Endless wait for ‘Shagun’ 
Jalandhar, February 4
Even as the social welfare department started uploading the status of beneficiaries online from August last year, it has failed to provide a grant of Rs 15,000 to beneficiaries under the shagun scheme.

Applicants and beneficiaries of the Shagun Scheme at the Social Welfare Department in the District Administrative Complex in Jalandhar; Photos: Sarabjit Singh

Woman accuses police of inaction
Jalandhar, February 4
Manjinder Kaur, a resident of Rama Mandi, who had accused her policeman husband of trying to set her ablaze, has now accused the police of inaction.

Manjinder Kaur with her children in Jalandhar. A Tribune photograph

Woman held with 15 kg of poppy seeds
Jalandhar, February 4
The city police today nabbed a woman carrying 15 kg of poppy seeds. Acting on a tip-off, the police laid a trap at Harnamdaspura and intercepted Toshi, a resident of Chuharwali locality.

Rickshaw pullers wrap themselves in woollens on a cold Saturday afternoon in Jalandhar. Photo: Sarabjit Singh

10 booked for trespass
Jalandhar, February 4
A group of unruly youths allegedly barged into the house of a woman in Fatehjalal village, smashed windowpanes and ransacked the house, besides leaving vehicles damaged last evening.

Residents show civic body the way
Jalandhar, February 4
Efforts of residents living around the half-century-old Partap Bagh, named after former Punjab Chief Minister Partap Singh Kairon, have bore fruit. The park now has over a 100 trees, 60 benches and rows of flower beds.

from schools 
Wetland Day
Debate and poster making competitions were held at Government High School, Patara, on the occasion of the World Wetland Day in Jalandhar. There were discussions on the state of international wetlands on the occasion.

Students of St Soldier Nursing Training Institute perform during the World Cancer Day function in Jalandhar on Saturday. A Tribune photograph

Endless wait for ‘Shagun’ 
Kusum Arora
Tribune News Service

A notice displayed outside the district social welfare office mentioning non-availability of grants under Shagun Scheme.

Jalandhar, February 4
Even as the social welfare department started uploading the status of beneficiaries online from August last year, it has failed to provide a grant of Rs 15,000 to beneficiaries under the shagun scheme.

All that one finds online is the names and addresses of 6,080 beneficiaries who are yet to receive the grant.

The beneficiaries and new applicants have been making rounds of the district social welfare office, but a majority of them are unaware that the state government has not released the grant since 2009.

The Social Welfare Department failed to release the grant from November 2009 to March 2011 and from August 2011 to date.

Sources reveal that the only period when the grant was released to the beneficiaries was from March 2011 to August 2011.

A total grant of Rs 9.42 crore has been withheld, much to the inconvenience of the beneficiaries. The department has also put up a notice outside its office stating that no grant was released between November 2009 to March 2011.

Ashok Kumar Thapa, a resident of Basti Danishmandan in the city, said he had been pursuing the cases of Shagun Scheme of many beneficiaries with the department, but the department has failed to release of grant. "We are told that there are no funds with the department," he added.

Kishan Lal, a labourer from the city, who had come along with his family to apply for the shagun of his daughter who is getting married later this month, said: "Although many other applicants in our locality told us that no grant was being released, but we will apply."

"Today, I have come to submit the file of my daughter. We have borrowed money to arrange for the wedding and once the grant is released, we will be able to return half of the amount," he added.

Another beneficiary, Kot Ram, who had come to check the status of the grant, said his daughter got married in 2010 and that they were still awaiting the grant. "Although this scheme is meant as shagun for the poor girls, but nobody gets it on time. My daughter is now blessed with a son and we are awaiting shagun of Rs 15,000 for her," he said.

When asked about the online status facility for the beneficiaries, many feigned ignorance and said they were not aware of any such system. "All that we require is timely grant, whether through online system or manual," they added.

Under this state-sponsored scheme, daughters of the Scheduled Castes (SC) community below the poverty line are eligible to avail Rs 15,000 as shagun for their marriage. 

Woman accuses police of inaction
Was allegedly set afire by her husband, who is a policeman
Aparna Banerji
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 4
Manjinder Kaur, a resident of Rama Mandi, who had accused her policeman husband of trying to set her ablaze, has now accused the police of inaction. She alleged that instead of looking for the evidence in the case, a police official was harassing and forcing her to strike a compromise with her husband.

Manjinder's father Surinder Pal has alleged that the Hoshiarpur police had deliberately not investigated the case properly and the SHO, Garhdiwal, was threatening them.

Married to Hoshiarpur-based constable Pawan Kumar in 2000, Manjinder said her husband allegedly tried to set her afire on December 7, 2011 and her son Gursimran also received burn injuries in the process.

Following the incident, an FIR was registered at the Garhdiwal police station on December 11, 2011, against Pawan under Sections 307 and 342 of the IPC.

However, Pawan is still roaming free as the latest statement of the police, released in response to Pawan's bail plea, says it has not yet been proved that Pawan set Manjinder afire.

Manjinder's family also met the DIG, Jalandhar range, here on Friday. Though he promised them that the guilty would be brought to book, the family said they don't have faith in the Hoshiarpur police.

When contacted, Balwinder Singh Cheema, SHO, Garhdiwal police station, said: "We cannot initiate the proceedings as long as we do not have witness. There is no evidence in the case. Besides, we have asked the victim's side to appear at the police station many times, but they failed to do so."

However, DIG, Jalandhar Range, Pramod Ban said: "Pawan had applied for an anticipatory bail. I have asked the SSP, Hoshiarpur, to look into the case." 

Woman held with 15 kg of poppy seeds
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 4
The city police today nabbed a woman carrying 15 kg of poppy seeds. Acting on a tip-off, the police laid a trap at Harnamdaspura and intercepted Toshi, a resident of Chuharwali locality.

The police has also recovered the contraband from her possession. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against her at the Division No 2 police station. 

10 booked for trespass

Jalandhar, February 4
A group of unruly youths allegedly barged into the house of a woman in Fatehjalal village, smashed windowpanes and ransacked the house, besides leaving vehicles damaged last evening.

The victim, Praveen Kumari, alleged that Sarif Masih and his armed henchmen entered her house, assaulted her family members, ransacked the house and even snatched their jewellery. The SHO, Maqsudan, Dharampal said the police have registered a case against Sarif Masih, his son and eight others on Praveen Kumari's complaint. — TNS

Residents show civic body the way
Maintain half-century-old Partap Bagh through donations, ban functions
Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service

An elderly man relaxes in Partap Bagh in Jalandhar. Photo: Sarabjit Singh

Jalandhar, February 4
Efforts of residents living around the half-century-old Partap Bagh, named after former Punjab Chief Minister Partap Singh Kairon, have bore fruit. The park now has over a 100 trees, 60 benches and rows of flower beds. This has been possible through donations from residents and industrialists living near the park.

Ever since the park was inaugurated in the early 1960s (the foundation no longer stands), it remained a venue for political, religious and social functions. It still has a stage which is now used as a library area by visitors.

“People used to trample over the plantation in the park during political and religious functions. The Partap Bagh Welfare Society took a stand and even adopted the legal course following which functions were only allowed in the park after the consent of its members. However, we did not allow any function in the park and the green cover gradually started improving,” said an elderly member of the Partap Bagh Welfare Society, Kewal Krishan.

It was after this initiative that the welfare societies of other parks took the copies of the judgement and started saving parks in their respective areas, he added.

Morning walkers start coming to the park around 4 am, followed by yoga groups. Residents of various colonies around the area, including Chahar Bagh, New Railway Road, SD College Road, Attari Bazaar also visit the park. Residents enjoy sun, relax on the benches and interact with like-minded people.

In the evening, women start coming in with their children to the park. 

from schools 
Wetland Day

Meanwhile, students of the Smith Institute of American Special Education participated in an art contest held at the Kanjli wetlands in Kapurthala by NGO Pahal in association with the Punjab Institute of Science and Technology on the occasion of World Wetland Day. In all, six students of the schools participated in the contest, which saw the participation of about 10 schools. There was an informative seminar

Farewell party

Police DAV Public School bid adieu to its Class XII students by hosting a cultural show 'Sayonara'. It was a day of fun and frolic, tinkling of bangles, swishing of dresses, tears and laughter. The students attired in rainbow colours provided a unique vibrancy to the campus.

Meanwhile, Hasta-La-Vista, a good luck and farewell party was organised for the outgoing students by their juniors. A variety programme was put up by Class XI students. Fun games were conducted for the students of Class XII and winners were presented with token prizes. Modelling was the central attraction of the day. The best personality among boys and girls was chosen. The panel of jury adjudged Srishti Chhabra as Ms CJS and Rohit Honda as Mr CJS Diksha Dhupar and Jatin Kanda were adjudged as Ms Charming and Mr Handsome.

At the Delhi Public School, too, the senior-most class XII was given a memorable farewell by class XI students. Official gratitude was expressed by the head boy Zorawar Singh and the head girl Tanya towards their teachers for taking care of them.

A fashion show was held on the occasion. Zorawar Singh Minhas and Chitwan Kaur Nagpal were declared Master and Miss DPS. Omung Raj Gupta and Himani Khurana as Master and Miss Vogue and the title of the Stars of the evening was given to Akshay Ohri in Gentleman and Shaleen Narula in Ladies respectively.

Saffron Public School held a "Blessing Party" organising a get together of all the children of classes XI and XII with their teachers. The outgoing students of class XII showed their gratitude and thanked the school staff for their guidance and support. Various titles were given to the modelling students - Mr Saffron Tanvir Chouhan, Ms Saffron Mankiran Kaur, Ms Fresh Sheena, Mr Handsome Sahib Singh, Most Charming Amanpreet Kaur Most Graceful Vishal Goyal and other titles were distributed.

Sports Day

Sports Day was organised at Guru Amar Dass Public School (Giggles Wing), Jalandhar. Inter-grade races were organised, including flag race, balloon race, hurdle race and banana race. Vice-principal Maninder Kaur honoured winners and motivated the students to participate actively in sports for the overall development of personality.

Exhibition

DIPS, Urban Estate, Jalandhar, recently organised a science and maths exhibitions. Children exhibited their creative prowess, originality and innovative talent. Students made various maths related exhibits - formation of 3D solids from 2D shapes, formulae of trigonometry, rectangular geo board, properties of circle, clinometers, angle of elevation etc. Science students made models on traffic lights based on solar energy, fire system, fermentation of alcohol, etc. A prize of Rs 500 was awarded to the conventional and non-conventional sources of energy model.