The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Faulty online system retards Treasury office functioning Untrained staff adds to the problems, government asks staff to work longer PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 26 Resentment prevails among the employees of the Treasury Department as the online system launched by the state government to compute daily transactions here has failed to deliver the desired results so far. A slow and faulty Internet system as well as an untrained staff are said to be the reasons behind the failure of the system. This has not only resulted in inordinate delays in the completion of work but has also put extra burden on the staff members here. The state government has allocated the Rs 112-crore project on a contract basis to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for a period of five years. The main server office for the project is in Chandigarh. The government has ordered the extension of working hours of the Department as well as directed the employees to stay until late to complete the work. They have been asked to put in more work without any incentives, members of the Punjab State Treasury Employees Association alleged. "Due to the slow and tardy functioning of the Internet system, the transactions through the Department have been affected. The situation is grim in all the Treasury Departments of various districts in the state," said Manjinder Singh Sandhu, the general secretary of the district unit of the association. The system has started functioning and only two persons have been appointed so far to insert all the transactions from all the districts, said Sandhu. "Officials of the respective Treasury Departments had to go to Chandigarh for the insertion of the budget. The employees of the department do not know how to operate the system nor the persons appointed at the Chandigarh office have any experience of the functioning of the treasury office work, turning the whole system into a mess," he said. "Further, due to the slow speed of the server, the employees had to work in the office till late in the evening, yet they find it difficult to finish the work," Sandhu said. Expressing their resentment, the members of the Treasury Department had given a 10-day ultimatum to the government. However, ignorant attitude of the government towards their problems have enraged the employees who have threatened to go on a two-day pen-down strike in the state from October 4. They have urged the state government to re-introduce the older system or find a solution to the problems being faced by the Department staff. The state government has allocated the Rs 112-crore project on a contract basis to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for a period of five years. The main server office for the project is in Chandigarh.
	A walk to remember down history lane First heritage walk to be launched by Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board today in holy city Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 26 The holy city of Amritsar would glide into the rare club of old cities in the world known for holding heritage walks to showcase the old world charm of a city and focus attention towards the fast-disappearing culture and heritage on September 27. The Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board (PHTPB) has hired two guides Rajwinder Kaur and Ravinder Kumar to make the event a success. The walk will start every morning at 8 am from the Town Hall and culminate at the Golden Temple at 10 am. The previously decided 18 heritage sites have been curtailed to 14 to save time, reduce distance, and prevent tourists from getting exhausted. A 3 km walk would take the visitors to a guided tour of the city, criss-crossing through a maze of narrow roads. The walk covers key religious, historic, architectural and traditional cuisine spots. It would help to showcase the old town. Tourism minister Hira Singh Gabaria would perform the inauguration, while Principal Secretary Tourism Geetika Kalha would be present alongwith the officials of the department. Initially, the heritage walk would be free of cost. Later, tourists would have to buy tickets to be a part of the guided group. Indians could buy a ticket at Rs 25 while the same ticket would cost a foreigner Rs 75. Tickets would be available at tourist information centre at the Golden Temple, railway station and airport. Besides, a plan is to be made available for them at hotels in future as well. Nationally acclaimed expert Debashish Nayak, who introduced the heritage walk in old town Ahmedabad, chalked out the heritage route of Amritsar on behalf of the PHTPB. At present, he is working as the adviser to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s heritage programme. With this, a long-pending demand of pilgrims and tourists to see and feel the interiors of the walled city would be met. Earlier, the foray of pilgrims and tourists into the walled city was limited to paying obeisance at the Golden Temple. Once the walk is introduced they would have the opportunity to understand heritage, culture, traditions and the way of life of the old town, which was established by Guru Ramdas and nurtured by Guru Arjan Dev and later by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Touching base with culture Beginning from the British-era Town Hall, the heritage walk would proceed to Saragarhi Gurdwara, Quila Ahluwalia, Chowk Jalebiyan Wala, Akhara Sangalwala, Akhara Chitta, Darshani Deori, Baba Bohar, Thakurdwara Dariana Mal, Chaurasti Attari chowk, Taksal, Radha Krishan Mandir, Crawling street, Puratan Rasta, (Ancient passage), and conclude at Akhara Brahm Buta. The biggest challenge for the administration is to provide clean and hygienic lanes and to make the garbage lifting efficient. Loose and hanging wires belonging to various departments, including Powercom, BSNL and private satellite cable network are another challenge which is yet to be met. Spruce up the heritage route: INTACH The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has welcomed the introduction of heritage walk in the holy city but expressed its dismay at unsatisfactory action plan for the same. INTACH state convener Dr Sukhdev Singh said the INTACH had identified the heritage walk route in the walled city and printed a brochure regarding this a decade ago. He said since then thousands of tourists, both Indians and foreigners, have walked with the volunteers of INTACH’s Amritsar chapter on the heritage route. He said the authorities never attempted to provide proper civic amenities and cleanliness on the route. He said the walk could be successful only if the administration provided clean roads, efficient sewerage facility. The electric wire mesh should be tackled in such a way that it does not cover the face of these buildings. He also urged the government to save heritage buildings from being destroyed. He held property disputes among the families as another reason behind these buildings being slowly destroyed. He suggested that the owners of old buildings must be provided loans at low interest rates to preserve these buildings and these buildings must be exempted from house tax.
	On paper, play badminton on a handball court at GND varsity GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 26 One cannot rely on a press release issued by the Guru Nanak Dev University authorities it seems. Not only is the information given in it erroneous such as a badminton tournament being held in a handball court, the officials conducting the tournament do not also have complete information about the same. So callous is the approach of the university, which has repeatedly approached the court with its claims on the coveted MAKA trophy. A press release about an inter-departmental badminton tournament, held in the indoor multi-hall in the campus on September 20 stated that the same had been conducted in the handball court. The heading of this press release in Punjabi, 'clearly' indicated that the badminton tournament was held on the handball ground and detailed the conclusion of the badminton tournament with the headline 'Guru Nanak Dev University de antar-vibhagi handball mukabale samapann'. (GNDU's inter-department handball tournament contests end). These tournaments are held for various sports disciplines under the supervision of varsity's Deputy Director, Physical Education, HS Randhawa. He failed to provide correct information of the number of teams or the players taking part in the same. This is besides the lapse committed in describing the badminton tournament as having been held on the handball ground. “It was a badminton meet but how was it mentioned to be played on the handball ground is a serious lapse. I would have to check from where the lapse occurred and certainly, it required attention," he said. The information given in the press release did not detail even the name of the team bagging the second place. Randhawa said, "It is understood. The losers against the first position holders were placed in the second position." However, the inter-department sports tournament is a platform which showcase the best players who could later find a place in the campus team for the inter-college sports tournaments, yet there was scant mention there about a player Mudit who had won all the ties, he had taken part in. OFFICIAL SPEAK If it is so then, it was a glaring mistake which should not at all be taken up in such a casual manner. I will intervene and question the officials concerned about the lapse on their part. — INDERJIT SINGH, REGISTRAR, GNDU
	INFLATION TAKES A TOLL ON TRADITIONAL LANGOOR MELA GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 26 To mark the beginning of the Navratras, Amritsar’s Bara Hanuman temple is all set to host the ten-day "Langoor Mela", commencing on Wednesday and will continue until Dussehra. People from far off places, even from foreign countries, visit this temple during the mela. Around 5,000 boys as well as some adults are expected to adorn the attire of “langoors’. They roam around the temple bare-foot from morning till the evening. It is believed that this is the only temple where childless couples come to pray for a male child. These "langoors" in their red tunics and conical red caps, embellished with gold and silver motifs, are a sight to behold. Their faces are smeared with fuller's earth in order to make them look like langoors. They would also attach a big tail to complete the look. Pt Radhe Shayam Shukla said the devotees pledge to dress their child as a ‘langoor’, which signifies devotion towards Lord Hanuman. “When their wishes are fulfilled, they come here during the Navratras, along with the blessed child. The parents or the devotees sleep on floor, observe fast, avoid footwear, eat vegetarian food and recite verses from Ramayana during the entire period. The mela concludes with Dussehra when the boys finally take off their outfits near the banyan tree. It is said that it is the same banyan tree to which Sri Hanuman was tied by the Luv and Kush,” he said. Those who cannot afford a new ‘langoor’ outfit can buy old ones which are available at the special langoor wala karma (room) at a nominal price of Rs 50. Bansi Lal Bahri who runs a shop ‘Bahri Tailors’ said the inflation has cut down their enthusiasm in preparing ‘langoor’ outfits. “I have been into this profession since 1948. I joined this shop as a novice and later started my own tailoring shop. Now, the prices of raw material, like satin cloth or other decorative strips, are rising and the profit has been reduced. Due to this reason, my son, although he is a trained tailor, has chosen another profession. Yet, I am sticking to this profession out of sheer devotion,” he said. Ajai Sharma of India Tailors said, “Three years ago a ‘langoor’ or Hanuman dress used to come for Rs 150 or Rs 200. Now it costs more than Rs 400.”
	High VAT stumbling block in tourism growth: Hotel panel Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 26 The Punjab Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRA), and Amritsar Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHRA) have urged the state government to take certain steps to promote tourism in the state, especially in the holy city. The PHRA chief patron Paramjit Singh said that 13.75 per cent VAT was a stumbling block in the growth of the hospitality industry. He said high VAT deters small lodges and restaurants to device ways to evade the tax. He demanded that on the line of Himachal Pradesh the tax should be reduced to four per cent. He said the move would attract more and more hotels, lodges, restaurants and even dhabas to pay the tax. He sought better connectivity in shape of buses, trains and flights to the state. He said Amritsar had an international airport but it needed more domestic and international flights for tourism to flourish. He handed over a memorandum containing these demands to Principal Secretary, Tourism, Geetika Kalha. A major demand was that the government must develop sites in and around Amritsar to prolong the stay of tourists in the holy city. The short stay of tourists and a number of unrecognised lodges and guest houses are causing low-occupancy blues to recognised players in the hospitality industry, said the AHRA General Secretary APS Chatha. He said a number of hotels, including five-star ones, with investment of crores were under construction. Six hotels, including a five-star deluxe property, were raised here with a total investment of Rs 232.36 crore over six years. Besides, an array of hotels, high-end to low-budget, have come up but they needed regular customers to avoid incurring of losses due to a low-occupancy rate. He said pilgrims visiting the holy city from across the globe shirk from staying overnight. He claimed that barring six days in a year, the occupancy rate did not exceed 40 per cent on an average in the city. He said the government had invested crores to develop Pul Kanjari as a tourist site but a direct bus was yet to be introduced on the route. Similarly, the wetland at Hari Ke Pattan in Tarn Taran district could be developed for tourists but the government had not chalked out any plan as yet. Menu of demands Seek a reduction in VAT from as high as 13.75 per cent to four per cent on the lines of Himachal Pradesh. For tourism to flourish, the city needs more national and international flights from the Amritsar airport.
	Khalsa College gets A grade from NAAC, honours its teachers Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 26 Adopting a novel way to celebrate its ‘A’ grade certification by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), the local Khalsa College today honoured its teachers at a specially organised “Felicitation Function” to mark the celebrations of the award. The teachers who are the backbone of any educational institution were overwhelmed by the gesture of the Khalsa College Governing Council (KCGC). The organisers said they thought that it was high time that the contribution of the teachers was recognised. The NAAC had once again awarded ‘A’ grade to the 119-year-old college, recognising its prestigious standing in the field of education. The organisers congratulated the teachers, principals and the auxiliary staff for working tirelessly to enable the college to get the honour. The KCGC President Satyajit Singh Majithia, Honourary Secretary Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, vice-president Charanjit Singh Chadha and others were present to confer the honours on teachers. “No doubt your dedication to the work and college having standard infrastructure have earned us this grade and this must further motivate us to work more in the future to reach newer heights,” said Chhina. The college principal Dr Daljit Singh said the college had been surging ahead to become the premier institution in the field of education as the merit positions attained by the students were increasing and the extra- curriculur activities, including NCC, NSS, sports and cultural events are bringing laurels to the institute too. He said they have strengthened the science laboratories at the cost of Rs 60 lakh and over 50 students from Jammu and Kashmir have taken admission in various courses this season. A peer team from NAAC, Bangalore, comprising its Chairperson Prof. V Gopal Reddy visited the college campus last fortnight paving the way for the grade. During their visit, the team interacted with the members of various faculties and inquired about their research work, research papers, publications and plans for future development. On the first day of their visit, the team had an interaction with the students so as to learn about their views regarding infrastructural and academic facilities.
	5 booked for assaulting 2 women Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 26 The Cantonment police has booked five persons, including the husband and in-laws of a woman who was allegedly brutally assaulted by the accused. Simarjit Kaur, the complainant and a resident of Mohini Park area and her mother sustained injuries from sharp-edged weapons and were rushed to a private hospital where their condition is stated to be stable. The police has registered a complaint under Section 307, 452 and 34 of the IPC against the victim’s husband Amritpal Singh, father-in-law Pargat Singh, mother-in-law Manjit Kaur, Sukhwinder Singh and an unknown person. She alleged the accused attacked her and her mother with sharp-edged weapons at their house. Both sustained grievous injuries. The accused fled thinking they were dead.
	Man slits throat of co-worker’s wife, booked Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 26 The police has booked Gurjit Singh, alias Happy, a resident of Naushehra Khurad village, for allegedly attempting to kill a woman. The victim is wife of a coworker of the accused. Gurjit allegedly slit the throat of Suman, wife of Shankar, a mason with a sharp- edged weapon on September 18. The police has registered a case under Section 307, 452, 506 of the IPC in this connection and a manhunt has been launched to nab the culprit. According to the complaint lodged by Shankar, the accused used to work with him and he started coming to his house even in his absence. On September 18, when he returned home he found Suman lying in a pool of blood with her throat slit. Before falling unconscious she named the accused. She was rushed to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital where her condition is stated to be out of danger. Sohan Singh, SHO, Sadar police station, said the respiratory pipe of the victim got slit and thus she was unfit to record a statement with the police.