|
|
|
|
|
BSF seizes 12 kg of heroin
BSF personnel with the seized contraband near Amritsar. Photo: Vishal Kumar
Jalandhar tragedy |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Poorly paid, migrant labourers live in squalor
Thapar varsity can’t deny quota to students: Sukhbir
Cancel Sadique’s certificate, says SC Commission
File picture of Bhadaur MLA Mohammad Sadique.
Steps afoot to increase green cover: Minister
Fiscal bailout
29% students can’t read Punjabi:
Survey
GNDU makes Punjabi must for undergraduates
15-day deadline for mutation of land records
Former Adampur MLA Sarabjit Singh Makkar talks to mediapersons in Jalandhar on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Malkiat Singh
Cabinet nod to private
university
Harsimrat fractures wrist, undergoes surgery
'PNDT Act to be strictly enforced'
Choose exam centres cautiously, Punjab told
Vienna
Shooting
|
|
BSF seizes 12 kg of heroin
Amritsar, April 24 The officer said the troops were on high alert following reports that anti-national elements were trying to smuggle drugs and arms into India. The enhanced vigil had thwarted last night’s attempt to smuggle heroin into India. The BSF has recovered a total of 139 kg of heroin on the Punjab border till date this year. During the heightened vigil, which led to the recovery of this huge quantity of contraband, the BSF shot 10 smugglers, including nine from Pakistan, and apprehended seven Pakistani and five Bangladeshi nationals. Two consignments of heroin were seized by the State Special Operations Cell here last week. On April 20, notorious smuggler Sukhbir Singh, alias Sukha, was arrested and 5 kg of heroin recovered from him. The next day, two more smugglers carrying 10 kg of heroin were nabbed.
|
||
|
Jalandhar tragedy
Chandigarh, April 24 The hostels will be constructed on the lines of those established in China where most factories have hostels for labourers situated next to the industrial units. Besides ensuring comfortable, hygienic and safe living conditions for labourers, the hostels will also benefit the factory owners who will have an easy and quick access to their workforce. AR Talwar, Secretary, Industry, said large industries were being encouraged to build hostels for its workforce and a number of companies, including Vardhman, Trident and Saluja's, already had such facilities. He said the medium industry was also being asked to follow the suit. Talwar said a major part of the workforce in Punjab was engaged in SSI units. The state has 1.6 lakh such units. He said the owners of these units could not create hostels and it was here that the government had decided to step in and construct hostels. The government is likely to involve the State Welfare Department in this drive as the latter has funds and welfare schemes for the industrial workforce. The state also has a Labour Welfare Board. The government is also planning to establish hostels for women textile workers in Ludhiana. Sources said most of the skilled labour force in the textile industry was from the state. They said since they worked in shifts and many of them came from rural areas, there was a demand to create separate hostels for them. Others hostels could come up near industrial areas in Jalandhar and Amritsar. Talwar said hostels for workers of small-scale units would help migrant labourers, many of whom were living in slums and unsafe buildings.
|
||
|
JCB operators to be honoured
Jalandhar, April 24 While a thanksgiving function was held for the Army last evening, a similar farewell was held at Circuit House this morning for the NDRF team. Deputy Commissioner Priyank Bharti said the names of JCB operators of private companies and the MC who worked for over 18 hours for eight consecutive days during the operation would be proposed to the government for felicitation on August 15. The teams were lauded for rescuing 62 labourers while striving hard to pull out 23 bodies. Rescue operation costs Rs 5 crore The
administration is planning to recover Rs 5 crore spent on the rescue operation
from the owner of the factory. Iqbal Singh Sandhu, SDM, said: "We will
soon get bills for 15,000 litres of diesel, masks, raincoats, chairs, torches,
hiring charges for cranes, floodlights and generators, and other equipment
demanded by the teams from time to time. We will send the details to the
government and demand the amount from the factory owner”.
'Discourteous'
management Officials are also upset over the discourteous treatment meted out
to them by the management of Shital factories. "We were not even provided
chairs in the adjoining factory where we had camped. Water supply to the
toilets which the NDRF teams were using had been cut and we had to daily call
in water tankers of the fire department. We only got one room to use, the power
supply to which was cut," they said claiming that the owner missed the
opportunity to at least extend a positive gesture. The only effort of the
owner and his son was to save as many blankets, chemical packs, fibre rolls,
machine spare parts, steel stands, iron rods from the concrete and other items
that was pulled out of the debris, the officials said. — Deepkamal Kaur
|
||
|
Poorly paid, migrant labourers live in squalor
Jalandhar, April 24 Similar is the case of over two lakh migrant labourers hailing from UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal working in various industrial units in Jalandhar, said Pramod Yadav, district president, Purvanchal Vikas Mahasabha (PVM). Manoj was rescued after 32 hours of the disaster, but his right leg had to be amputated. At present, he is recuperating at the local Civil Hospital. His wife, Mala Devi, has come from his native village to look after him. The labourers working in various units have to live in pathetic conditions in rented accommodations. Several residents here have constructed 10 to 12 small rooms over a plot of 10 marla and given these on rent to labourers, with one room accommodating four to eight workers. Hari Lal of Rae Barely, who works in Chinar Forge Limited, owned by Shital Vij's elder son Shitesh, lives with his two co-workers in a small room at Gali No. 3 of Hargobind Nagar, near Transport Nagar. Most of them live alone while some of them have also brought their families. Sangeeta, a labourer’s wife, said: "It is very difficult for us to make both ends meet as my husband who works in a factory gets Rs 5,400 per month." Amit of Rae Barely said he got Rs 3,800 per month as a temporary worker at Chinar Forge and his name had not been included in the factory records. Satnam Singh, Assistant Labour Commissioner (ALC), claimed: “Labour inspectors inspect factories randomly and also after getting complaints and take appropriate action in case of any violation. Narinder Saggoo, president, Focal Point Extension Association, said: "Nearly 25 per cent of the total migrant labourers are temporary workers as many come here for a few months. Earlier, provident fund was deducted after six months of regularsing a worker, but now it is required to be deducted from day one of appointing a permanent employee. The deduction of PF should be made after six months as it will benefit the
labourers". Grim picture
|
|
Thapar varsity can’t deny quota to students: Sukhbir
Chandigarh, April 24 In a statement issued here today, the Deputy Chief Minister said Thapar University was allotted 250 acres of prime land at a highly concessional rate by the Punjab Government in 1956 with an aim of providing quality technical education to students of the state. He said the university could not be allowed to tweak rules, regulations and guidelines to deny the legitimate admission quota, without taking permission of the state government. He said Punjab Government would not allow Thapar University to deviate from the basic philosophy of educating students of Punjab for which the state government had given it land way back in 1956. Seeking a complete report from the Technical Education Department regarding Thapar University, the Deputy CM issued directions that department should take all preventive, corrective, legislative and legal measures to stop the university from denying legitimate admission quota to state students. Sukhbir said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had already sought intervention of Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal on this issue and he along with the Chief Minister would soon call on the Union Minister to put a stop to the “mischief” of the university.
|
|||||
|
|
Cancel Sadique’s certificate, says SC Commission
Chandigarh, April 24
Despite a government notification of September 2011 for reconstitution of a scrutiny committee to verify social status certificates, the State SC Commission has approached the Ludhiana DC directly in the matter. The commission includes a member who had complained to the Election Commission that Sadique did not belong to a Scheduled Caste. According to the government notification, there is a fixed procedure before a social status certificate can be cancelled. This includes issuing a show-cause notice to the candidate and giving him time to file a representation and appear before the designated committee. The notification says that any such order passed by the committee would be final. The SC Commission has relied on a letter issued by former Secretary TR Sarangal in 2009, which seems to be specifically aimed at Sadique. The letter directs all Deputy Commissioners to cancel certificates to “Doom” caste candidates who are Muslims. It holds that “Dooms” following Sikh or Hindu tenets alone can be issued this certificate. Sadique is from the “Doom” caste and was issued an SC certificate in 2006. However, despite the issuance of this directive, Sadique’s certificate was not cancelled. The singer had in an advertisement in the media in 2006 claimed that he followed Sikh tenets. Talking to TNS, Sadique claimed that former Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister DS Guru, whom he had defeated in the assembly elections, had hatched a political conspiracy against him. Sadique said he as well as his relatives had been issued SC certificates by competent officers on the basis of their caste. “Invoking religion is just an excuse to cancel my social status certificate”, he said. Guru refused to respond despite phone calls. Chairman of the SC Commission Rajesh Bagha, when contacted, denied the commission was involved in any conspiracy against Sadique and said he was not aware that a member of the commission belonging to the SAD had submitted a complaint with the Election Commission against Sadique. Bagha said the commission was clear that no Muslim could be given such a certificate. When told that Sadique claimed he was not a Muslim, he said: “ That is a matter of inquiry.” Meanwhile, even as the Ludhiana DC is inquiring into the case, the Director of the Department of Welfare for SCs and BCs has questioned the letter written by Sarangal, directing that Muslim “Dooms” not be considered for an SC certificate. The Director, citing a Supreme Court order, has recommended that Scheduled Castes among Muslims and Christians should also be given reservation.
|
||
|
Steps afoot to increase green cover: Minister
Patiala, April 24 The Minister, who was in the city to initiate a signature campaign regarding upgradation of Government Rajindra Hospital on the pattern of PGIMER, Chandigarh, converting Aviation Club into domestic airport and restarting Shabadi Express from Bathinda to New Delhi via Patiala, said the Forest Department would depute a guard in each beat, who in consultation with village sarpanch, would provide plants and seeds as per the requirement of the area to increase green cover. Jiani said he had met Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and requested him to ensure that all sarpanchs should grow trees on 25 per cent of the area under them. They should be provided 50 per cent subsidy for purchase of plants. He said as many as 180 persons had already been appointed by the Forest Department and 300 more would be appointed soon. When asked about a large number of roadside trees were being axed to develop hotels and dhabas, he said the policy on this was very clear. "If someone cuts trees for construction purpose, he is supposed to provide an equal area to the department. Moreover, before cutting any tree, they have to take permission from the department," he added. The Minister said he was here to discuss party's plan for the forthcoming Municipal Corporation elections.
|
||
|
Only one teacher for 206 students!
Muktsar, April 24 With such state of affairs, the school does not follow the practice of morning assembly. Sukhwinder Singh is the lone teacher, who is the one-man army at the school as he does the job of a clerk and the principal as well. He also supervises the mid-day meal. He sometimes teaches all students of classes I to V collectively and sometimes orders them to do self-study. The students keep playing hide-and-seek in the school rather than getting education and learning new things. The school does not have a boundary wall and stray cattle often enter the premises. The students consider as their friends and enjoy riding on these. The underground water is contaminated in the area, but the department has not installed a reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment plant in the school. The students are forced to drink water from a handpump. The school is situated just 20 km away from the district headquarters, but hardly any senior official of the Education Department has visited the school in the long past. Khushpreet Kaur, a student of class V, said: "Sometimes master ji teaches us and sometimes we do the work ourselves. We keep playing for the rest of the time". Sukhwinder Singh said: "The school has five sanctioned posts of teacher and a principal, but only two have been filled. A female teacher was appointed here, but she has been on a maternity leave since the past four months". There are 34 students enrolled in class I, 52 in class II, 40 in class III, 30 in class IV and 50 in class V. Gurinder Singh, panchayat member, said the matter had been brought to the notice of the district education officer a number of times, but no action had been taken. Gurinder Kaur, District Education Officer (DEO), Muktsar, said: "I have recently taken the charge here. I will depute a few teachers immediately and will also inform the higher-ups about the matter". Apology for a school
|
||
|
Dereliction of duty
Fazilka, April 24 Two teachers have been placed under suspension on the charge of coming to school under the influence of alcohol. "We have informed the Director General School Education (DGSE) about the action taken against
the teachers. We had earlier sent reports of negligence on part of these teachers to the authorities concerned, but hardly any action was taken. Finally, I took the action," said
Basant Garg, Deputy Commissioner. The action has been taken on recommendation of block primary education officers and cluster primary education officers after
a meeting of the District Education Committee held under the chairmanship of the deputy commissioner. "I have directed all subdivisional magistrates (SDMs) of the three subdivisions of the district to visit at least five schools in a month and monitor the performance of the staff there," Garg said. Of the 10 suspended teachers, four are from Abohar block, three each are from Jalalabad and Guruharsahai-III blocks. Sukhbir Singh posted at Government Primary School at Burz Mohar village in Abohar Block-II and Mohinder Singh posted in Government Primary School at Chak Damal in Jalalabad Block-II have been suspended on the charges of coming
to school under the influence of alcohol and remaining absent for long periods. They also failed to work on the projects allotted to them. "It was necessary to take action against these teachers. It will give a message to others to work or face action," said District
Education Officer (Elementary) Lachhman Ram Kamboj. The performance of teachers is monitored under the Parho Punjab project of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. Shankar Chaudhary, district coordinator, Parho Punjab, says: "The performance of teachers is judged by checking minimum intelligence quotient (IQ) level of the students as prescribed by the Education Department".
|
||
|
Fiscal bailout
Chandigarh, April 24 The state government’s contribution to the Annual Plan for the current fiscal year will be Rs 10,394 crore and that of the Central Government Rs 2,406 crore. Sources said Planning Commission officials asked Punjab officials some pointed questions on mobilising resources for funding the Plan. The state government will be required to mobilise additional resources worth Rs 3,000 crore to fund the Plan. The government will have to impose taxes and raise other charges in case it does not get a loan waiver or any other relief from the Central Government. State officials have told the commission that they have already started an exercise to mobilise resources for additional revenue. Interestingly, in the last Annual Plan, a sum of Rs 434.10 crore was kept for agriculture and allied sectors but only Rs 104 crore were actually spent. Similarly, of the Rs 1,021 crore kept for Rural Development, a sum of only Rs 868 crore was spent. However, for the transport sector, Rs 1,565 crore were provided but Rs 1,598 crore were actually spent.
|
||
|
29% students can’t read Punjabi:
Survey
Fazilka, April 24 The report, based on a survey conducted under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan for Education Development, assessed the learning outcome of students of classes I to V in eight blocks of the district. The survey finds out that out of the total 46,272 students enrolled, 13,443 can't write in Punjabi and 13,481 can't read a paragraph of their own language. While 16,962 are unable to write in English, 17,444 are unable to read English. The survey report further states that out of the total 17,221 students of classes IV and V, 3,024 were unable to read Hindi and 3,210 failed to write in Hindi. Similarly, 8,321 students failed to perform basic arithmetic
calculations.
|
||
|
GNDU makes Punjabi must for undergraduates
Amritsar, April 24 The university’s Academic Council, that met recently, decided that elementary functional Punjabi be introduced as a mandatory subject for all undergraduate courses and that the subject of Punjab History and Culture be discontinued as it had served little purpose. Vice Chancellor Prof AS Brar said the decision would help students as the knowledge of Punjabi was necessary for applying for the state services. In the first semester, the students would be taught the Gurmukhi alphabet and
grammar and in the second the structure of sentence and correct use of words.
|
||
|
15-day deadline for mutation of land records
Chandigarh April 24 He has also directed the tehsildars and naib-tehsildars to remain present in offices from 9am to 5pm. “The Minister has directed the revenue officials to ensure mutation of every land record within 15 days of its submission, failing which strict disciplinary action would be initiated,” an official of the department said. Issuing directive to all tehsildars and naib tehsildars to make themselves available to the public in their respective offices from 9 am to 5 pm, Majithia said they were duty-bound to remain accessible to public. The Revenue Minister said he would be conducting surprise raids in various districts to check compliance of these instructions in letter and spirit.
|
||
|
Makkar: Will file case against Gikki’s father
Jalandhar, April 24 Makkar, whose nephew Ram Simran Singh Makkar, alias Prince, is the main accused in the murder case, alleged that Rajbir Singh Sekhon and Iqbal Singh Chatha, Gikki’s father and father-in-law, respectively, had been unnecessarily dragging his name in the case. Makkar said he would file a criminal case against the two. He claimed to have made a complaint in writing to the DGP, Punjab, seeking action against a social networking site for offensive comments against him. “I have requested the DGP to identify those who have posted objectionable comments on the Facebook by creating a ‘fake’ page,” Makkar said.
|
||
|
Cabinet nod to private
university
Chandigarh, April 24
A spokesman here today said a decision to this effect was taken in a Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here yesterday.
|
||
|
Harsimrat fractures wrist, undergoes surgery
Muktsar, April 24
|
||
|
'PNDT Act to be strictly enforced'
Chandigarh, April 24 The present gender ratio is 837 females per 1,000 males. The state hopes to reduce the gender ratio to 900 females per 1000 males in the next two years. After taking charge, Dr Gupta, who was earlier civil surgeon in Ropar, said women patients would be given preferential treatment in government hospitals and would get all services free of cost. — TNS
|
|
Choose exam centres cautiously, Punjab told
Chandigarh, April 24 “There can be no manner of doubt that the school board is duty-bound to ensure holding of all examinations under it in a proper and fair manner. Every attempt must be made by the school board to check and control instances of copying and adoption of unfair means in the exams and for that purpose venues should be chosen as examination centres after due care and caution,” a Division Bench has ruled. The ruling came on a petition filed by the “Nakal Virodhi Adhayapak Front” and another petitioner seeking directions to the State of Punjab and other respondents “to select proper examination centres and to ensure that no cheating goes on by students as also by owners/officers of private schools”. Directions were also sought against allowing students of Ludhiana’s Shalimar Model High School in Guru Angad Colony to appear in the Class X and XII examination in the school “when it serves as an exam centre”. This was to prevent school students from “resorting to copying and adopting unfair means.” The Bench asserted: “Keeping in mind the imminent necessity of maintaining the purity and fairness of the examination process, we are of the view that an appropriate decision in the matter i.e. whether the centre in question, Shalimar Model High School, should continue as an examination
centre, should be taken by the Punjab School Education Board at a meeting which will be chaired by the Secretary to the Government of Punjab, Department of Secondary Education. “At the meeting, all the pros and cons connected with the issue will be discussed and a decision that will best serve the needs of education and the examination process arrived at. “It is made clear that the decision, in terms of the present order, will be taken before commencement of any examination to be conducted by the School Board”, the Bench said.
|
|
|
Vienna
Shooting
Chandigarh, April 24 The directions by a Division Bench, headed by Acting Chief Justice MM Kumar, came during resumed hearing of a petition filed by Phagwara-based General Samaj Manch. Till now, over 60 persons have been arrested in the case. The State of Punjab, during the previous hearing, had told the High Court that the police had identified 445 witnesses and recorded the statements of 258 persons. Guru Sant Ramanand was attacked by six armed men at a temple in Vienna. He later died in hospital.
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
In yet another incident, BSF personnel last night recovered 12 kg of heroin, a pistol and ammunition near the Fatehpur Border outpost late last night.
Chandigarh, April 24
A special search operation was conducted in the wee hours today which led to the recovery of 12 packets of heroin, a made-in-Italy pistol and an AK-47 magazine. Of the 12 packets seized, one packet had “China Silk Eckralice Chemicals” printed on it. The Commandant said they had held a flag meeting with the Pakistani Rangers and lodged a protest against the incident. 
