child and took away cash and some ornaments from his house in Jivan Nagar. He said the couple had only recently become his friends. “Last night they visited my house and asked if they could stay there for the night. In the morning, I left for work and my wife got busy cleaning the house. Rekha told my wife that she would take care of my son and took him outside. In the meantime, Ajit took cash and jewellery and left the house,” he stated. When the couple did not return till afternoon, his wife started looking for the baby. Akhilesh also came to know about the incident and informed the police. |
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SGPC Voters’ Registration
Ludhiana/Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 14 While the commission states that a Sikhs desirous of getting enrolled as voters are to present themselves before the electoral officers, the SAD leaders divided in different factions, are pressing them hard to accept voter registration forms in bulk. Apprehending vindictive attitude of the leaders, junior government officials have started seeking advice of their seniors to avoid any unsavory situation. Investigations by The Tribune revealed that the government officials, deputed for registering voters for the SGPC election, were finding it difficult to justify their duty. While they are supposed to verify the authenticity of claims being made by the applicant, politicians are pressurising them to accept the forms in bulk that were collected by them (the leaders). Leaving apart verification of claims made of about untrimmed beard and hair, the electoral officers are sure about genuineness of signatures of the applicant. “What is more disturbing is that the leaders owing allegiance to the SAD are not ready to visualize the consequences of the illegitimate practice. Instead of understanding our position, they just want to get maximum number of fake votes registered,” rued a civic body employee adding that he had apprised his seniors of the situation. Chief Commissioner Gurdwara Elections, Justice HS Brar had strictly directed the officials of the Punjab government against entertaining politicians if they come with bulk registration forms. The politicians used to collect and fill forms on their own and then submit them to the electoral officers for registration. The malpractice increased chances of registration of fake votes. Ideally, a Sikh, satisfying all pre-requisites, is supposed to fill and sign voter’s form in the presence of the electoral officer. These forms are available at each notified gurdwara, patwari of the village and in municipal councils and corporation offices in the urban areas of the state. Only “kesadhari” Sikh with untrimmed body hairs, including untrimmed beard and mustaches can get themselves enrolled in the electoral roll. Apprehending that a large number of Sikhs would be deprived of their right to cast vote due to alleged adamant attitude of the authorities, SAD leaders argued that officials should accept forms brought by workers as genuineness of claims made by the applicant could be verified at a later stage. Sandwiched Despite Chief Commissioner Gurdwara Elections directions against entertaining politicians if they come with bulk registration forms Electoral officers are feeling sandwiched between the commission’s directives and whims of SAD leaders. Though they are supposed to verify the authenticity of claims being made by the applicant, politicians are pressurising them to accept the forms in the bulk.
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World Blood Donors Day
Ludhiana, June 14 These observations were made by Dr GL Avasthi, director, medical services, SPS Apollo Hospitals, while speaking at a function to mark the World Blood Donors Day here today. He said recruiting and retaining young donors would not only improve the long-term safety and sufficiency of a country’s blood supply, but also would promote safe and healthy lifestyles. Youngsters unable to donate blood can volunteer their services as advocates and play a valuable role by helping in securing safe and adequate blood supply. “The 2010 global campaign focuses on young donors, with the slogan-new blood for the world. It hopes that a new generation of idealistic and motivated voluntary unpaid blood donors will form a pool that provides the safest blood possible for use wherever and whenever it is needed to save life. In events and activities around the world, youth will be the focus of the day.” Emphasising the need to promote voluntary blood donation, Dr Hitish Narang, consultant, transfusion services, said, “We hope that the World Blood Donors Day will create wider awareness about the importance of voluntary blood donation and encourage more people to become regular blood donors.” “The purpose is not to attract a big influx of new donors just on June 14-the World Blood Donors Day, but it is designed to celebrate and thank those individuals who voluntarily donate blood without any reward, except the knowledge that they have helped save lives, particularly those who give blood on a regular basis two, three or more times each year,” he added. Rally
TI Project for intravenous drug users organised a candle rally in cooperation with Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle and Helping Hands to mark the World Blood Donors Day here today. The rally, sponsored by the Punjab State AIDS Control Society, commenced from Dr DN Kotnis Acupuncture Hospital on Tajpur road, passed through Gurudwara Nanaksar, Shingar Cinema road and culminated at B-zone office of the municipal corporation. Speakers at the rally, including Poonam Kapoor, Paramjit Singh, Upender Singh and Dr Inderjit Singh, remarked that HIV/AIDS was spreading in Punjab at an alarming rate and efforts were required at various levels to create awareness among people against the incurable disease. He said the community as a whole, especially the religious and educational institutions, could play a vital role in educating and making people aware about HIV/AIDS.
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Natak mela on social ethos
Doraha, June 14 On the inaugural day, a play written and directed by Sompal Heera entitled “Katha Rukhan Te Kukhan Di” was staged. It basically focused on rapid deforestation and female foeticide. In it a girl child is compared to a tree, which if brought up with care and affection, can spread the same warmth around. On the second day, another play entitled “Bal Bhagwan” written by Sawdesh Deepak and directed by Samuel John, Peoples Theater, Lehra Gaga, was staged. It’s a satire on the so- called modern day ‘babas’, who in the name of religion, take advantage of rural folks’ ignorance by misguiding them and indulging in all sorts of malpractices. “Kuch Tan Karo Yaar” written by Pali Bhupinder and directed by Malkeet Rauni, director Chetna Manch, Chamkaur Sahib, was staged on the concluding day. It hits those who generate unemployment by their fraudulent and corrupt practices and the ones who accept it as their adverse fate, never striving to fight for their right due.
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Felling bothers green body
Ludhiana, June 14 It has demanded that thrice the number of fallen trees must be planted to safeguard the environment. This message was conveyed at a function organised by the body in coordination with the Indian Doctors for Peace and Development, Punjab State Council for Science and Technology and Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Department here last evening. Major Sher Singh Aulukh (retd), president of the jatha, said the participation of people had to be made effective otherwise there would be serious ecological consequences. Dr Arun Mitra, general secretary of the jatha, cautioned that global warming was a pointer to the seriousness of the issue. “An American, due to his/her lavish lifestyle puts 36 times the load on environment as compared to an average Indian. Even though the US is the biggest polluting nation, it is not ready to share its responsibility to set things in order,” he stated. Dr Rajinder Pal Singh explained the problem of environment in agriculture, particularly after the entry of genetically modified terminator seeds. He urged people to adopt new methods for rain water harvesting. The other speakers included BK Gupta, joint commissioner, municipal corporation, Tarsem Singh, SDO, and Dr GP Mangla, district epidemiologist.
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Bhopal Gas Tragedy
Ludhiana, June 14 District chief of the Bhartiya Janata Party Rajiv Katna, who also joined the protest, said the disappointing verdict in the case which was delayed for more than 25 years, was also attributable to the state government headed by Arjun Singh and the Congress government at the Centre. He said it had now become more than clear that the Congress government had sided with perpetrators of crime against Indian people rather than providing succour to the victims. Both Katna and Kapoor maintained that the Congress party owed an apology to the nation for letting slip Warren Anderson, head of the Union Carbide Corporation, from India after the drama of his arrest on arrival at Bhopal after the disaster. “The Indian government ought to take up the matter for extradition of Anderson with the US government so that he could be tried.” The BJP and BJYM leaders said the case of Bhopal gas victims had become weak after the main culprit (Anderson) was let off a few hours after his arrest on the orders of the then top functionaries of the state and Central government. “Not only this, in a most shameful manner, the UCC chief was escorted to Delhi in a government aircraft which further goes on to prove that the then chief minister had given permission for this act, and had also directed one of the ministers or top officials to accompany Anderson.” They said the whole issue had several unanswered questions, and a high level probe was called for to bring out the real truth before the people.
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A couple recently bought a three-month-old Labrador pup from a friend. The pup was as anxious in its new home as were its masters with a new addition in the family. As expected, the pup refused to eat for the first three days. Anxious, the couple tried hard to feed it with milk, bread and biscuits but in vain. Poor civic amenities
Even though the mega city, also called the industrial capital of the state may take pride in making huge contribution to the state and national economy by way of the industrial and farm produce as well as mammoth exports of hosiery and engineering goods in the global market, city residents continue to be deprived of even the basic civic amenities. Almost without exception, the major and feeders roads are in extremely bad shape, quality of drinking water supplied by the municipal corporation is suspect, sewerage network is far too inadequate and about the storm water sewerage, the less said the better. Not only this, no efforts are being made to replenish the fast depleting green cover in the city. There is an acute shortage of parking spaces even in the busy and upmarket commercial centres and no traffic regulation worth the name. Will the civic administration look to the basics please? Language spoils dish
Language problem at times taken interesting turn. May be due to inadequate vocabulary actual meaning is not conveyed properly. Members of a team visiting foreign country could not help laughing when one of their colleagues rejected a particular dish as according to him it was non-vegetarian. Though two members of the team, who happened to be strict vegetarians, had been looking for any vegetarian preparation in lunch, the one who was asked to place order declared that there was none in the menu. When other members found a dish labeled ‘eggplant’ he promptly reacted, “You all know I am a strict vegetarian.” How could I take something containing egg? FIFA fever
FIFA fever has not only gripped South Africa but the entire world. Youngsters are hooked on buying accessories like T-shirts, sweat bands, footballs and many more. Some fans are even getting tattoos of FIFA etched on their bodies. Ludhianvis are crazy, be it cricket or any other sports they try to enjoy it to the maximum. Some kids are even sleeping on the pillows in the shape of football. Not only this, even the social networking site like Facebook are full of comments regarding the world cup football. Some are favouring one team others are posting comments against it. A literal war is going on Facebook apart from the matches that are going on the grounds. SMS joke
An SMS joke making rounds takes a dig at the municipality for not being able to supply clean potable water. The joke reads: Teacher to a student: What is the chemical formula of water? Student: H20+ MgCl2+ CaSO4+ AlCl3+ KOH+ HNO3+H2SO4+HCl+CO2 (while the formula of water is H2O). Angry teacher asks the student why he is not able to remember a simple formula only to be corrected by the student," This is the formula of water supplied by the municipality that comes with dangerous impurities.’’ Funny signboard
Signboard outside a clinic in the city says: “Charitable ladies check-up". Will some enlightened reader tell us whether the ladies going for check-up ought to be charitable or the check-up is charitable. Contributed by Charu Chhibber, Kuldip Bhatia, Mahesh Sharma and Manav Mander
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Malwa printers seek regional associations
Ludhiana, June 14 “The printing industry needs more debate and discussion. We are at a crossroads in terms of the new printing technology, changes in customer marketing and challenge to print. We need to band together to develop new markets, print products and ideas-and convince the world that prints is still an important and viable form of communication,” said Chopra. Printing coupled with the packaging industry is the second largest sector in the world. But, he said, in India this sector is an unorganised one, there should be an association in each region, he stressed, so that we can discuss and solve the problems faced by this industry. “The time is ripe. We can look at the export potentials of the Indian printing and packaging industry especially when it is seen that European buyers are looking at the Indian market. To reap the benefit of export we need to work in cluster, he added. Our next target should be the printing and packaging cluster,” he said. Keeping these points in view, on the initiative of Chopra, printers of the Malwa region decided to form an association-‘Malwa Printers’ Association, and constituted nine-member working committees on the spot for the purpose. The members of the working committee are, Jaswinder Bhatia (Muktsar), Ram Gopal (Jaiton), Naresh Dhuria (Abohar), Ravinder Bugla (Faridkot), Ravi (Malaut), Vinod Kumar (Rampura), Navdeep (Kotakpura), Jaswinder (Goniana) and ML Mittal from Bathinda.
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Labour shortage forces women to enter arena
Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 14 Paddy growers, who are facing an acute shortage of migrant labourers, have started engaging Punjabi labourers in paddy transplantation. As traditional farm labourers are busy with other agricultural chores and a majority of men folk are not ready to take the risk of losing jobs by staying away from their normal duty for many days, women folk from these families have taken to the paddy fields. A survey by The Tribune revealed that a number of Punjabi labourers, predominantly women, had undertaken paddy transplantation in fields of small farmers, who could not afford to engage migrant labourers specializing in the job. Though groups of Punjabi labourers did not receive labour charges equal to those being quoted by the migrant labourers, they could earn about Rs 400 each per day by working for longer hours in the day. While migrant paddy transplanters demand anything between Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,200 per acre on pretext of higher viability of saplings, their Punjabis counterparts get Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,800 for an acre. Dhani Ram from Patran district, who along with six other members of his clan is camping at Pandori village in Sangrur district, said the group earned about Rs 2,800 by transplanting paddy on 1.5 acre in a day. Claiming that their work was in no way inferior to that of migrant labourers, Dhani Ram said they took care of sapling more seriously as they were answerable to farmers even after transplantation is over. “Have they done some diploma in paddy transplantation which we do not have? Rather we have more knowledge about agricultural chores,” he regretted. Besides women labourers, women of small and marginal farmers of Khurad, Lohatbaddi, Brahampur, Rachhin, Chhanna, Jandali Khurad, Kanganwal, Rohira, Baurhai, Dehliz and Maherna were seen transplanting saplings in their fields.
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Humble pitchers still in use
Khanna, June 14 The pitchers have also found their way into houses of middle and upper middle class people. Potters say that the sale of pitchers increase at the time of power cuts. “There was a rise in sale last year due to frequent power cuts and people would buy pitchers to keep water cool. Even now, the pitchers are used in government institutions, schools and at public places,” Shahid, a potter, says. However, the number of potters has reduced considerably. The prices of pitchers range between Rs 20 and Rs 50. Lack of black clay, used to make the pitchers, over the past few months has affected the work, but potters in Khanna are still able to sell three to five pitchers a day. Besides spending Rs 800 to Rs 1,200 per trolley of black soil, they also have to buy paint which costs Rs 40 to 45 per kg.
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DMCH doctors fume, but give in
Ludhiana, June 14 While the DMCH management and authorities claim that the decision (to bring about change in timing) has been taken after taking the college council-comprising all heads of departments-in confidence and keeping in view the larger interest of the institution, the majority of the doctors maintain that a decision which affects the entire faculty, ought to have been taken in consultation with the extended council which has the representation of all senior faculty members. Confirming the change in the schedule, Dr Daljit Singh, principal, DMC, said the decision was taken to achieve better patient care and improve the availability of specialists and super-specialist doctors. He said the college council had duly endorsed the step, and further that nobody appears to have raised any objection to the new timings. Discontentment and mild resentment might be brewing among the faculty members of the hospital over what they term as additional burden on already overworked doctors, but they seem to have given in to the diktat of the management, as a senior faculty member requesting anonymity put it. “Even though faculty members are unhappy over the revised timing, but nobody is going to utter a word in protest against the decision, at least for the time being,” observed the doctor who formerly headed a department. The secretary of DMCH managing society was not available for comments.
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From Schools A grand finale of the summer camp that started on May 24 was held at Model Town. The event was held under the aegis of Parkview Recreation Club to honour the winners. The summer camp was held to nurture and encourage multi-faceted talent among children of various age groups during their summer vacations. Activities like karate, art and craft, guitar, spoken English, western dance and bhangra were held during the camp under the guidance of qualified instructors and teachers. Bedi disclosed that the camp was a unique exercise and an enriching experience. The atmosphere at the concluding function was charged as children and parents enjoyed various fun-filled activities. Deepinder Kaur, a teacher at Sacred Heart Convent School, Sarabha Nagar, and Sukhpal Kaur, principal, GNIDT, Model Town, presided over the function. — TNS
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Man held with illegal liquor
Khanna, June 14 The police said the accused was arrested during a naka near Kishanpura village. A case in this connection has been registered against the accused who was later released on bail. In another incident, the police arrested a resident of Guru Nanak Nagar with 10 grams of smack. The accused has been identified as Ajit Singh who was arrested following a tip-off. A case has been registered against the accused. Meanwhile, the police has also booked two persons, identified as Tony and Sandeep Sharma, both residents of Guru Ramdas Nagar. In his complaint, Lalit Joshi alleged that the duo entered his house and stole Rs 4,100. Two held with pistols Two persons were arrested for possessing country made pistols and four cartridges. The police intercepted a motorcycle bearing registration number of Ludhiana and throughly frisked the two youngsters. A 315 bore pistol and four cartridges were recovered from them.
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11 booked for land-grab bid
Mullanpur Dakha, June 14 The police reached the spot and arrested Raja Deol from the site. The others managed to escape, leaving behind a tractor. The police has booked the accused under various Sections of the IPC. Raja Deol was later granted bail by the SDM (West). Raja Deol, however, stated that he was in Ludhiana at the time of the incident and was about to have dinner when the police came to his house and took him to the police station and arrested him. He claimed that he had bought the land in question from co-sharers of the complainant. Satnam Singh also accepted that a co-sharer had sold his share of land to Raja Deol, but that was only about 8 kanals while Raja Deol was trying to occupy the entire 4.5 acres.
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Table Tennis Meet Our Sports Reporter
Ludhiana, June 14 According to a communication from DR Choudhary, secretary general, Table Tennis Federation of India, Paramjeet Singh will officiate during the tournament which is a test event for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi towards the end of this year. This is for the fifth time that Paramjeet Singh has been nominated to perform the duties at an international meet. Earlier, he acted as an umpire in the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship held in 1994 at Hyderabad, 11th Asian Junior Table Tennis Tournament in New Delhi in 2005, ITTF World Junior Circuit Table Tennis Championship held in 2008 at Pune and 15th Asian Junior Table Tennis Championship held at Jaipur last year.
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Patiala restrict Ludhiana to 201
Ludhiana, June 14 Batting first after winning the toss, Ludhiana could not make use of favourable conditions, as they were restricted to a modest total of 201 runs in 84.4 overs. Sunny Pandey was the top scorer with 45 runs, while Akhil Aggarwal and Gurinder Hara contributed 31 runs each and Shivam Passi chipped in with 19 runs. Jashan Preet Sidhu remained unbeaten at 20. Patiala began their reply on a cautious note and at draw of stumps were 18 for one in 10 overs. Vikram was out for 9. Ludhiana’s Jashan Preet Sidhu gave away just three runs and captured one wicket.
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Satinder pockets two silvers
Ludhiana, June 14 According to Sanjiv Sharma, an athletics coach with the Punjab Sports Department, and who is also Satinder’s trainer, this upcoming player has retained his second position for the third consecutive time in a senior national level meet. Satinder’s performance in Bangalore and Chennai has been taken into consideration and he has been selected to represent the country in the upcoming Senior International Athletics Competition which is the All-Asia Star Meet scheduled to be held in New Delhi on July 30.
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The worried woman called her friend while her husband was still coaxing the pet into eating. As soon as she hung up the phone, the woman broke into a Shakira song. A little uncomfortable, the husband looked up in disbelief at his wife who pointed towards the pup. Their pet had finally started eating the bread and the milk kept in a bowl. Apparently, the couple's friend was a big Shakira’s fan and was fond of this particular song and often sang it to the pup as she fed him. The dog had become so used to it that in the absence of the song, he simply refused to eat.