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Jaundice refuses to subside
Uranium in groundwater does not cause cancer: Research
535 selected for PhD
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Awareness drive on Childline 1098 organised
Elderly couple found unconscious at house
Women protesters lay siege to road
Chinks in girls’ security
at HMV College exposed
All is not well at Kapurthala modern jail
Hindi to be a practical subject at GND University from 2012!
Fun activities bring smiles on special faces
Golf tourney begins
Spare a thought for us too
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Jaundice refuses to subside
Jalandhar, November 20 Rajesh Yadav of the Yadav Mandir Gali in Phase II of Ekta Nagar says, “It has been a month since we have been suffering from the disease. There are eight people in this gali who have been suffering from the disease. The sewage water problem ended for a few days after MC workers visited the area. However, the situation here is back to square one. We often have fights with our neighbours about the accumulation of wastewater on streets. Residents also allege that the water supplied to the area us also not clean and garbage dumps are not cleared on a regular basis. Sonia, a resident of Joginder Nagar, who is presently admitted to one of the local hospitals in the area, says, “I have been down with jaundice for the past four-five days. My cousin living in Ekta Nagar is also down with the disease.” A doctor at a local hospital says, “The patients have decreased, but there is still a steady inflow of patients suffering from the disease everyday. At least two to three new patients are still coming in. There is certainly something wrong with the water being supplied to the area. Until this problem is fixed, we cannot expect things to be normal.”
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Uranium in groundwater does not cause cancer: Research
Jalandhar, November 20 Fly ash from thermal power plants in Bathinda, toxic metals in Budda Nullah in Ludhiana and the use of pesticides do not cause cancer in these areas of the state. Atul Bhalla, Associate Professor of Physics at DAV College, who is pursuing a research on environment and health of the Malwa belt in particular and Punjab in general. He is pursuing his research at Panjab University, Chandigarh. Recently, the findings of the research were presented at a three-day international conference at Singapore. Bhalla presented his paper on 'Elemental analysis of groundwater from different regions of Punjab using Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) technique and sources of uranium contamination'. He said extensive irrigation of rich agricultural land and drinking water supply schemes in the region were mainly based on the available canal water network. "Minimal use of ground water as compared to the canal water is further leading to accumulation of chemicals in the groundwater, which was a plausible cause of cancer," he added. "The use of phosphate fertilizers in the cotton cultivation in the Malwa belt has been further adding to the contamination, hence the problem. Even industrial waste discharged in the open had been increasing the concentration of chemicals in the groundwater," he added. Bhalla along with his researcher Dr J.S. Shahi from Panjab University, Chandigarh, also pointed towards the significant presence of Bromine in the groundwater of the Malwa belt, which if present in the form of 'Bromate anions' is highly toxic for humans and carcinogenic. Based on the findings of his research, Bhalla also advised more use of groundwater and less use of phosphate fertilisers in this region. “Even the owners of industrial units and agriculturists also need to be taught about environmental hazards caused due to untreated effluents discharged in the drains, solid waste thrown in the open and poor working conditions of the workers," he said. He said an environmental firm under the College of Engineering and Petroleum, Kuwait University, which was also part of the Singapore conference, has expressed their desire to hold workshops and short-term certificate courses for the industry people. "GEO Environmental Consultation, Kuwait, is keen to hold these awareness programmes and we have forwarded the proposal to the college principal. Even we are looking forward to work in this direction as the aim is to create awareness about environment protection in this sector," he said. Bhalla along with his research team collected water samples from villages of Bathinda, villages at the boundary of Nawashahr and Hoshiarpur, surrounding regions of Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Power Plant in Bathinda, various locations of industrial waste in Budda Nullah drain in Ludhiana for his research.
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535 selected for PhD
Jalandhar, November 20 A total of 1,238 candidates had applied, out of which 1,106 were issued roll numbers to appear in the test. As many as 132 candidates got exemption from the entrance test, on the basis of GATE/UGC-NET qualification. A total of 831 candidates appeared in 15 disciplines in the test. The result was declared soon after and made available at PTU’s website. A total of 535 candidates have qualified for the PhD programme. Neha Sekhri of chemistry has topped by securing 81 per cent marks.
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Awareness drive on Childline 1098 organised
Jalandhar, November 20 During the week, the orphan children at the Nari Niketan along with their in charges went to schools, public places, police stations and spoke about the Childline, its role and significance. The children also tied friendship bands on the wrists of police personnel, thereby seeking their help in the hour of need. Meanwhile, the children read Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s message on the Right to Education Act in the morning assembly of the schools. The orphan children highlighted the need for providing quality education to every child in the country.
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Elderly couple found unconscious at house
Jalandhar, November 20 The couple - 76-year-old Surjit Singh and his wife 73-year-old Kuldip Kaur - are owners of Sethi Industry on Hoshiarpur Road. The incident came to light at 9.30 am when a female domestic help, Pooja, knocked at the door but got no response. When she entered into the house, she was stunned to see them lying unconscious in the bedroom. Pooja raised the alarm and apprised residents of the area about the incident who later informed the police. Residents of the area said the couple was alone in the house last night as their son Davinder had gone to attend a wedding function in Delhi. The police found the whole house ransacked and things were lying scattered inside the bedroom. The police said jewellery of the couple was also found missing.Station house officer, Police Division No. 6, Kewal Krishan said it seemed the couple was given some drugs or poisonous substance in their food last night. The SHO said the couple was still unconscious in the hospital and they were not in a condition to say something. The couple was undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the hospital. The coupe had engaged the Nepalese servant two months ago only. Assistant Commissioner of Police Jasveer Rai said: “Since the servant is missing, the police cannot rule out the possibility of his involvement in serving poisonous food to the couple. We are also checking our record to see whether the whereabouts of Kesar Nepali were registered with the police or not,” the ACP said. |
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Women protesters lay siege to road
Jalandhar, November 20 While many commuters remained held up in the traffic jam, others somehow managed to change their route and avoid the snarl-u. It was a long wait for commuters at these busy junctions of the city. Activists of the Midday Meal Workers’ Union, Punjab, Part-time Stitching Teachers’ Union, Anganwari and ASHA Workers Union and Honorarium and Coordination Committee raised anti-government slogans for not enhancing their monthly wages. The union members first gathered at the Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall and later dispersed for the rally at these roundabouts. A wedding party, which was crossing through the ISBT, was left looking for an alternative route, but in vain. “We had to reach Jamsher village for the wedding on the outskirts of Jalandhar Cantonment, but we were late by around one-and-a-half-hour. The district administration and the traffic police should inform in advance about the protests and dharnas in the city so as to avoid trouble for daily commuters,” said Ramandeep Singh, a member of the wedding party. Another commuter Gundeep Singh, who along with his wife was carrying along their six-month-old baby, had to face a tough time waiting in the traffic jam. “It was virtually a nightmare as our baby kept on crying in that rush and we had no option but to wait till the logjam was over,” they added. Many commuters said thankfully it was Sunday today, else the rally would have led to a long traffic jam in the city. “BMC Chowk, BSF Chowk and the ISBT are the key junctions of the city and had they planned the rally on any working day, it could have been major hurdle,” said one of the commuters. |
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Chinks in girls’ security
at HMV College exposed
However, in an attempt to hush up the matter, the college authorities did not inform the police about the incident. When contacted, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Central Naresh Dogra said: “I came to know about the incident from you as the college authorities did not inform the police.” Sources said a Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA), Part II, student Ankita (name changed) turned major just a fortnight ago. A permanent resident of Chowk Mehta in Batala of Gurdaspur district, she reportedly had an affair with a boy of the same locality. Confirming the incident, her mother Naina raised questions about the safety and security of hostellers of the college. Naina said: “We managed to contact her a day after she ran away from the hostel on Tuesday. She is now with us and we have arranged her marriage with the boy she had eloped with. The college authorities, however, failed to give a satisfactory reply when I questioned them about the security of girls in the hostel.” HMV College principal Rekha Kalia Bhardwaj could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. Initially, when The
Tribune When this correspondent again called her after sending her an sms, the call was responded. However, when asked about the incident, the women who responded to the call said she was the principal’s daughter. “My mother is away and will return within a next few minutes. I will ask her to call you as and when she returns.” However, this correspondent did not get any call after that.
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All is not well at Kapurthala modern jail
Jalandhar, November 20 Today’s incident of violence by jail inmates has exposed the chinks in the security of the modern jail. The earlier two incidents - escape a murder convict and the death of a prisoner under mysterious circumstance - are indications that all is not well in the jail. Had the jail authorities learnt any lesson from the earlier two incidents, they might have avoided violence on Sunday by strengthening the security. Interestingly, the murder convict, Karan, alias Ghuba, of a village in Ludhiana had escaped from the jail on November 11. Though he managed to escape from the jail on Friday afternoon, the jail authorities came to know about the incident only when routine counting of prisoners was done on Friday night. Initially, they tried to find him in the jail. When jail officials lost every hope, a complaint was submitted a day after the incident at the Kotwali police station by Deputy Jail Superintendent KS Teji. Subsequently, an FIR was registered on Saturday. Denying any involvement of the jail staff, jail superintendent Surinder Singh attributed it to the negligence of some of the staff members on duty. The jail superintendent said: “The prisoner may have escaped from the jail under the guise of a labourer as some construction work is still on in a portion of the jail and several labourers are working there." When asked how the prisoner managed to flee under the garb of a labourer as according to jail manual, no outsider could enter the jail without a special mark on his hand and he was allowed to go only after showing that mark, he said: “That’s why I am saying he managed to escape due to negligence of some of the staff members on duty." According to jail sources, the convict managed to escape after a fight with two other prisoners - Jagdish and Surendra - over an issue on Friday evening. At that time, two members of the jail staff were on duty. Karan was earlier lodged in the Jalandhar Central Jail located near Basti Adda from where he, along with other prisoners, was shifted to the modern jail in Kapurthala a few weeks ago. He had killed a person in the area falling under the Jalandhar Cantonment police station. An FIR was also lodged against him two years ago at the Jalandhar cantonment police station. A city court sentenced him to life term. The district police had written to jail authorities to provide it the CCTV footage of corridor of the jail but they did not even provide the same so far. A few days later on November 16, an ailing prisoner, Makhan Lal, of Bolina Doaba village in Jalandhar district was declared brought dead at the Civil Hospital in Kapurthala. While his family members alleged that he had died due to lack of proper medication, jail authorities said he was referred to the Civil Hospital in time.
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Hindi to be a practical subject at GND University from 2012!
Jalandhar, November 20 Reason: The university has proposed a new subject combination for the academic year 2012-13 in which Hindi has been kept under the category of practical subjects. The varsity has suggested six new subject combinations and Hindi has been included only in three categories. The varsity has done away with the existing subject combination of English as a compulsory subject at the BA level along with Indian languages - Hindi, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Bengali, Urdu, Farsi, Tamil, Assamese - and foreign languages - French, Arabic, Russian and German. According to the proposed combination, Hindi will be part of practical subjects like fine arts, home science, physical education, computer and music and other such subjects, thereby reducing the chances of Hindi subject aspirants.
The proposed move has drawn flak from Hindi lecturers from colleges across the city. They said this would adversely affect the existence of the subject. Taking a strong notice of the proposal, Hindi lecturers from different colleges of the city would be meeting Vice-Chancellor of GND University Dr AS Brar to discuss the matter. They would also hand over a memorandum to the VC in this regard. Dr Balvendra Singh, a Hindi lecturer of DAV College, said, “If implemented, it will lead to a big loss to students as well the subject. Hindi is a language and it should be kept in the previous category along with Punjabi and other Indian languages. This is a major flaw and the varsity should rectify it at the earliest to avoid a loss to the language.” Another Hindi professor from the local Doaba College, Somnath Sharma, said: “Whether Hindi or Punjabi, languages should get their due. Hindi is the national language and if the new subject combination is implemented, it will harm it. We are already facing an acute shortage of students who prefer to take up Hindi and to add upon it, the varsity has introduced a draconian measure.” The lecturers also pointed out that since the students prefer practical subjects for a better percentage, they would never go in for Hindi as a practical subject, which is a big threat to the language. “The chairperson of the department of Hindi, Dr Sudha Jitendra along with other lecturers from Amritsar will also join us tomorrow at the varsity for an early solution to the problem,” they added. |
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Fun activities bring smiles on special faces
Jalandhar, November 20 President of the club-cum-Jalandhar Divisional Commissioner Anurag Verma was the chief guest. The commissioner gave away prizes to the winners while a special lunch was also organised for the special children by the Gymkhana Club. Verma said there is need to bring in a new perspective that will enable people with disabilities live as one among us, with as equal rights and responsibilities. “The children with special needs also have equal rights to study, play and enjoy life. We will involve Gymkhana Club in more social causes,” he added. Amarjit Anand, from Chanan Association said the association was a parent’s action group for rehabilitation of mentally retarded children and that the NGO had been working for special children for a long time.
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Golf tourney begins
Jalandhar, November 20 Parminder Sehgal, president of the company said, “Shipra World Invitational Golf Series is a huge draw for golf fans in Jalandhar as it has witnessed some of the established names of the city teeing off here today.” “Looking at the response we are planning to make this an annual event and will continue to work with the PAP Golf Club management to help in the growth of professional golf in the region,” said Tarun Mehrotra, president, Sales and Marketing. |
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Spare a thought for us too
Jalandhar, November 20 This has made a cross section of men envious of the fairer sex as they claim that everyone is simply talking of the latter’s right, no has ever given a thought to the problems that the men have been going through. They feel that while the women get all the sympathies from the family as well as the society, the men cannot even shed their macho image and give an outlet to their
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Fresh jaundice cases in the Rama Mandi area of the city have belied the claims of Municipal Corporation and the Health Department officials.
Almost a month after the disease first spread its tentacles in the Rama Mandi area, jaundice still refuses to die down as area doctors report that they are getting at least four to five cases daily with hospitals also reporting some cases.
Jalandhar, November 20
Traffic was held up at the busy BSF Chowk, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Inter State Bus Terminal
(ISBT) and BMC Chowk this afternoon when scores of women protesters from different unions held a state-level rally in the city.
Jalandhar, November 20
Gymkhana Club organised ‘Badhte Kadam’, in partnership with Chanan Association here today. Children with special needs took part in competitions like moulding and fun
colouring. As many as 40 children along with their parents were part of the event, which was supported by National Trust as a part of its national campaign for awareness regarding the mentally retarded children.
Jalandhar, November 20
Surinder Mittal, state general secretary, World Human Rights Protection Council, says, “It is not at all uncommon to see people laughing whenever a married man tries to express his problems or says that his spouse or in-laws are torturing him. Everyone may find it funny, but it is a sad reality that as many as 61,453 married men have committed suicide in 2010 in contrast to 31,754 married women, which is just half the number.” He said: “The insanity, unconstitutionality and the male-hatred inherent in the marital laws of India is no longer a new thing. There is a dire need for a drastic rationalisation and de-genderisation of the marital laws in India. Section 498-A of the IPC of the Dowry Prohibition Act has become a weapon for women to destroy husbands and their families and most of the families are being ruined due to misuse of this Act only.”
Advocate Rajinder Bhatia too feels on the same. “Women have all laws in their favour, be it on dowry or eve-teasing. There are stringent laws against the men in both the cases. As per law, there have to be sexual harassment committees in all state and Central government offices. As of date, women do not have to face any discrimination anywhere. They are educated and well aware of the rights. In fact, it is the men who rather have to make more adjustments with their ‘better not battered’ halves.”
Rajneesh, a public relation officer at the PTU, agrees on the point, “Men very often have to make more adjustments. I have to do it as ours is a nuclear family and my wife Rama is working. I sometime have to take off from work to care of my two-and-a-half-year-old son Saksham, especially when our maid takes off unannounced or my wife is to return from college late owing to some university duties as was today. So, that’s how I have celebrated the International Men’s Day.”