Amritsar, February 18
Teachers of both government and private schools are finding it increasingly difficult to deal with the rising intolerance and indiscipline common among the students today leading to misbehaviour on their part.

From flouting simple guidelines to indulging in street brawls and group clashes, teachers feel that school students are more impatience than they used to be a decade ago.

Many of the teachers feel that children in one-child families are turning into spoiled brats. The situation has worsened to the extent that most of the teachers overlook and act indifferent towards the misbehaviour by the students.

A school teacher said, “The students these days can go to any extent. They feel insulted when they are reprimanded and few even confront. They might even decide to avenge. On the other hand the parents do not like their wards to be punished by the teachers.” The teachers said even as most of the schools don’t allow bringing mobile phones to the schools, most of the parents are not bothered.

Shri Guru Harkrishan Public School principal Dr Dhrambir Singh said, “Till the students are under a controlled situation every thing is fine. But when they are out of school they loose all control. Most important they know that institutions, teachers, principal can do nothing to them.”

He said the intolerance and misbehaviour are the two most widely discussed topics among the teachers. He said the violence shown in the media and even in the video games is getting reflected on the tender minds.

A teacher said students these days tend to organise their gangs and indulge in fights. “Few years ago there were only duals, now if any of the members of the group indulges in a fight the entire group makes it a prestige issue.” The teacher said few years ago such group behaviour was found only in college and university students from where group clashes were reported.

Major Singh, a government school teacher said, “The students these confront teachers on usual things. They don’t like wearing school uniforms and will deliberately miss one or other things to impress their classmates.” He said students these days also like to play pranks on their teachers and try to insult them to impress their friends.

Amritsar, February 18
Thursday’s shootout incident at a government school has sent shock waves among residents, teachers blame approach of the parents and low patience levels among the present generation for such acts of violence. However, students feel that owing to an indifferent attitude of the teachers as well as the parents push them to solve their differences on their own.

A Class X government school student Simarpreet Singh said many of their issues remained unanswered in the classroom and house. He said teachers remain mum especially on issues such as interpersonal relations among students. Thus, students do not have any other alternative but to sort out these differences on their own. He said while parents and other family members did not come into the picture and they were not told about the happenings in the school.

A student from a leading private public school Rakshit said he had seen his friends trying to sort out their differences. If a student approached a teacher to intervene into the matter, in all probability both the groups will be asked to part ways and the real issue will be left unresolved, he said.

A student of a government-aided private school Ramandip Singh said the stress of studies and dreary classroom environment do not offer much space for the voice of students to be heard. He said classroomsdon’t offer space for exchange of ideas and candid conversation among students and teachers. “Instead of encouraging students to freely ask questions they were invariably reprimanded to remain silent,” he complained. 

On the other hand, a mathematics teacher of a government school Manisha Thakur said teachers had their limits as they have to attend to a classroom consisting of 35 or more students. She said parents were said to be the first teachers as they have the scope of individually monitoring their kids and consult teachers to sort out their problems. 

Teacher from DAV International School Anjana Gupta said pressure on the students was never so high before. She said the pressure was not only of studies but psychological pressure from parents, peer group and schools as well have added to their woes. 

She said lack of trust among the students was more visible. She said parents need to be more sensitive and minutely study behaviour of their children.

Amritsar, February 18
The experts and volunteers of UK-based NGO, Hope and Compassion, expressed that there is need to train teachers and parents of special children. The experts are working with All-India Pingalwara Charitable Society here for past more than four years.

Director Autism at University of Birmingham Centre for Education and Dr Karen Guldberg, Research School of Education, said they are trying to collaborate with educational institutions in the area so that teachers can be trained to the needs of these children. 

UK-based Punjabi Manpreet Kaur from Hope and Compassion said, “We are working to strengthen the existing partnerships and to create new collaborations among the All-India Pingalwara Charitable Society, University of Delhi, Khalsa College of Education Amritsar, the Charity Action for Autism and Springdale School as well as Sarva Sikhsha Abhiyan (SSA).” 

She said with the help of SSA, a seminar would be conducted at Khalsa College of Education on February 21 in which teachers from various district in the region would participate. Manpreet said, “We need to train more teachers here so that education of children with special needs do not suffer.” Another volunteer, director of therapies with the NGO, Shabdam Bailey Bond said, “We are giving craniosacral therapy to the babies and they are responding very well. We come twice a year and have two to six weeks sessions here.”

Amritsar, February 18
The deteriorating financial condition of the Amritsar Municipal Corporation (AMC) may take a toll on its ongoing development projects. Reason: the AMC has not yet receives its due share of the grant from the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB).

On the other hand, laxity on part of the tax recovery branch too has added to their woes, when it comes to realising the dues from the consumers.

Some of the development works which were in the pipeline in collaboration with the PIDB, including revamp of the road infrastructure, sewerage and water treatment plan, will run into rough weather. The state government had earmarked Rs 165 crore to the Amritsar Muncipal Corporation for integrated urban development. Under this head, various projects worth Rs 12.72 crore were tendered and earmarked by the AMC to various agencies, whereas the AMC could receive only Rs 6 crore from the PIDB till date. The contractors who undertook these projects had threatened to bring the work to a standstill, if the authorities failed to clear their bills. 

They argued that that the AMC could not clear their pending bills since March 2009. Alleged sloppiness on the part of the three main revenue-earning departments of the MC-house tax, water supply and the estate wing- too could not make any additions to the AMC kitty. “We are issuing notices to the those who are evading taxes and they are being conveyed that their properties will be seized if they fail to clear their arrears because this money has to be ploughed back for the development of the city,” he added. PIDB is the nodal agency of the Punjab government for planning infrastructure projects under various sectors and drafting funding process for these projects. This includes direct funding, built-operate-transfer, public-private partnership, managing contracts etc.

Amritsar, February 18
The President of India’s Secretariat has directed the Department of Road Transport and Highways to pay attention to the request of the Focal Point Industries Association, Amritsar, to widen the 20-km long stretch of the road’ on the Jalandhar-Amritsar highway. Association president DS Goraya said the acknowledgment of the request from the President Pratibha Patil was received today. He said the two-lane stretch on NH-1, which falls between Dhilwan to Jalandhar Bye-pass, had snuffed many precious lives in road accidents. Besides, roads connecting the stretch from both ends were of four and six lanes.

He said thousands of tourists visit the holy city via road. Besides, four and six laning of the NH-1 draws tourists from this route. However, lack of infrastructure at a small stretch leads to traffic blockade and accidents.

Following this, NHAI general manager SS Gaharwar intimated the association that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) had been requested to upgrade the 20-km stretch from Dhilwan to Jalandhar bypass on an Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode through government funding. He said the approval of MoRTH was awaited.

Another member Kamal Dalmia said the association had been writing to various authorities, including the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), state government and the local MP for the past three years but without any success. They forwarded a communiqué to the President of India to draw her attention towards the problem. He said response from the top most office of the country had encouraged them and re-established their faith in the system.

Amritsar, February 18
A polio awareness rickshaw rally was flagged off by the local civil surgeon Dr Manjit Singh Randhawa here today. 

The rickshaw rally created awareness regarding pulse polio drive through announcements on loud speakers. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Randhawa said they have constituted 1,492 booths, 2,890 door-to-door teams, 60 transit teams and 21 mobile teams to administer polio. 

He said 280 supervisors would be managing the whole drive. He added that 5,968 vaccinators have been placed at various places. 

He requested people to bring their children at the polio booths even if they had been administered pulse polio in earlier drives. 

The Rotary Club also organised a pulse polio rally from Batala road to Nehru Shopping complex. 

Club president Taminder Singh led the rally of around 400 students and club members. 

The students also raised slogans such as ‘Polio Khatam Karo’ and ‘Do Boondh Zindagi Ki’ during the rally.

Amritsar, February 18
Those found in possession of habit-forming drugs will face strict action, Civil Surgeon Manjit Singh Randhawa said in a meeting with the representatives of the local chemists’ association today. “No political umbrellas will help people selling habit-forming drugs in the city,” he claimed.

He said, “We will reach the source of these drugs soon. We will even seize the vehicles in which these drugs are transported.” In reply to the needs of a special policy to curb the drug menace, Randhawa said, “The existing laws have enough teeth. We are going to implement them. No phone calls or political pressures will help save anti-social elements.”

The meeting was attended by a large number of members of the chemists’ association besides various senior officials of the health department.

“We will soon get to the source of these habit-forming drugs. It has been found that some manufacturers are over-manufacturing and selling the surplus in an illegal manner, he added.

He said the association should cooperate with the department in identifying people who are selling habit-forming drugs and rest assured that no shopkeeper will be unduly harassed. The representatives of the chemist association assured that they will extend whole-hearted support to the department to curb the sale of habit-forming drugs. However, they objected that constant raids and inspections are earning disrepute to their industry and businesses.

Amritsar, February 18
Ahead of the railway budget, residents of the border town are voicing their demands for connectivity with the Malwa region of the state, shortening of train distance on the busy Amritsar-Mumbai route and revival of the Amritsar-Kalka route as well.

Dr AL Adlakha has demanded a rail link between Amritsar and Ferozepur via Tarn Taran-Mahalam for which only an additional 30-km rail track was to be laid. He said 25 km line from Makhu to Patti remained non-implemented, which will pave the way for the Amritsar-Ferozepur line.

He said operationalisation of the rail link between these two districts will reduce the distance between Ferozepur and Amritsar from 196 to 82 km. He said the line will bring down the distance between Amritsar to Mumbai by 240 km besides connecting this part of the country with Rajasthan. Even the distance between Jammu and Mumbai will be shortened by 267 km.

He said it will not only benefit Amritsar but the entire northern belt comprising states of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh besides Punjab. He said access to Rajasthan via the Ferozepur-Fazilka-Abohar route will also be minimum.

Another need of the hour was the connectivity of the holy city with the Malwa region of the state remained unanswered even after six decades of independence.

Dr SP Popli of Brahma Kumari, a spiritual sect, sought railway link between Amritsar and Ahmedabad. He said two trains from Jammu to Ahmedabad are running but none of them halts at Amritsar.

He said similarly the rail link between Amritsar and Kalka must be restored by extending Amritsar-Chandigarh Duronto route to Amritsar-Chandigarh-Kalka. He said the train between Amritsar and Kalka remained operational for decades.

Amritsar, February 18
Sufi poet Bakhtawar, while holding a discussion on the relevance and understanding of lyrical poetry in the contemporary time at Virsa Vihar, said today’s poetry has lost the charm.

“Poetry has lost its lyrical part due to growing social and global impacts, though both are necessary for the growth of poetry. Poetry without emotions is just a compilation of words that piles up on library shelves,” he said. He said, “Too much knowledge has resulted in overshadowing of the natural talent. We have to keep it simple and natural and not resort to forced ideologies while writing poetry.” He emphasised on the rhythmic aspect of poetry. “After Shiv Kumar Batalvi, Surjit Patar has been able to give Punjabi poetry a true meaning, keeping its rhythm alive. We lack multidimensional understanding of poetry and that it could be sung or recited without thinking twice,” he added.

Through his book, Paar Jhenaa Toh Usda Dera, he has tried to bring back the lyrical poetry for today’s audiences. The book published in 2010, is the second compilation of Sufi poetries by Bakhtawar. “It is based on the traditions of Sufis and weaves a balance between the inner and outer space of humanity. The energy it derives is from the ancient Sufi prose and their spiritual renditions,” said the poet.

“Sufi singers like Wadali Brothers have used my compilations in their compositions. Just like music and dance, prose or poetry is also an expression, a part of your soul that doesn’t need embellishments. Poetry can’t be taught. It is an emotion that could only be felt. To keep its originality intact, we need to make an effort to keep it simple,” he added.

Amritsar, February 18
The district legal services authority will organise a mega Lok Adalat at the district courts complex and divisional courts on February 25. At a press conference held today, District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, HS Madaan said, “People can request their cases of civil nature for hearing.” He said 19 benches will be constituted for the same. He said cases at the pre-litigation stage can also be heard. Various banks and other institutions have requested the judiciary for amicably solving of the cases at the pre-litigation stage, said Madaan.

He said there are around 1,500 cases at the pre-litigation stage and many more are pending at the hearing stage. “Lok adalats can help save the time and energy of the judiciary as well as time and money of the litigants, he said.

Amritsar, February 18
A 17-year old boy was critically injured when a speeding car hit him near Kichlu Chowk here in the afternoon today.

The victim has been identified as Parminder Pal Singh, a student of Delhi Public School here. He was going towards the Mall road, while the car was coming from a road adjoining Eminent Mall located on Mall Road.

He was immediately rushed to a nearby private hospital where his condition is stated to be critical.

Jashan, a friend of the victim, who was going on a separate bike said the car which was being driven by a youth wearing white kurta was going at a very high speed. They were going to a friend’s house when the incident took place. The impact of the collision was so intense that it jumped a few feet high before falling on the ground a few meters away from the spot, he said.

The Skoda-make car bearing the number PB-02-BN (temp) 2143 climbed over a roadside three feet high divider. The unidentified driver of the car fled.

The investigating officer, Sohan Lal, said preliminary investigations have revealed that the car was at a very high speed. He said another car was found to be involved in the mishap. The broken number plate of the other car was found from the spot. However, the role of that car is yet to be ascertained, he added.

A case has been registered against the Skoda car driver.

Dr Jatinder Malhotra, medical director of the hospital, said the condition of the boy was very critical and nothing could be said so far. He said the boy has been kept under 24-hour observation. He said the victim sustained serious head injuries besides fractures of other body parts. 

Amritsar, February 18
Narinder Pal, a jail inmate, who was admitted to the Civil Hospital on February 16, died last night.

He had complained of high fever and was first taken to the hospital within the jail premises.

Doctors attending upon him told that he had a history of tuberculosis disease and was later referred to the Civil Hospital.

Narinder was booked by the Sultanwind police under the NDPS Act.

Meanwhile, the body has been sent for the post-mortem examination.

Amritsar, February 18
The authorities took 15 samples of eatables and seized 19 domestic LPG cylinders allegedly being misused commercially from five well-known food joints of the city.

In a joint action by the health department and district food and civil supplies department, 15 samples were collected from Beera Chicken, Crystal hotel and restaurant, The Brothers’ and Bharawan da dhaba and Kesar da dhaba.

All these five places are a hit among residents and tourists because of the culinary delights on offer here. The high-powered inspection team was lead by tehsildar Vijay Kumari.

The decision to conduct the raids was taken after a meeting of the Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal with the officials of health department and food and civil supplies department.

Sources said the operation was planned after the complaints were received against these big brands of the local food industry. Besides, small shopkeepers had always lamented that the department never dares to touch the big businessmen.

Moreover, when the residents are grappling with the problem of shortage of subsidised LPG cylinders for their domestic, these food joints were found to be using domestic cylinders. The use of domestic cylinders is prohibited at commercial places. During the raids 17 such cylinders were seized from these food joints.

District Food Officer, Dr Pardeep Singh Kahlon said, “We have collected samples of noodles, chicken items, cheese, vegetables, curd and many more items.”

He said the samples have been sent to Chandigarh for tests to be conducted. Reports of the tests are expected to arrive after 15 days, he said.