|
|
|
|
Safeguarding interests of Punjab industry
AIDS
Train(ing)
Polluted waters play spoilsport to Chaat Puja celebrations
|
|
|
Sub-divisional hospitals to have Jan Aushdhi stores
Man hurt, wife dead as car hits bike
Contractual paramedical, health staff demand pay parity
Life, preaching of Baba Sein Bhagat to be included in PSEB syllabus
Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan speaks at a function on the birth anniversary of Baba Sein Bhagat at Partappura village in Phillaur on Sunday.
Photo: Ashok Kaura
Cheater booked for getting job on another man’s certificates
|
|
Safeguarding interests of Punjab industry Our Correspondent
Phagwara, November 7 Grewal, who has recently been appointed, while talking to newsmen here today, said he would ensure and take required steps to facilitate the industrialists to prevent the migration of some of the industries to neighbouring states, attracted by the subsidies being given by the neighbouring state governments. He said about 3,000 industrial plot holders were being given an additional two-year period to commence production. The extension would be allowed on payment of extension fee at the rate of 1 per cent of the current reserve price of the plot per year as applicable to the focal point concerned. Grewal disclosed that the transfer of industrial plots in focal points had also been simplified. He said PSIEC had also done away with the system of recovering a component of transfer fee at the rate of 3 per cent of the current allotment price of plot. It shall now charge only nominal processing fee at Rs 10 per sq yard instead of transfer fee and issue NOC/permission to sale. He further said corporation had also allowed third party mortgage of industrial plots. Initiatives 3,000 industrial plot holders were being given an additional two-year period to commence production. The transfer of industrial plots in focal points had also been simplified. PSIEC had also done away with the system of recovering a component of transfer fee at the rate of 3 per cent of the current allotment price of plot
|
||
|
Red Ribbon Express reaches Nawanshahr
Our Correspondent
Nawanshahr, November 7 A rousing welcome was given to the train, which had the slogan “Zindagi Zindabad” inscribed on it, by local MLA Jatinder Singh Kariha, Deputy Commissioner Shruti Singh, SSP Narinder Bhargav, MN Sharma, assistant director, Punjab AIDS Control Society, Civil Surgeon Dr Rakesh Gupta and DEO Darshan Kaur, accompanied by representatives of different NGOs, teachers and students here. Activists of the local Blood Donors Council (BDC) took out a Red Umbrella Rally from the BDC Complex to the railway station to mark the arrival of the train. Students of the Government Senior Secondary School presented a cultural programme to mark the inaugural function. Activists of NGOs Upkar, Sankalp Welfare and Awareness Society (SWAS) and Helping Hands Charitable Trust were also seen during the inaugural function. Besides, two EIC vans were also flagged off by Kariha and the DC. The EIC vans would spread awareness in the villages of the district by organising street plays and distributing literature. The Red Ribbon Express, equipped with ultra-modern techniques, would remain here for three days. Besides, having four exhibition coaches, there are two counselling and check up coaches in the train. “People, including adolescents, have been coming in good numbers to get general check ups and clinical tests. Some have also been sharing their problems related to HIV, STD and VDRL etc,” said Dr HS Gill, skin and VD specialist and Dr Anuradha Chaudhary, gynaecologist, while answering the query about the impact of the train. “Counselling is being done before conducting tests and if some symptoms of STD/VDRL/HIV etc were found in the clinical tests, another session of counselling would be done,” they added. Dr Paramjit Mann, president of the district unit of the Indian Medical Association, said the train would help in eliminating taboos prevailing among the masses regarding the dreaded disease AIDS. The people, especially adolescents, would get a chance to get the right kind of education required to prevent the disease. Training sessions for the officials of the health department and police and representatives of NGOs were also organised in the auditorium set up in the Red Ribbon Express today. The Blood Donors Council would organise a mega voluntary blood donation camp at the railway station on Monday to spread the message of voluntary blood donation and safe blood transfusion, informed Pushap Raj Kalia, president, BDC.
|
||
|
Polluted waters play spoilsport to Chaat Puja celebrations
Phagwara, November 7 Devotees traditionally performed this puja in nearby canals or rivers. Chhat Puja celeberations begin on the sixth day of Diwali festival. When The Tribune team visited some of the canals near Phagwara, and Nakodar, these canals were found in dry and dirty conditions. “A person cannot stand near the canal in Phagwara due to the bad smell emanating from the place, owing to the garbage thrown in by the people,” said a devotee Shanti, a Bihari migrant. The Tribune found illegal encroachments on canal lands, despite several repeated announcements of the state government to remove illegal encroachments from the lands of the irrigation department and around the canals. When contacted, Phagwara SDM Amarjit Paul told The Tribune on Sunday that the irrigation department has been instructed to make arrangements for the cleanliness of canals and for the release of water in canals well before the Chhat Puja festival, which will begin from November 11 and conclude on November 13. Another migrant labourer Anil told The Tribune that on the first day of three days Chhat Puja, they observe “Naha-Kha i.e. bath and eat” and they take a dip in the canal or river water and carry home the holy water to prepare the offerings. They take only one meal on this day. On the second day i.e. the day before formal Chhat Puja, they observe a fast for the whole day, which ends in the evening, a little after sunset, just after the worship of the earth, the offerings of Rasiao-kheer, puris and some fruits are distributed among family and friends. Anil told The Tribune that from this day onwards, they go on a fast without water for the next 36 hours. Anil said on the third day, they performed evening puja i.e. Chhat Puja of the sunset and offer Aragh to the setting sun by standing in the water. He said on the final day of Chhat Puja, they go to the riverbank before sunrise, in order to make offerings (Aragh) to the rising sun and the festival ends with the breaking of the fast by the devotees. It was learnt that the roots of the festival can be traced to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where sun, the symbol of fertility and prosperity, is worshipped to grant goodwill and protection. The festival has come to the other states, including Punjab, along with thousands of migrant labourers. Women perform the puja for the well-being of their whole family. They seek the blessings of the sun.
|
||
|
Sub-divisional hospitals to have Jan Aushdhi stores
Pathankot, November 7 This would be ensured if the pilot project being undertaken by the state government to open Jan Aushdhi stores, through which generic (non-branded) medicines will be sold at Pathankot and Nabha (Patiala) tastes success. The Gurdaspur Civil Surgeon has received a letter from the Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PSHC) asking him to make arrangements to open a store which will facilitate sale of generic drugs at the subdivisional hospital here. Likewise, the Patiala Civil Surgeon has been asked to finalise arrangements to open a store at the Nabha subdivisional hospital. The government is running Jan Aushdhi stores in all 20 district hospitals across the state. Now the PSHC has decided to extend the scheme to Pathankot and Nabha and if these two ventures taste success, the PSHC will take the stores to all other subdivisional hospitals in Punjab. A Jan Aushdhi Store is already operating in the Gurdaspur Civil Hospital, providing low cost non-branded medicines which are much cheaper than branded drugs available in the market. The PSHC has asked the Gurdaspur and Patiala civil surgeons to send their monetary requirements so that the corporation is in a position to send them the requisite funds to establish Jan Aushdhi Stores at Pathankot and Nabha. While the Jan Aushdhi Store operating at Gurdaspur is being run by the District Red Cross, the ventures to be started here and at Nabha will be handled by the Rogi Kalyan Committees (RKC) of the respective subdivisional hospitals.
|
||
|
Man hurt, wife dead as car hits bike
Tarn Taran, November 7 Sources told this correspondent that the couple was coming back from Jandiala Guru on their motorcycle (No. PB-02 AD, 0198), when it was hit by a car from the back, while they were trying to take a turn towards their village. The driver managed to escape from the spot soon after the accident. The Verowal police have registered a case under sections 304 A, 279, 337, 338 and 427 of the IPC against the driver of the car (No PB-06 C, 3269), allegedly responsible for the accident. Dalbir Singh and his wife Sukhwinder Kaur were admitted to the Primary Health Centre, Mianwind. Sukhwinder succumbed to her injuries at the hospital while Dalbir is under treatment and is said to be out of danger. |
||
|
One killed, 5 hurt in mishap
Phagwara, November 7
|
|
Contractual paramedical, health staff demand pay parity
Amritsar, November 7 Dejected by the government’s move for non-regularisation of various posts, Dharam Singh Patti, convener of Coordination Committee of Paramedical and Health Employees, Punjab, said there had been a wide gap between the pay scales of regular and non-regular staff. “It is pity that in trying times of inflation, the government authorities have paid no heed to our genuine cause. A contractual staff nurse gets about Rs 7,000 against the regular pay scale of Rs 30,000. Similarly, a radiographer’s pay scale is Rs 25,000 per month whereas a contractual one gets mere Rs 4,000. Where does the justification lie,” he questioned. It is to mention that there are about 50,000 paramedical employees in the state out of which over 10,000 have been recruited on contract basis. The contractual employees rued that despite getting clearance from the government, the department has yet not released their 43-month arrears. They also protested the governmment’s move to discontinue the Grade-D (class IV) posts in its health centres and arrange staff through outsourcing. Inderjeet Singh, their spokesperson, said they would hold regular meeting from November 20 and conduct mass rallies throughout the state from December 13 to 24 and gheraoe the office of Director Health Services, Punjab, in Chandigarh to raise their grievances. |
|
|
Life, preaching of Baba Sein Bhagat to be included in PSEB syllabus
Phillaur, November 7 The minister announced a grant of Rs three lakh to run a library in Dera Baba Sein Bhagat in the village. Sekhwan disclosed that Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal would announce setting up a chair in a university in the name of Baba Sein for thorough research on his life in a function scheduled to be held in Chamkaur Sahib on November 20. Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sarwan Singh Phillaur announced Rs 2 lakh for the library.
|
|
|
Cheater booked for getting job on another man’s certificates
Tarn Taran, November 7 Sources told this correspondent here today that the accused got a job as a senior laboratory attendant (SLA) with the certificates of another man Devinder Singh and got a job in 1992. Tarlok Singh of the same village brought the matter to the notice of the police. The matter was investigated by DSP (headquarter) and evidence was collected. The education department has put the services of Mohinder Singh, who was working under the name Devinder Singh, under suspension with immediate effect.
— OC |
|
Crime: Car snatched
Phillaur: Some unidentified armed robbers snatched an Innova car (number PB-10BS-6111) from its driver Varinder Kumar near the railway crossing in Goraya last night. Varinder Kumar told the Goraya police that he was waiting for the opening of the rail crossing when an unidentified person struck and snatched the keys of his car at gun point and sped away in his Innova. The Goraya police has registered a case.
— OC |
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
History, life and preaching of Baba Sein Bhagat would soon be included in the syllabus of the Punjab School Education Board to educate the new generation students, announced Punjab Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan while addressing a state-level function organised on the occasion of birth anniversary of Baba Sein Bhagat in Partap-Pura village here today.
