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Govt largesse to pvt middle schools
Association made easier; RTE not binding on such schools
Ludhiana, April 17
State education minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan yesterday termed private middle schools (from classes I to VIII) as “associate schools”. With the rule passed by the state government, students studying in private middle schools will now be considered as “regular” students and can get admission to any government or affiliated school.
RTE activists sore, cry foul
Ludhiana, April 17
Right to education (RTE) activists have opposed the decision of the state government to consider private schools as “associate schools”.
Non-performing industrial units drain on banks
Ludhiana, April 17
The “sickness” of the industry in Punjab is on the rise and the accurate index is available from banks. In Canara Bank, the non-performance accounts (NPAs) level of the industry has been mounting. It was 3,308 in 2007-2008 and rose to 4,263 in 2009-2010.
Similarly, in Allahabad Bank, the number of NPA rose from 1,626 in 2007-2008 to 1,875 in 2009-2010.
Admn prevents Sunday ‘car bazar’ from functioning
Ludhiana, April 17
In the wake of the Punjab & Haryana High Court’s order prohibiting the holding of a "car bazar" at the city’s Feroze Gandhi market, the district administration under heavy security cover ensured the bazar did not function on Sunday. The bazaar had been a regular feature at the market for the past 27 years.
Youths attack trader, flee
with Rs 15,000
Ludhiana, April 17
In yet another incident, two motorcycle-borne youths attacked and snatched Rs 15,000 from a businessman in the Model Town Extension area late last night.
Illegal no-parking boards choke traffic
Ludhiana, April 17
The Municipal Corporation (MC) has turned a blind eye towards building bylaw violations, causing the city to turn into a concrete jungle.
No-parking boards put outside a house on college road and a mall (right) in Ludhiana. Photos: Inderjeet Verma
Bicycle cops to patrol old city streets
 Ludhiana, April 17
In what appears to be another move to help cops control their bulging waistlines, nearly 50 bicycles that were gifted to the local police at cycle expo held last month, will be put into use for patrolling congested areas in the city. The bicycles had been kept at the Police Lines ever since they were handed over about three weeks ago.
“Yes, we’ve decided to distribute the bicycles among cops for use in patrolling in various city areas, which we’ve identified”, said deputy police commissioner Yurinder Singh.
’84 anti-Sikh Riots
Victims block traffic, burn effigies of Cong leaders
Ludhiana, April 17
Up in arms over repeated attempts by certain Congress leaders to rub salt into the wounds of victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, members of a large number of riot-affected families, led by activists of the Danga Peerit Welfare Society, blocked vehicular traffic at Dugri canal bridge here today.
Riot victims burn effigies of Congress leaders HS Hanspal and Sajjan Kumar at the Dugri canal bridge in Ludhiana
on Sunday. Photo: Inderjeet Verma
Deferment on passage of funds
MC working out way to get development works going
Ludhiana, April 17
After deferring a decision on the estimates for development works put on agenda for the finance and contracts committee (F&CC), officials of the cash-strapped municipal corporation are now scratching their heads to evolve a formula to pass these estimates owing to political pressure.
 Wheat Procurement
Orders to step up arrangements in grain markets
Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 17
Anticipating a glut of wheat in grain markets of the region during coming days, Sangrur Deputy Commissioner Kumar Rahul has directed the rank and file in the state and central procurement agencies to make extra arrangements for procurement and lifting of the commodity.
Officials led by Sangrur Deputy Commissioner Kumar Rahul inspect a heap of wheat at the grain market in Ahmedgarh on Sunday. Photo: Mahesh Sharma
Tubewell operators
Info on boards nowhere in sight
Ludhiana, April 17
Municipal corporation authorities take elected councillors for granted, as even after the General House had passed a matter regarding the fixing of index boards outside tubewells to inform residents about operators, the matter is still hanging fire.
 inclement weather
Farmers pray for divine intervention
Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 17
Upset over the damage caused to the wheat crop by the recurrence of rain accompanied by high-velocity winds that lashed many parts of the region, farmers are praying for clement weather in the days to come.
Damaged wheat crop after rain accompanied by high-velocity winds lashed areas around Mandi Ahmedgarh. Photo by writer
Reform in education system must, say experts
Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 17
Expressing concern over declining moral values and ethics and lure of money creeping into the education system, laureates and thinkers of the region have called upon the educators and authorities to launch a coordinated movement to save the future of students by imparting them quality education and practical knowledge.
Students present gidha during a seminar at Kilaraipur, near Mandi Ahmedgarh.
Photo: Mahesh Sharma
76 students honoured
Mandi Gobindgarh, April 17
While addressing management students of RIMT here on Friday, VM Trehan, from Mekaster Group of Companies, said: “We all work for success in life, but normally it is seen that when we are successful, we tend to move away from humility. As a result we are in fact heading towards failure.”
Tributes paid to Dr Ambedkar
Ludhiana, April 17
The employees of the state government paid tributes to Dr BR Ambedkar on his 120th birth anniversary at a function held at the local Punjabi Bhawan here.
During the function held under the aegis of the Dr Ambedkar Mission Employees Federation Punjab, leaders of the organisation Chanan Singh
Jassal, Resham Lal Sidhu, Paramjeet Chumber and Hussan Lal honoured the students who had appeared in merit list of classes VIII to XII.
RL Sidhu, president, Dr Ambedkar Mission Employees Federation, Punjab, addresses a gathering to mark the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar in Ludhiana on Sunday.
Photo: Inderjeet Verma
Infighting within SAD unit to the fore
Faction walks out of CM’s sangat darshan
Khanna April 17
Infighting within the local unit of the SAD came to the fore today when a group led by senior leader Davinder Singh Khattra left the Sangat Darshan programme of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal after some members of the group were denied entry to the venue.
121 persons donate blood
Ludhiana, April 17
Followers of Sri Ram Sharnam organised a blood donation camp in association with Salaam Zindagi Foundation, an NGO, to celebrate the birthday of Satyanand
Ji. At least 121 volunteers came forward to donate blood.
Senior Deputy Mayor Parveen Bansal (left) donates blood during a camp in Ludhiana. Photo: Inderjeet Verma
from schools
World Haemophilia Day
PCMSA demands special haemophilic patients’ cell
Ludhiana, April 17
The Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) has demanded a special haemophilic patients’ cell, with a record of patients of the region, to provide easier access
to healthcare for this high-risk group.
Travelling on highway is at commuters’ own risk
Many a time, an eight-seater tempo, loaded with 25 passengers, can be seen wobbling on the highway. There is no accountability of any department or authority to check this violation and nobody is ready to own responsibility to govern traffic on the highway.
CM okays monument to Bhai Randhir Singh
Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 17
Responding to the demand raised by residents of the area, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has announced the construction of a monument to Bhai Randhir Singh.
MC claims on roads the pits
Ludhiana, April 17
Despite tall claims of the municipal corporation (MC) authorities regarding the proper monitoring of roads, today’s showers once again exposed the poor working of the civic body as the presence of a large number of open pits posed a grave danger to residents.
Pits on the cemetry road in Ludhiana. Photo: Inderjeet Verma
Gang of snatchers busted, two held
Ludhiana, April 17
With the arrest of two drug addicts, the city police have claimed to have busted a gang of snatchers, which had spread panic in the Jamalpur and Focal Point areas with their repeated strikes.
Govt has betrayed us, claims technical union
Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 17
Accusing the state government and the management committee of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited of betraying them over decisions taken at the time of the bifurcation of the erstwhile Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), activists of the Technical Service Union threatened to revive their agitation in case thier grievances were not redressed.
Man with rare ailment operated upon
Ludhiana, April 17
A local hospital has provided relief to a patient suffering from severe pain, caused by three
kidney stones.
Man held for theft at temple
Ludhiana, April 17
A man was caught red-handed while stealing a crown from a temple located in the division No. 3 area yesterday. The incident took place last evening when the accused, Munish Kumar, a resident of Khud Mohalla, stole the crown from a temple. Some devotees spotted Munish with the crown and raised the alarm. The accused was caught and thrashed before being handed over to the police.
Visually-impaired sportspersons demand coaches
Ludhiana, April 17
Punjab's visually impaired sportspersons are demanding coaches in their respective districts.
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Intermittent rain along with heavy winds lashing the region during the past 24 hours may have brought cheer to city residents but farmers in villages have voiced apprehension over their matured wheat crop.
