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Around 200 youths still stranded in Iraq
Tribune Impact
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Significant fall in dengue cases
Cantt board budget announced; councillors stage walkout
Prices of vegetables decline this week
Will Anna’s Jan Lokpal Bill bring about a radical change in society?
Two arrested in year-old murder case
4 booked for rape attempt
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Around 200 youths still stranded in Iraq
Jalandhar, August 29 Ripan Kumar and Prem Pal of Khojpur village, who returned from Iraq last Thursday, said that the figure is higher than what the Indian media has been highlighting in the reports since the last over a month. “We had managed to flee from the farmhouse on August 13. At that time, not only 40, but over 200 youths, a majority of them from Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, were stuck in the farmhouse, located near Al-Najaf city of Iraq. We were forced there to perform odd jobs, including clearing wreckage of war material from the fields”, said the duo, while expressing gratitude towards the media for highlighting the ordeal of the youths. They claimed that there were many other such places in Iraq where Indian youth are being forced to do hazardous jobs and that too without the salary which was promised to them by unscrupulous travel agents. The tale of woes narrated by the youths is nothing different from what was narrated by a handful of other youths, who have somehow managed to escape from Iraq in the recent past. In a complaint lodged to the Jalandhar Rural Police today, both the victims alleged that they had paid Rs 2 lakh each to a Hoshiarpur-based travel agent after he had offered them the job of carpenter in a reputed company in Iraq. “We had left for Iraq on August 3 and were landed in a town named Erbil. From Erbil, an Indian agent had taken us to Baghdad, where he sold us to an Iraqi agent for $400. The latter further sold us to another local agent for $600”, they alleged. “After spending around 10 days in the secluded farmhouse, which was encircled by a barbed wire fence, we somehow managed to flee from the camp and contacted the Indian Embassy in Baghdad. The officials there facilitated our return”, they added. Police register FIR
Acting tough against the agents, the city police have registered an FIR and booked the agent against whom Ripan and Prem lodged a complaint. SP (D) Gurmit Singh said that the agent named in the complaint has been booked under Sections 406 and 420 of IPC at Police Station
Bhogpur. |
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Tribune Impact
Jalandhar, August 29 The directions were issued within hours of publication of a news-item “SGPC candidates deface public properties” on Monday. Candidates trying their luck from Jalandhar (city) seat for SGPC elections have defied model code of conduct by putting up banners and buntings at public places defacing public and government properties. Bharti directed ROs to make flying squads to check violation of model election code of conduct so that the instructions issued by the election commission from time to time should be monitored properly. DEO further asked ROs to ensure that no candidate trying luck for SGPC elections might violate code of conduct by putting up hoardings, banners, buntings and other advertisement material at public and private properties. The banners and buntings already put up at public and private properties in violation of the code should be immediately removed, he directed.Bharti also directed ROs to take appropriate action against those candidates found defying model election code of conduct. Flying squads District Electoral Officer Bharti directed the Returning Officers to make flying squads to check violation of the model election code of conduct so that the instructions issued by the Election Commission be properly
monitored. |
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The big ad war
Jalandhar, August 29 The contract, which was originally signed in January 2006, has been completely a win-win situation for Shri Durga Publicity while the MC has itself incurred losses to the tune of crores of rupees. Going by the calculations, the officials even have not got its genuine share of the advertisement tax, leave aside a cut from the profit. Favouritism on the part of the officials seems to continue going by the fact that the MC has still not allowed other private companies to advertise on private buildings despite the quashing of a clause in this regard by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in CWP 4948 on August 6, 2009. The officials have been making an excuse that they were still in the process of framing a new advertisement policy, which has allowed the company a considerable time to continue to mint money and make legal ramifications. Further, the MC has been sitting over the decision of its own sub-committee which had found violations of agreements on part of Durga Advertisers. The committee headed by former joint commissioner, MC, Rahul Gupta, had recommended annulment of the contract on September 13, 2007, which is
almost four years back. Even the House had passed the resolution for cancellation of the contract. The annulment, however, came on August 18 but the company has now managed to get a stay through the court on these orders. The leader of the Opposition in the House, Jagdish Raj Raja, claims that he had taken up the issue on several occasions in the House. “Rather than expediting action, the officials have been simply following delaying tactics and putting a dent on the MC income”, he said, adding that it was a major scam which needs to be probed deeply. Mayor Rakesh Rathour, however, claimed that the agreement was done at the time of Congress regime and there surely was a scam involved. “I have asked the Commissioner to pin-point those officials involved in the scam. The officials did not leave many loopholes in the legal part of it and rather used law as a shield. It took us a lot of time getting down on them. In between, there have been litigations and we could not follow up well. Now that there is a stay, we need to get it vacated to pursue the matter further”, he commented. ‘My business is legal; have done nothing wrong’
My entire business was running legally and with due sanctions. It was I who helped the MC raise its profit from Rs 5 lakh which they were making earlier. I have not minted any money. Rather I have been a loser throughout. It is only I who knows how I have made the payment of Rs 18 crore. I have mortgaged my house. The MC has allowed me just 160 unipoles. They have not allowed me to install more unipoles. I even got a foot overbridge constructed for putting an advertisement atop it near the BMC Chowk on a BOT basis. The FOB was removed and I have not been given any alternate site. I have been facing injustice throughout,” he claimed while rubbishing the violations pointed out by MC sub-committees. They have been writing all what they have been told to write. I am a victim of the changeover in the
government. — JK Joshi, Durga Publicity
The agreement
The agreement was signed on January 13, 2006 between M/s Shri Durga Publicity Service through its representative JK Joshi of Amritsar and commissioner MC Jalandhar. MC invited offers from firms for construction of a railway overbridge on Jalandhar-Kapurthala railway line near DAV College on BOT basis. Agency submitted that it will spend a sum of Rs 18 crore on the project in lieu of its sole rights to display 199 unipoles of size 30’x20’, 50 sky signs with total ad space of 8’x60’ and 1500 four sides lollipops 4’X4’ on central verges at different parts of the city for its clients. The agency was also entitled to display kiosks on street light poles of ROB. The firm had been authorized to use the facilities for a period of 11 years. The agreement also cited that the MC would not sanction any more advertisement rights to any other agency and not call any more tenders for direct advertisement rights or on BOT basis against the advertisement rights for five years out of the contract period of 11 years even for any private or departmental building. There will be no bar on display boards of shops and commercial establishments for their own use. The corporation will not charge any advertisement tax, tehbazari or any other tax for the whole contract period.
The amendments
The approved sites
Sites approved by the site selection committee for providing unipoles include GPO CHowk, Namdev Chowk, Skylark Chowk, Guru Nanak Mission Chowk, Model Town Road, Guru Amar Dass Chowk, outside Guru Gobind Singh Stadium, HMV Chowk, Patel Chowk, Kapurthala Chowk, Adarsh Nagar Park, Jyoti Chowk, opposite Lyallpur Khalsa College, BSF Chowk, outside library, outside Ohri Hospital, Nakodar Chowk and Nakodar Road outside Khalsa school. Violations pointed out by sub-committee
The recommendation
The contract be annulled and fresh tenders be called for after assessing the present potential. This will result in re-tendering at better rates and making fresh terms and conditions. The commissioner sent the copy to the government for taking legal opinion and other orders on October 11,
2007.
Litigations and allegations
There have been several litigations against the agreement in the High Court primarily by other advertisers, including Star Enterprises, Add Junction, S&A Adds and Compact Advertisings. Following the judgment in the case of Mohinder Singh vs Punjab government (dated August 9, 2009), other advertisers finally got some reprieve. The judgment mentions that there is no restriction on allowing any other company to install an advertisement board on his private site. They all claim that the RTI Act came as a big help for them. Their grouse
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Course that is catalyst of social change
Jalandhar, August 29 Meet the students of the local Mehr Chand Polytechnic College who have opted for an innovative free of cost “Certificate course in AIDS Awareness and Family Health Education”. The course has been launched by the Ministry of Human Resource Development under the community development scheme during the current academic session. While creating AIDS awareness among the youth is one of the main motives of this course, it is also being seen as a big launchpad for students to bag jobs with National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Anti-Retro Viral Therapy (ART) centres in government hospitals and NGOs. At present, as many as 22 students, all from financially weaker sections are undergoing training in this six-month long course. The students say after undergoing this course their perceptions have undergone a sea change. Chanda, a student said, “It was through a community mela held at our village Maqsudan that I learnt about this course. Moreover, I had always dreamt of becoming a doctor but financial problems restricted my aspirations. This course has given me a chance to realise my dream of wearing a doctor’s coat and it gives me immense pleasure to meet AIDS patients in hospitals”. Another student, Ranjodh Singh was on cloud nine discussing the course and said, “Where on earth one can find free-of-cost recognised courses? We stand a good chance of bagging a job with NACO, ART centres, government workshops and NGOs. I have informed my other friends as well to opt for this course, which is not just informative but job-oriented too”. Principal of the college, Dr Jagroop Singh, said that this is the only polytechnic in the entire state to run this course. “This is a small beginning and we hope to rope in more students next time. Moreover we have the necessary infrastructure and pharmacy labs to teach these students”, he added. Head of the Pharmacy department, S.P.S. Khurana said that the students are being taught about HIV positive cases in Punjab, steps taken by the Punjab State AIDS Control Society, NACO, role of ART centres in counselling the AIDS patients, family planning and welfare, drug addiction and its harmful effects. “In fact, we also take these students on rotation basis to other classes for disseminating information about AIDS and its serious repercussions on society”, he said. Meena Bansal, a lecturer, said that the students have become more confident in talking about the causes of AIDS in the society. “Initially they faced inhibitions but after regularly meeting AIDS patients at the local civil hospital, they are more confident in dealing with such patients”, she said. “We receive grants from MHRD for running such free of cost courses but there is no additional grant available to us to sustain them. The Red Ribbon Express Club is giving Rs 2,500 annually for conducting AIDS seminars while our trainers are getting just Rs 1000 per month as honorarium. This is one of the best courses started by the MHRD and they should ensure its success by providing regular funds”, said Dr Jagroop Singh. It is pertinent to mention here that last year the college authorities had conducted community mela at different villages in the district to inform the rural youth about these courses. Through the scheme of community development the rural youth are motivated to take up free-of-cost courses. |
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Significant fall in dengue cases
Jalandhar, August 29 This figure is quite “satisfactory” as compared to 374 cases, a corresponding figure of month of August last year. Dr RL Bassan, District Health Officer, said all these patients were tested for serology as they have reported with severe decrease in platelet counts. “The indication is satisfactory in itself as only 36 patients with decreased platelet counts were reported this month, against the mammoth figure of 374 in August last year. This is this very decrease in cell count which create panic among the population”, added Dr Bassan. “Though it is quite early to establish that there would be no or a mild dengue epidemic this year, but this month’s figures are quite pleasing and would boost the anti-malarial teams working across the city to prevent epidemic of any water borne disease outbreak,” said Dr Bassan. “We can say it surely only if the dengue cases will remain sporadic in month of September and October,” added Dr Bassan. Meanwhile, two suspected cases of dengue were reported in the city in the past 48 hours. Navjeet Singh, resident of Baba Budha Nagar of Rama Mandi and Vinod Shah, resident of Kabir Nagar, reported to the health authorities with decreased platelet count. “Both the patients were tested positive for IgG and IgM serological tests. However, as per the laid down guidelines, the patients can be tagged as positive dengue cases only after conducting their McELISA tests. It would take two more days to conduct McELISA. However, the patients have already been put on symptomatic treatment”, added Dr Bassan. |
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Cantt board budget announced; councillors stage walkout
Jalandhar, August 29 This morning, the councillors gathered at the boardroom and first held a discussion pertaining to their demand with president of the board-cum-Sub-Area Commander, Brigadier Arup Sen. But before the budget could have been announced, the councillors walked out in protest. The councillors did not get the copy of the budget. The councillors maintained that they argued over a ‘Point of Order’, which they had given during their previous meeting on August 26. It stated that the resolution passed in the previous board meeting regarding ‘Permanent opening of The Mall Road’ should be amended. “We demanded an amendment in the resolution of the previous board meeting, which announced that the road was opened. But, Brigadier Sen refused to amend the resolution, following which we walked out”, said Avinash Chander Sharma, councilor of Ward Number 3. The councillors also added that upon being urged by the councillors and some of the local residents regarding the Mall Road issue, Brigadier Sen maintained that he would take ‘legal advice’ on this issue. “Brigadier Sen clarified that he can declare the Mall Road open for the cantonment residents but not for the public as such. We wanted him to amend the resolution but he did not budge from his stand”, said Nishtha Goel, councilor of Ward Number 1. The CEO of Cantonment Board, Vibha Sharma was not available for comments. Defence PRO, Naesh Vig said: “Traffic is being regulated by the Army. The Mall Road is open for the cantonment residents with valid ID cards and round-the-clock security checks owing to security reasons”. |
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Prices of vegetables decline this week
Jalandhar, August 29 While the prices of all the other vegetables went down, cauliflower was the only vegetable the prices of which went up. Potato, peas and bitter gourd were the vegetables whose prices stayed steady. While cauliflower went up to Rs 40 this week from Rs 30 last week, the prices of potato, peas and bitter gourd stayed at Rs 10, Rs 10 and Rs 25, respectively, like last week. The prices of mint and chillies saw the most dramatic decreases. The prices of ginger, mint and chillies came down to Rs 40, Rs 80 and Rs 25 per kg, respectively, this week from Rs 80, Rs 120 and Rs 40, per kg, respectively, last week. The prices of capsicum and bottle gourd saw a Rs 5 decline this week, coming down to Rs 30 and Rs 25 per kg, respectively, this week from Rs 35, Rs 30 per kg, respectively, last week. The prices of lady’s finger, garlic and lemon went down by Rs 10 each, coming down to Rs 20, Rs 50 and Rs 20 per kg, respectively, from Rs 30, Rs 60 and Rs 30 per kg, respectively, last week. The prices of onions, tomatoes, brinjals and cucumbers came down to Rs 15, Rs 12, Rs 12 and Rs 10 per kg, respectively, this week from Rs 18, Rs 18, Rs 15 and Rs 16 per kg, respectively, last week. |
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Will Anna’s Jan Lokpal Bill bring about a radical change in society?
Kirti Sharma, Student
Minakshi Jerath, employed with a private company Rakesh Gupta, Branch Manager, Jalandhar Central Cooperative Bank Paresh Abhlakshya, Businessman
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Cable operators protest hike in rate by Fastway
Jalandhar, August 29 The cable operators alleged that the Fastway company was increasing its rates without following any rules. Stating that as much as 25 per cent rates have been increased during the current year, they demanded that the hiked rates should be rolled back immediately. |
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Two arrested in year-old murder case
Jalandhar, August 29 Sharma said Gurprit was arrested hours after the arrest of another accused in the case, Parmond Singh. Both the accused were residents of Gobindpura Mohalla. The ADCP-I said both the accused, booked under Sections 302, 307, 324 and 325 of the Indian Penal Code, were absconding since the crime. |
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4 booked for rape attempt
Jalandhar, August 29 RK Sharma, ADCP (City-I), said that a girl named Krishna, resident of West Bengal, landed at the city railway station around midnight and took a rickshaw to go to her sister’s home in Mithapur locality of the city. “However, four youths, all residents of Mandi Fentonganj, had misguided the girl on the pretext of dropping her at her friends’ home. Later, they tried to rape her and dragged her to the obscured corner. She somehow managed to flee from there and lodged police complaint at Police Station Navi Baradari with the help of locals”, added Sharma. |
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Jalandhar, August 29
Anna Hazare has given voice to the common man in the country. Till date, the common man was just cribbing about the system and the major lacunas in it. However, time has come to witness a change. It may take some time but change will surely
come.
No doubt the Jan Lokpal Bill will act as a yardstick for those trying to indulge in corruption. I think that this yardstick, in one way or the other, will remain effective for lower levels in the system. Senior functionaries always try to use their influence to save their
skin.
This crusade emerged as a success because the common man was suffering at the hands of corrupt bureaucrats and politicians. A change was always required in this country. We are glad that Anna Hazare raised the voice of the common man and made the Centre realise that corruption will not be
tolerated.