Jalandhar, March 14
Even as Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi today announced hike in passenger fares and a yearlong agenda to overhaul the Railways, the question of improving basic facilities for passengers at railway stations remained unanswered.

Perhaps, this is the reason why the list of problems and inconvenience faced by passengers at railway station is endless. And at a time when the railways spoke of introducing high-end bullet trains between Delhi and Jodhpur, the question of improving the standard of the railway stations echoed all the more louder.

Starting from the poor maintenance of the city railway station to the problem of sanitation, stray dogs, lack of potable water, public toilets and security, passengers ended up highlighting various loopholes ignored by the Railways.

“The city railway station spic-and-span only when the DRM, Ferozepur, or some senior official visits. Garbage is strewn in every nook and corner of the railway station and stray dogs roam freely, adding to the problems of passengers,” rued Kamlesh Kaur, a passenger on her way to Delhi. Rail passengers also highlighted lack of security system at the railway station. “The city railway station has a metal detector security gate at the entrance in the name of security and the authorities have failed to install CCTV cameras,” said Yogesh Kalsi, another passenger.

The railway station also lacks proper sitting arrangements for passengers. Passengers can be seen sitting on the floor or on their luggage. “What is the fun of talking big about the Railways if they cannot ensure a good seating arrangement to passengers?” asked a passenger going to Bihar.

Passengers said the Railways should introduce easy to access single window system. “Huge rush at the enquiry window adds to problems of passengers,” said Avinash Singh, a daily passenger to Amritsar.

Jalandhar, March 14
The previous SAD-BJP government had five ministers from the Doaba region. However, the number has come down to four in the new government that took charge today.

The only person finding place in the state Cabinet for the second consecutive term from this region is SAD MLA from Shahkot Ajit Singh Kohar. He was the Revenue Minister in the previous government. The leader, who closely resembles Senior Badal in his looks and style, has won for the fourth time. His constituency Lohian was changed as Shahkot after delimitation. He has defeated his Congress rival CD Kamboj by a margin of 5,435 votes. Kohar had faced charges of corruption during the Congress regime in 2002, but came out clean a few years back.

SAD’s Sarwan Singh Phillaur, a six-time MLA, who contested and won from the Kartarpur instead of his traditional Phillaur seat, too has been taken in the Badal cabinet. He defeated Congress heavyweight Chaudhary Jagjit Singh with a narrow margin of 823 votes. Phillaur was first elected to Vidhan Sabha at a young age of 27 years. He had remained the PWD Minister. In the previous term he was the Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Housing and Urban Development.

The third on the list from the region is Bibi Jagir Kaur, who has won from Bholath defeating the Congress candidate Sukhpal Singh Khaira. The only BJP leader from the region is octogenarian Bhagat Chuni Lal, who has also been declared as the leader of the BJP legislature party in the House. The Jalandhar (West) MLA has won elections in 1997 and in 2007. This time, he defeated Suman Kaypee, wife of Congress MP Mahinder Kaypee, by a margin of 11,343 votes.

Bhagat’s priorities

As the leader of the ruling ally, Bhagat Chunni Lal said his objective would be to strengthen the urban infrastructure “We will carry forward projects that have been planned or are in progress,” said the Dalit leader.

Ministers in previous govt

The five ministers from the region who were part of the Cabinet in the previous government included SAD leaders Ajit Singh Kohar and Upinderjit Kaur, and BJP leaders Chaudhary Swarna Ram and Tikshan Sood. While Kohar has been retained this time, too, Upinderjit Kaur and Tikshan Sood have lost elections. Chaudhary Swarna Ram was not given the ticket from Phagwara this time. Despite his victory and seniority in the BJP, Manoranjan Kalia has been left out this time.

Kalia’s debacle

In race for the post of Deputy CM at one point of time, Kalia was unlucky to have been dropped from the ministry at the fag end of the previous term. Having won people’s mandate again, Kalia was optimistic of being appointed as the leader of the legislatures group and a Cabinet berth. He, however, has been left out as he was quite vocal and remained adamant on his decisions while being on the top posts earlier. At his residence today, he looked dejected.

Deserving left out

The SAD has overlooked the performance of two SAD leaders Doaba. Gujjar leader Chaudhary Nand Lal has been elected MLA for the fourth consecutive term from Balachaur. He was the Chief Parliamentary Secretary in the previous government. Sohan Singh Thandal, who has won from Chabbewal this time, has not been included in the Cabinet.

Race for CPS begins

The race for the Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, who are likely to be inducted in a week’s time, has begun. Thandal and Ch Nand Lal may be inducted as CPSes. Among others trying for the coveted post are KD Bhandari, former CPS and BJP MLA from Jalandhar (North), Avinash Chander, former CPS and Pargat Singh, former Director Sports.

Jalandhar, March 14
Two migrant labourers, Dinesh and Arun, who had allegedly been made captive by a factory owner at his unit in Raja Garden for the last few days, were got freed last night.

Dinesh and Arun were made captive because their fellow workers did not come to the factory after getting advance from the factory owner.

Parmod Kumar Yadav, district president of the Purvanchal Mahasabha, said when he came to know about the captive labourers, he along with the father of the one of the captive labourers reached the factory. Scores of other labourers also gathered on the spot. The police was informed and Dinesh and Arun were freed by the police.

Dinesh alleged that the factory owner had asked them to bring some labourers and had also given some advance payment to those labourers. He said the labourers did not come back after getting advance payment, so the factory owner made them captive.

Jalandhar, March 14
The weapons, which were deposited by arms owners during the Assembly elections, are now being returned by the city police. The reason being the lifting of the election code of conduct on March 9.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Navjot Singh Mahal said more than 10,000 arms licence holders had deposited their weapons with the city police and now the process of returning the weapons had started.

The police had issued slips to the weapon owners and after showing the same they could take back their weapons from the police station concerned.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police said in case a person, who had deposited his arm, committed any crime or booked in any crime case when the poll code was in force, his weapon would not be returned.

“Before returning the weapon, the police is checking if any criminal case has been registered against the weapon owner in the period of the poll code of conduct,” the ADCP said, adding that till date no such case had come to their notice.

Jalandhar, March 14
The Lambra police has booked a Gakhal village resident and his sister-in-law for allegedly setting his wife afire.

The accused allegedly set his wife afire on Monday following his illicit relations with his sister-in-law.

The investigating officer said the victim was undergoing treatment at a private hospital and her condition is said to be critical. The investigating officer added that she sustained more than 90 per cent burn injuries.

On the statement of the victim's father, Ram Parkash, the police has registered a case under Sections 306, 511 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the victim's husband and his sister-in-law.

The police said the accused were still at large and a hunt was launched to nab them.

Jalandhar, March 14
Maj-Gen PS Mander, Additional Director-General (ADG) of NCC Punjab Directorate today visited the NCC units of the city.

This was his maiden visit to the city after taking over the charge of the ADG, Punjab Directorate.

The General visited the NCC Group Headquarters in Defence Colony, followed by 1 Punjab Air Squadron NCC and 2 Punjab (Girls) Battalion NCC at Golden Avenue and Mithapur, respectively.

Jalandhar, March 14
The Directorate of Technical Education and Industrial Training has decided to start an array of new market-driven skill-based courses for students in Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the state.

A decision in this regard was taken by the directorate keeping in mind the need to train the youth for the better employability in the highly competitive job market.

This was stated by Usha R Sharma, Commissioner, Technical Education and Industrial Training, Punjab, during her visit to Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya (HMV) today.

“We will be starting industry-driven hospitality courses in nine ITIs of the state in the first phase, while other such courses will be added gradually,” she said.

She highlighted that the directorate was also all set to tie up with leading corporate houses like Toyota, Godrej and Mahindra to name a few for providing on-the-job training to the youth at the ITIs.

To a query pertaining to the existing ITIs lacking in good infrastructure and functioning badly, the Commissioner said, “The World Bank has given a grant of Rs 2 crore to around 73 ITIs across the state, but owing to some circumstances the funds could not be used. Now, we have given the power of using these funds directly to the principals of the ITIs, which would help in improving their functioning,” she added.

Usha said the directorate had decided to increase the number of seats in the single unit of courses from 30 to 60 from the upcoming academic session. “The aim is to provide better technical education to more students in the state and enable them to meet the market demands,” she maintained.

Jalandhar, March 14
Degrees were conferred on 1,126 students of Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya (HMV) during the annual convocation today.

Chief guest Usha R Sharma, Commissioner, Technical Education and Industrial Training, Punjab, presented degrees to 943 graduates and to 165 postgraduates. Eighteen students who stood first in the university exams in April, 2011, exams were honoured with gold medals. They also signed the “roll of honour”.

Usha R Sharma congratulated the degree holders and highlighted the role of parents and teachers in building personality of the students.

Jalandhar, March 14
The “Idea Shaan-e-Punjab Kabaddi Cup”, organised by the Idea Cellular, concluded at Nakodar, near here.

More than 300 teams across the state participated in the tournament.

Congratulating the winning teams, Anish Roy, Chief Operating Officer, Punjab, J&K and HP, Idea Cellular, said, “Kabaddi has always been India’s forte in the world sports arena with maximum representation by Punjab athletes.”

Renowned Punjabi singer Amrinder Gill performed at the final day along with the star cast of movie “Mirza” - Gippy Garewal and Mandy.