Hoardings or posters on public or government property is a violation of norms. All such hoardings and advertisements will be removed. Even if it is on a private property, it requires prior permission. In any case, the defacement of government or public buildings will not be tolerated.

— Rajat Aggarwal, deputy commissioner-cum- district electoral officer

Amritsar, December 28
There seems no money-back guarantee for the local Government Medical College as it is constantly pleading with the state government to get back Rs 8.25 crore, which were collected as user charges at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital.

Guru Nanak Dev Hospital is a clinical training institute for the students of Government Medical College and user charges collected at the hospital are given to the college to manage its daily expenses.

The state government had started applying cuts on the money collected as user charges before forwarding the funds to the college. The year after year cuts has resulted in amount of Rs 8.25 crore pending against the state government.

Sources say during the last financial year, Guru Nanak Dev Hospital had collected Rs 6.29 crore as user charges. But the state government only forwarded an amount of Rs 5 crore to the college.

The funds collected as user charges are used by the college to purchase medicine and other things on the basis of the daily requirements. Even the expenses incurred on the cleanliness and security of the vast premises are adjusted out of this fund.

Even as the college has sent repeated communiqués, the funds are still lying with the state government. “The state government has the moral duty to finance the medical college. Instead it is applying cuts on the funds that belong to the college,” said a senior faculty member at the college.

Government Medical College Principal, Dr SS Shergill said the college authorities have asked the state authorities concerned to release the funds as soon as possible. He said, “We have to look for money even for our daily needs. The college needs more funds that are allotted for it presently.” He said out of the total Rs 5 crore given to them, Rs one crore was spent on PESCO security and Sulabh hired by the state government. “The remaining four crore are not enough to manage expenses for a year,” he said.

Amritsar, December 28
There are many who still believe that quacks are better than doctors in Amritsar. Quacks, claiming prowess in dentistry, have a flourishing business in the city which has two reputed dental colleges-cum-hospitals --- Guru Ramdas Dental College and Government Dental College.

Even as there are laws to check quackery, the makeshift dental clinics of these quacks are no secret here and these can be seen at several important places in the city.

Whether it is near the local railway station, outside the Golden Temple or bus stand, these quacks can be seen curing people of tooth ailments while sitting on a bed sheet. With most of their tools resembling that of a scooter mechanic, these doctors are preferred by the illiterate and the poor. From filling of the teeth to fixing dentures or removing the teeth, these quacks even claim surgical skills.

Joginder Singh, a shopkeeper near the railway station, said, “I have noticed that only poor people who cannot afford treatment at dental clinics at hospitals come to these quacks. When a patient comes to them, they do not let him go easily.”

The poor people because of their ignorance fail to file a complaint even if they fail to get the ‘promised relief’.

A victim of such a quack, Gurdial Kaur said, “The quack had pulled out three of my teeth instead of one. And he did that without giving any medicine to numb the nerves. As the pain did not subdue even after 10 days, I visited a dentist.”

There are more like Gurdial Kaur who fall pray to the sweet talking by these cunning quacks. Another one Parshant Mahajan, resident of Putlighar area said, “Most of the people at a later stage repent their decision of visiting a quack. The medicines which one such quack gave me were steroids. The fellow did not know that such medicines are dangerous for patients.”

We have not received any complaint against these quacks. We will issue directions for action against such quacks for benefit of the general public

— Dr Avtar Singh Jarewal, civil surgeon, amritsar

Amritsar, December 28
The police has arrested two persons allegedly involved in robbing labourers hailing from other states of their belongings and earnings. However, one of their accomplice escaped from the spot. Those accused are Bablu, a resident of Nangali and Kali of Bhaini Gillan. Their third accomplice Sonu of Naushera Colonia dodged the police and ran away.

The accused plied auto-rickshaw. They allegedly looted Ravinder Sahni of Maqboolpura area and took away his mobile phone and Rs 400 in cash after brutally beating him up. The police also recovered a sharp-edged weapon from them.

Amritsar, December 28
Various city-based NGOs have formed a civil rights group ‘Joint Effort’ to awaken electorates regarding use of their voting right in the forthcoming Assembly election in the state.

Members of the Joint Effort began an awareness campaign as part of their efforts to reach out to the maximum number of people. Holding banners and buntings they gathered outside Hall Gate and distributed pamphlets.

The NGOs, which have come together for the campaign, include Amritsar Vikas Manch, Awaaj Foundation, Bharat Gian Vigyan Samiti, Folklore Research Academy, Global Institute for Childhood Disability, International Welfare Association, Kiran Society, Lok Kalyan Samiti, Mission Agaaz, Saathi, Tarksheel Society and Terrorist Victims Welfare Manch.

The pamphlets are in Hindi and Punjabi languages aimed to motivate the electorates of the holy city to take part in the election process. Urging the residents not to waste the opportunity by sitting in their houses, the pamphlets also state if they fail to vote then they should not crib for the next five years. These also state that before casting their votes, residents must understand the personality of the candidate as well as evaluate the manifestoes critically to fathom their seriousness on social issues. The pamphlets also exhort voters not to cast votes in return of alcohol, money or other concerns.

Convener, Joint Effort, Dr Sham Sunder Deepti said members of the civil rights group will hold demonstrations and distribute pamphlets from today till January 30 in various areas of the city. He said the members of the group will try and contact as many people as possible to motivate them to vote. He alleged that political parties and leaders from the city had the tendency of indulging in unethical practices like distributing cash, liquor and other services in return of earning ballots. He said it was high time for the people to change the trend.

Amritsar, December 28
For someone who believes in living dangerously or not living at all, mountaineering, off roading, biking, trekking, sky diving are just routine activities. Enjoying a group hug at a height of 5000ft, keeping the spirits high at temperatures lower than -10 degree or putting the Man Vs Wild episodes to practice in real life. Amritsar has no dearth of adventure seekers who dare to be different in their passion and persuasion. Setting aside the closed mindsets of a culturally docile society with their out-of-box leisure activities, the holy city has made space for some adrenaline rush. Or so the bunch of adventure loving volunteers and professionals believe.

We start with Anand Sandesh, a adventure sports professional and expert, who has been running adventure activities through an institute. Coming from an Army background, adventure was in his blood, “I spent most of my childhood in Assam, where my father was posted. Growing up in the lap of nature pumped my adventure instincts and it soon became my passion. I shifted base to Amritsar five years back and since then have been organising adventure expeditions,” says the 31-year-old adventure professional. “I have covered the Dalhousie-Chamba-Manali stretch on foot and it took me seven days. Apart from that I am regular participant in such activities held in Maharashtra, Bangalore and Gujarat.” Not to mention he recently celebrated his birthday at 12,000 ft camping somewhere in Dhauladhar Range. “Adventure is something that I do for myself. Given an option between holidaying in Las Vegas or camping in a remote jungle in unknown place, I would choose the latter,” says Anand.

His action packed pursuits invited attention from more such like-minded people from city. Anand organizes expeditions on a regular basis and Varun Malhotra is always game. “Such activities give you thrill and are something to remember by throughout your life. But they can be harsh if you are not prepared. Each expedition takes at least two months of training and planning. One has to study everything right from the climate to natural conditions and resource management,” shares Varun, who is a professional. But then the thrill of trying out the extreme is what keeps you going, “I make sure that I take at least 10-15 days off to satisfy my adrenaline urges.” And what about physical fitness, “That’s not an issue. We have people as old as 60 year old in our group who can trek or climb 12,000 ft Everest base Camp,” says Anand. Both are now planning to go for the first ever sky diving event being held in the country in Gujarat.

Another high point here is that the city has girls running ahead of boys when it comes to living on the edge. Ask Kuldip Kaur, 24 year old Msc student from GNDU who has been tasting adventure for the past six months now and wants to pursue it further. “The entire experience is great when you are on your own, natural instincts working overtime and living primitively away from the city life,” she says. Shunning the luxuries of her cosy home, she has no qualms in admitting she likes it better. “You get to know how tough you are physically, mentally and all.” But then she does feel the need for a little awareness, “The city has no clue about what exactly adventure is. For them a bonfire fits into the category quite easily. We need more such efforts to prove we are not just a foodie’ paradise but also show some dare devilry.”

Anand too shares his opinion, “Punjab is gradually changing in its adventure activity profile but then it still lacks the right attitude and means. Talking of Amritsar, the city refuses to shun its luxuries but it does show potential given the right options.”

Amritsar, December 28
The seriousness of the government in creating awareness among general public for consumer rights can be assessed from the fact that a fund of over Rs one lakh meant for the consumer awareness groups has not been disbursed even after four months.

It is learnt that the District Food and Civil Supplies Office received a fund of Rs 1,06,000 more than three months ago to disburse among the various consumer awareness groups in the holy city.

Dev Raj Sharma, director, Amritsar Consumer Welfare Forum, an NGO, said, "The funds should have been distributed among the organisations working for creating awareness, but the funds are still lying with the administration."

He said the NGO has taken up the matter with the various officials but to no avail.

"When we contacted the administration officials, we were asked to procure the bills stating expenditure incurred on these awareness programmes," he said adding they expressed their inefficiency to procure bills in back date.

He said the administration is required to disburse the money so that consumer awareness groups could extensively run the campaigns to educate general public.

He said fund would be reverted back in due course of time without serving the purpose for which it was issued.

Dev Raj Sharma said, "Hence we have decided to do without the government funds. Our members in the NGO are kind enough to spend from their own pockets." To celebrate the National Consumer Rights Day, the Amritsar Consumer Welfare forum organised a function at DAV Public School Hall Gate to create awareness among school students on December 24. The Consumer Protection Act 1986 was enacted on this day. Major GS Gill (retd), president, NGO, said, "There is a need to run extensive awareness campaigns to educate consumers as frauds and misdeeds with consumers had increased in numbers."

District Food and Civil Supplies Controller (DFSC) Dr RK Singla and District Food and Civil Supplies Officer (DFSO) Anoop Sharma did not answer phone calls.

Amritsar, December 28
City lads Sumit Singh Padam and Hargun took part in the recently concluded 136th Shri Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan in the senior category competition at Jalandhar. Sumit won the first position in sitar (classical instrument non-percussion category) while Hargun was adjudged first in the junior category (vocal) for her performance in classical singing.

A DAV College student, Sumit weaved magic with his performance on the sitar. He was adjudged first among 20 participants selected from all over India. Sarod players Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan, sons of ace Sarod player Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, gave them the prizes.

He has been learning sitar since his childhood from his father Jasbir Singh Padam, professionally a music instructor at BBK DAV College. He comes from a family dedicated to classical instruments in general and sitar in particular. His grandfather Sohan Singh Padam used to play sitar at All India Radio.

Sumit was accompanied on the tabla by Ustad Ajay Sehgal, an artiste at AIR, Jalandhar, during his performance at the sammelan.

Having bagged the first position in the competition, he qualified to perform as a main artiste on the main stage of the next edition of Harivallabh sammelan. A DAV Public School student, Hargun mesmerised the audience with her rendition of raag Madhuwanti in Teen Taal. She received a gold medal and a citation for her performance.

Amritsar, December 28
Women hockey team of Khadoor Sahib College beat Chandigarh Academy 2-1 in one of the four matches played on the fourth day of the 9th ONGC All India Maharaja Ranjit Singh Junior Gold Cup Hockey Tournament being held at Guru Nanak Dev University hockey ground today.

Chandigarh’s Rani scored a field goal in the 12th minute of the game while Baljinder of Khadoor Sahib scored an equalizer in the 38th minute. In the 53rd minute, Shikha helped her team take the lead by scoring a forceful goal.

Punjab National Bank Academy Delhi beat Namdhari Academy 2 goals to one. Captain of PNB Academy Ashishpal converted a penalty corner into a goal in the 21st minute. Ranjit Kullu put the PNB in the lead through a goal following a penalty corner in the 39th minute. Harpreet Singh of Namdhari Academy scored the first goal for his team in the 55th minute.

Amritsar, December 28
Daljit Kaur, a student of BA second year of Khalsa College for Women (KCW), won a gold medal in the recently-concluded Senior National Boxing Championship held at Puducherry.

She won the medal by defeating India’s top boxer, Sarita Devi in the semifinal. She defeated her following a fierce fight. Upon reaching here Daljit was felicitated by College Principal Dr Sukhbir Kaur Mahal.

Dr Mahal credited the success to her hard work, her coach Baljinder Singh and thanked the college sports wing in-charge Tajinder Kaur and District Sports Officer Sukhbir Kaur Johal for their contribution to make the budding boxer Daljit, a champion at the national level.

Daljit Kaur said she was happy over her performance and was now working hard for the upcoming Inter-University championship to be held in January. She said after this, she will be preparing for the National Boxing Camp to be held at Bhopal (MP). Her goal is to represent the country in the Olympics.

Amritsar, December 28
The police raided a residential complex near Jawala Floor Mills in Islamabad area and arrested three persons allegedly involved in gambling and recovered Rs 26.10 lakh from the spot.

Those arrested are Baldev Raj and Daljit Singh, both residents of Jalandhar, and Gurdeep Singh of Sharifpura locality here.

Five persons, identified as Deepa, Bori, Kali, Sonu and Rajesh, have managed to escape. The Islamabad police has registered a case under relevant sections of the Gambling Act.

Meanwhile, a Swift car, belonging to Manjit Singh, a resident of Harkrishan Nagar, was stolen from Ranjit Avenue on Tuesday. A case under Section 379 IPC has been registered.

Amritsar, December 28
The students of Masters in Tourism Management of BBK DAV College for Women took part in Panj Sarovar walk today. The walk was started by the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board (PHTPB) recently.

Under the supervision of Assistant Professors Neha Bhatia and Preeti Sharma, they were taken for the guided walk by Gurinder Singh. He took the students to the five historic sarovars Santoksar, Bibeksar, Ramsar, Kaulsar and Amritsar.

Students were acquainted with the historical background and the importance of five sarovars. Enroute the students also visited Jallianwala Bagh and Gurdwara Sarangarhi. — TNS