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Gidderbaha’s pride: Sardar, Kalakaar Te Naswar
Labourers busy packing snuff powder at a factory in Gidderbaha. The town has become famous for producing ‘Naswar’. Photo by writer
Contractual staff removed, stage stir
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KVM seeks Green Budget
Man held for posing as SAD leader’s PA
Abohar kinnow grower awarded
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Gidderbaha’s pride: Sardar, Kalakaar Te Naswar
Gidderbaha, March 7 Speaking of Kalakaars (artists), the town takes pride in naming Hakam Sufi, Gurdas Mann, Ashok Masti, Mehar Mittal among others as its own. In the same way, Gidderbaha is also known for its Naswar (snuff) industry that has established its identity worldwide. Snuff is a product made from pulverised tobacco leaves that was introduced as an effective remedy for nasal congestion. Snuff, which is generally inhaled with fingers, is also called smokeless tobacco and comes in many flavours. The trade had a modest beginning here in the early period of the last century but now, the town has around 20 factories manufacturing snuff and some of them even boast of an ISO certification. Surprisingly, tobacco is not cultivated around Gidderebaha. The entrepreneurs bring the raw material from the states in the Hindi heartland like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, etc. Despite this, the popularity of Gidderbaha's snuff is not just restricted to India, but has travelled to China and many countries in Europe. Recalling its history, an elderly snuff manufacturer Chiman Lal Wadhwa, who claims to have joined the trade in 1962, says, "The recipe for snuff was first revealed by a saint Baba Ganga Ram Ji to his disciple Khetu Ram Ji, who started manufacturing naswar somewhere around 1910, that was later famous for its brand name 5-photo. To encash the popularity of the 5-photo brand, a number of other factories launched their own products with identical brand names like 6-photo, 7-photo, 2-photo, 9-photo, etc. "While using snuff was fashionable in those days, the manufacturing of snuff accessories was a lucrative industry. The snuff boxes had a wide range-- from basic materials to ornate designs. The success rate of the trade was so high that various members of his family, including my ancestors, adopted this profession and set up factories in the town," said Wadhwa, who produces the 7-photo brand of naswar. Though Gidderbaha has made its name in manufacturing snuff, the industrialists find the business graph declining mood due to a number of reasons. "The arrival of small packets of gutkas, cigarettes and other fancy products has hampered snuff trade in a drastic manner. To plug the gap in diminishing sales we are exploring new markets but it is increasing our cost of inputs," rues the owner of the 6-photo naswar, Vikas Grover. "Though the state government has exempted our industry from VAT in Punjab, still a lot is required to keep this unique industry, the legacy of our forefathers, going," Grover further said. |
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Contractual staff removed, stage stir
Ferozepur, March 7 Most of the protesters were working as sweepers, gardeners, security guards and labourers in the electricity maintenance wing of the college for many years. The college authorities have engaged the employees on contract basis through the labour contractors. The protesters alleged that though the tenure of their respective contacts ended on November 20 last year, the college authorities allowed them to continue in service without reviving the contact. However, on March 3, 70 employees were shown the door and directed by the college authorities to stop performing their respective duties from March 7. They alleged that the college authorities allowed them to continue their work in the absence of any contract to that effect for three months. How could the authorities ask them to leave their jobs now, they questioned. The protesting employees rued that they were being victimised on flimsy grounds. They further said that when they tried to launch an agitation on March 3 after their services were terminated, they were assured by the college authorities that they would not be removed. However, now the college authorities had backtracked from their promise. TS Sidhu, Principal, SBSCET, said as the employees were hired by the college authorities for different jobs through a labour contractor by floating tenders in this connection. So, they could not be allowed to continue after the contract period was over. He said a few of these employees had been asked to perform their duties after a fresh contract had been signed in this connection by the labour contractor and college authorities. The tender in connection with the engagement of other employees through the labour contractor had been floated and was expected to be matured by tomorrow. He further pointed out that as the labourers were not on payroll of the college, they could not be termed as its employees. Meanwhile, the protesters warned to continue their agitation, if they did not get justice from the authorities concerned. |
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KVM seeks Green Budget
Bathinda, March 7 Reminding the FM that it would be her first budget, which she will present in Punjab assembly in the next few days, the NGO mentioned that incidentally, it would also be the last budget of the present SAD-BJP government. "Hence, it is the last chance to show the commitment of your government towards the ecological and environmental health," the letter states. Providing a copy of the letter, executive director of the KVM, Umendra Dutt said, "We have reminded the FM that Punjab is reeling under severe ecological, environmental and economic crisis. There is development chaos in Punjab this has its genesis in shortsighted governance." Mentioning demands to be incorporated in the budget, the KVM wrote for the constitution of a 'Punjab State Environment Commission' as a statutory body separate from the Punjab Pollution Control Board. It should work as the highest agency for all issues related to environment and natural resources. Further, the letter mentions a demand for the Punjab Environment Fund to mobilise resources for environmental tasks and to spread awareness about community initiatives with government establised fund. Focusing attention towards environmental health concerns, the KVM asked the FM to enlarge social security net for support to cancer patients. Further, it asks the government to undertake a widespread and multi-centric epidemiological and environmental mapping through an extensive study and participatory research to assess the magnitude and specificity of ill-health due to contamination of food, water and air with pesticides and other chemical inputs of agriculture. The KVM has also asked for incentives to ecological farmers for not burning crop residue, income as well social security to agricultural families, a Farmers Income Index, institutional and infrastructure support for storage, marketing, procurement and processing of crops, adequate and timely disaster relief and mitigation.
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Man held for posing as SAD leader’s PA
Bathinda, March 7 Police arrested Parmeshwar on the complaint of one Pawan Kumar of Bathinda, who accused him of duping him of Rs 2.75 lakh on the pretext of getting his wife recruited as a government teacher by March 31, 2010. When even after one year, Parmeshwar did not provide the appointment letter, Pawan informed Sarup Chand Singla. Denying that Parmeshwar was his PA, Sarup asked the police to nab him. Meanwhile, a constable Pritam Singh also accused Parmeshwar of duping him of Rs 60,000. — TNS
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Abohar, March 7 Grandson of renowned freedom fighter Kehar Singh Sidhu, Sirbeerinder has done post graduation in Geography from the Punjabi University (Patiala). He never got any mechanical knowledge from any quarter to develop machines. He was one of the 25 farmers of India, who were honoured. “I picked up the concept of developing the machine from the functioning of machine fitted in grading and waxing plants, which have come up in a large number in the region,” claimed Sidhu. — TNS
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This town, located on the Malout-Bathinda road in the Malwa heartland of Punjab, is known for its three main produce — Sardar (leaders), Kalakaar (artists) and Naswaar (snuff).
