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THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

MC turns compassionate
Amritsar, May 1
The Municipal Corporation has decided to give jobs on compassionate basis to the kin of 103 employees who died while in service. It has also decided to recruit 346 safai karamcharis.
Rush of applicants for the post of safai karamcharis at the Municipal Corporation office at Town Hall in Amritsar on Tuesday Rush of applicants for the post of safai karamcharis at the Municipal Corporation office at Town Hall in Amritsar on Tuesday. Photo: Vishal Kumar

world asthma day
Garbage burning leaves city breathless
Amritsar, May 1
The first Tuesday of the month is observed as World Asthma Day. The day seems to mean nothing to the Municipal Corporation employees who burn dry leaves and other waste on the roadsides almost everyday.
Garbage set afire near the Mall road in Amritsar on Tuesday Garbage set afire near the Mall road in Amritsar on Tuesday. Photo: Sameer Sehgal


EARLIER STORIES



PSPCL employees axe tree on Mall road
Amritsar, May 1
The employees of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) today axed a Silver Oak tree on Mall road. Forest guard Manjinder Singh, who reached the spot after learning about the incident, said a formal communiqué to know about the reason behind the chopping of the tree will be sent to the official concerned of the PSPCL tomorrow.
The chopped Silver Oak tree lying on Mall Road in Amritsar on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph
The chopped Silver Oak tree lying on Mall Road in Amritsar on Tuesday

MC told to prepare voters’ lists
Amritsar, May 1
The State Election Commission has directed the district administration to prepare the voters’ list for the municipal corporation polls. The commission has also delegated duties to the officials for the purpose. District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal said, the preliminary list of voters will be published by May 2 and objections will be invited till May 9.

Three held with drugs
Amritsar, May 1
The police has arrested three persons for allegedly possessing narcotics and booked them under Section 21/ 61/ 85 of the NDPS Act. The Civil Lines police arrested Harjinder Singh, a resident of Chheharta and Ravi Singh, a resident of Nawi Abada, Fatehgarh Churian road.

Case of abduction filed after call from hapless brother
Amritsar, May 1
The district police has registered a case against unknown abductors on the basis of a distress call from a hapless brother. The case is an absolute mystery for the police as the police is clueless about the complainant, the victim or the abductors. A case under Sections 366 and 34, IPC, has been registered.

world labour day
Just another day...not in paradise
Amritsar, May 1
Meagre payment, that too on the basis of per metre of the cloth painstakingly woven by Rajinder Singh, a resident of Kot Khalsa, leaves him feeling nothing different as World Labour Day comes and goes. Another weaver Mohan Lala finds it hard to fend for a family of six, but he has to keep striving despite the pitiable living conditions.


It’s another back breaking day at work for faceless labourers like this woman in Amritsar on Tuesday. Photos: Sameer Sehgal

It’s another back breaking day at work for faceless labourers like this woman in Amritsar on Tuesday

world athletics day
Sports losing ground
Amritsar, May 1
The city-based sports fraternity commemorated World Athletics Day today but veteran athletes feel that scarcity of game-specific grounds, requisite infrastructure, declining interest of youngsters and rampant drug consumption have relegated sports.

Participants in the City Gold marathon organised in Amritsar on Tuesday
Participants in the City Gold marathon organised in Amritsar on Tuesday. Photo: Vishal Kumar

summer fashion
Sun shields become hot accessories
Amritsar, May 1
It’s that time of the year when you cannot go out in the sun without dabbing an extra dose of sunscreen or without putting on a pair of shades. After all it is summer. It is time to deck-up oneself with cool summer accessory-it could be a cap, a scarf, a bandana or just the right attitude.

Shielding from the summer sun in style is the trend this season as scarves, caps is the latest in fashion in Amritsar
Shielding from the summer sun in style is the trend this season as scarves, caps is the latest in fashion in Amritsar. Tribune photos

Rare laparoscopy surgery conducted
Amritsar, May 1
The Fortis Escorts hospital has claimed to have performed a rare surgery. A large pancreatic tumor was removed. The surgery was conducted by Dr Ravinder Singh Malhotra, Chief Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgeon at hospital.





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MC turns compassionate
Gives jobs to kin of 103 employees who died while in service
GS Paul
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 1
The Municipal Corporation has decided to give jobs on compassionate basis to the kin of 103 employees who died while in service. It has also decided to recruit 346 safai karamcharis.

The appointment letters for jobs to be given on compassionate basis have been issued to two clerks, 30 safai sewaks, 33 sewer men, one health assistant, 22 peons, 13 beldaars and two drivers. The appointment procedure of 346 safai karamcharis under various heads will begin from tomorrow.

Nevertheless, after presenting the appointment letters, Mayor Shwait Malik said the move had been taken as per the policy of the government.

“The issue was pending for want of some official formalities,” he said. The process to recruit safai karamcharis will be completed on May 18, the officials said. More than 500 applications have been received for the post of safai karamcharis.

Some see the move as the alliance government keeping its promise to regularise the services of those Class IV employees who have been recruited on contractual basis with the corporation and have completed 10 years of service. Another part of the pact was to recruit the new lot against the vacant posts, if voted to power again.

Surinder Tona, spokesperson of Safaikaramcharis Sanjhi Sangharsh Union, Punjab, said the process got delayed due to the sudden announcement of the Assembly elections in January. “We had demanded from the government to regularise the services of 706 mohalla sudhar committee employees and 448 others who have been working on contractual basis for 15 years and fill the vacant posts of safai karamcharis which amounts to 400 in Amritsar. After that, we received a notice stating that the employees who had been working with the corporations for at least 10 years will be deputed on their respective posts on a regular basis and the vacant posts will also be filled soon,” he said.

Mayor Malik said during his tenure 1,550 employees have been given regular jobs. “Earlier we had recruited 250 employees on compassionate grounds. The services of 750 mohalla sudhar committee employees and 446 employees on contractual basis were also regularised. Now, we are going to recruit another lot of 346 safai karamcharis.

346 safai karamcharis to be recruited

  • The process to recruit 346 safai karamcharis to be completed by May 18.
  • More than 500 applications have been received for the post of safai karamcharis

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world asthma day
Garbage burning leaves city breathless
Manmeet Singh Gill
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 1
The first Tuesday of the month is observed as World Asthma Day. The day seems to mean nothing to the Municipal Corporation employees who burn dry leaves and other waste on the roadsides almost everyday. Little do they care that the pollution thus spread is harmful for people with Asthma or other respiratory problems. This day was no different as heaps of waste was burnt near Custom Chowk today.

Jeewant Kumar, a resident said, “The smoke makes it difficult to even stand at the traffic signals here. People face the problem almost every other day as the waste is burnt here frequently.”

The leaves and plant waste which can easily be converted into manure are thus becoming a source of environment pollution because the employees are insensitive towards the environment.

Another resident Sukhwant Singh said, “The other place where the waste is burnt regularly is Ram Bagh. The waste should instead be collected in a pit to convert it into manure.” He said smoke often causes problems for pedestrians. The waste can also be seen burning at Government Medical College an institution meant to safeguard the health of the residents.

Despite widespread criticism, the MC employees continue to burn waste on the roadsides. The doctors feel that the hazards of smoke are many as it can lead to respiratory and eye ailments.

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PSPCL employees axe tree on Mall road
Neeraj Bagga
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 1
The employees of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) today axed a Silver Oak tree on Mall road. Forest guard Manjinder Singh, who reached the spot after learning about the incident, said a formal communiqué to know about the reason behind the chopping of the tree will be sent to the official concerned of the PSPCL tomorrow.

He, however, said the employees of the PSPCL present on the spot said the tree had fallen close to the electricity wires and an electricity poll after strong winds lashed the city over the past two days. NGO Mission Aagaaz members have alleged that the management and employees of an under-construction shopping mall at Mall Road had weakened the roots of the tree so that it fell due to the impact of strong winds as the tree blocked the view of the shopping mall.

Gurbhej Singh of Mission Aagaaz has demanded an inquiry into the matter.

Controversy

  • The PSPCL employees present on the spot said the tree had fallen after strong winds lashed the city over last two days.
  • An NGO alleged that employees of an under-construction shopping mall at Mall Road had weakened the base of the tree to make it fall as it obstructed view of the Mall.

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MC told to prepare voters’ lists
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 1
The State Election Commission has directed the district administration to prepare the voters’ list for the municipal corporation polls. The commission has also delegated duties to the officials for the purpose. District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal said, the preliminary list of voters will be published by May 2 and objections will be invited till May 9. The discrepancies if any will be removed by May 16 before finalizing the list on May 20.

Electoral Registration Officers have been designated for the 65 MC wards to finalise the voters’ list and publish it. Objections can be notified at with Electoral Registration Officers.

SDM-2 will take care of Ward No 1 to 6; DDPO-Ward No 7 to 12; Chief Agriculture Officer-Ward No 13 to 18; SDM-1-Ward No 19 to 24; Executive Engineer Panchayati Raj-Ward No 25 to 30; DTO-Ward No 31 to 35; Deputy Registrar, Cooperative Society-Ward No 36 to 40; XEN Mandi Board Ward No 41 to 45; XEN Sewerage Board Ward No 46 to 50; GMDIC Ward No 51 to 55; Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry, Ward No 56 to 60 and Deputy Director, Horticulture, Ward no 61 to 65

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Three held with drugs
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 1
The police has arrested three persons for allegedly possessing narcotics and booked them under Section 21/ 61/ 85 of the NDPS Act. The Civil Lines police arrested Harjinder Singh, a resident of Chheharta and Ravi Singh, a resident of Nawi Abada, Fatehgarh Churian road.

The police also seized 50 gm smack and 100 Parvon Spas capsules from their possession.

In another instance, the Sultanwind police arrested Satnam Singh, a resident of SUS Nagar, and seized 100 gm of toxic powder from his possession.

In yet another case, the police has booked Nikhil Kumar and Sunil Kumar under Section 379/ 411 IPC and recovered a Hero Honda motorcycle from their possession.

No arrest has been made in this case.

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Case of abduction filed after call from hapless brother
GS Paul
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 1
The district police has registered a case against unknown abductors on the basis of a distress call from a hapless brother. The case is an absolute mystery for the police as the police is clueless about the complainant, the victim or the abductors. A case under Sections 366 and 34, IPC, has been registered.

The A Division police station received a call from a person who introduced himself as Gurjit Singh, a resident of Khehra village in Gurdaspur. The caller told the police that his sister Amandeep Kaur (25) had been abducted by some unknown persons from the city bus stand, yesterday.

The complainant added that his sister had informed him about the incident over the phone. She said she was lured by some unknown persons from Sangam Cinema near the bus stand.

The complainant told the police that his sister was somewhere near Patiala when she made the call after which her mobile phone has been switched off.

SHO, A division police station, Sanjeev Kumar, said the complaint was lodged only on the basis of a call. “The details can be known if the complainant can come here in person or can at least give us some antecedents of his ‘abducted’ sister, her purpose of visit to the city or the suspects to enable us to investigate the case. But he did not come here and cannot even be contacted. At the moment, we are clueless.” “Yet we have lodged a case on the basis of the information we got over the telephone. We also tried to reach his sister through her phone, but it was found to be switched off,” he added.

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world labour day
Just another day...not in paradise
Neeraj Bagga
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 1
Meagre payment, that too on the basis of per metre of the cloth painstakingly woven by Rajinder Singh, a resident of Kot Khalsa, leaves him feeling nothing different as World Labour Day comes and goes. Another weaver Mohan Lala finds it hard to fend for a family of six, but he has to keep striving despite the pitiable living conditions.

The wages we get paid on the basis of the length of the cloth manufactured by us does not match the rate of inflation.

Another weaver, Mohan Lal, said his monthly income goes down by more than half during power cuts in summers. He said his monthly income was inadequate to meet the expenses of his six-member family.

Their condition has had a bad impact on the future of the industry as well as youngsters are opting out and joining other professions. More than 5,000 weavers work in 800 looms manufacturing shawls. They are finding it difficult to make ends meet as the units have been closed partially due to power cuts.

Textile units with an annual turnover of Rs 1,000 crore with Rs 500 crore share of shawl industry are one of the major employers in the city. However, barring a couple of big industrial houses, a majority of these units do not even provide basic amenities like clean and comfortable environment, toilets and social welfare schemes to the workers.

Similar situation prevails in the nut and bolt industries, blanket manufacturing units and other industries in the city. Workers have welcomed the state government’s announcement to raise hostels to ensure comfortable, hygienic and safe living conditions for labourers engaged in the small scale industrial units.

A major part of the workforce in the state is engaged in the 1.6 lakh small scale industrial units. As the skilled workers for the industry come from the rural areas, they need separate hostels.

The Communist Party of India (CPI) has demanded that the state government institute a judicial inquiry under a sitting judge to uncover the reasons of the accident at Jalandhar based Shital Fibres and a case be registered under Section 302 of the IPC against its owner Shital Vij.

CPI executive member Dr Joginder Dyal said irregularities in the operation of factories must be highlighted. He demanded that families of every deceased must be given Rs 10 lakh and government jobs to the next of kin, besides Rs five lakh to each of the injured victims.

All India Trade Union Congress’s state committee secretary Amarjit Singh Assal said many a local factories are in dilapidated condition.

Drawing attention towards inflation, he demanded that skilled artisans must be given monthly salary of Rs 20,000 and minimum wages of a labourer must be Rs 10,000 per month. The Northern Railway Men’s Union also held a gate rally today.

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world athletics day
Sports losing ground
Lack of faciltiies make youth lose interests, resort to drug abuse
Neeraj Bagga
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 1
The city-based sports fraternity commemorated World Athletics Day today but veteran athletes feel that scarcity of game-specific grounds, requisite infrastructure, declining interest of youngsters and rampant drug consumption have relegated sports.

Athletics coach Gurinder Singh Mattu, former national player, said at present Khushbir Kaur is representing the country in international 20-km walk events. He lamented that youngsters’ interest in the sport have declined. He said the sport demands high level of physical fitness, endurance, and concentration from the players.

He said the city does not have basic infrastructure to facilitate track and field events to chisel out players. He elaborated that the sport involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking besides, track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking.

He said simplicity of competition and lack of expensive equipment make athletics one of the most commonly competed sports in the world.

He said the city is yet to get synthetic track which is a long pending demand of players to prepare the present generation as per the international standards.

A former 1,500-metre international player Surinder Pal Singh said whatever little infrastructure was available in the city is not freely available to the interested young sportsperson. Majority of these grounds are controlled by educational institutes and societies which allow youngsters to use the ground after they pass through bureaucratic rigmaroles.

He also said constant pressure from parent to perform well in studies is another reason why youths are losing interest in athletics.

The border city, once known for producing quality athletes, is far behind realising the coveted status. Over a period of time many players went to international meets and many of them set records. Among the international players were Manjit Singh Bhullar, who was a 400-metre hurdle player, Jaspal Singh, a shot-put athlete, Rajiv Mohan Singh, a 100-meter runner, Daljit Singh, a 20-km walk player, Nirmal Singh, javelin throw, Dr Sukhdev Singh, triple jump, Narinder Pal Singh, 20-km walk, Gagandeep Kaur, 5-km walk, Surinder Pal Singh, 1,500-metre, Naunidh Singh, 110-metre hurdle player and national record holder and Gurpreet Singh, 110-metre hurdle player.

300 take part in mini marathon

Over 300 players from nearly 20 schools of the city took part in City Gold Mini marathon held today to commemorate World Athletics Day. Organised by the Sarhad-e-Punjab Sports Club, mini marathon covered about three km from Chheharta and to the Guru Nanak Dev University’s gate. Prabhakar Senior Secondary School Principal Rajesh Prabhakar flagged off the mini marathon. Prabhakar Senior Secondary School won the first position and Sri Guru Ramdas Sports Academy, Vaniyeke, took the second spot.

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summer fashion
Sun shields become hot accessories
Neha Saini
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 1
It’s that time of the year when you cannot go out in the sun without dabbing an extra dose of sunscreen or without putting on a pair of shades. After all it is summer. It is time to deck-up oneself with cool summer accessory-it could be a cap, a scarf, a bandana or just the right attitude.

A casual tee and jeans is the mantra to beat the heat in style, but why play safe when you can play around with lots of summer accessories this season. The hottest ones are scarf, bandana and junk jewellery. Minimal dressing and right accessories are basics that girls don’t forget.

“In summers I keep my wardrobe simple. I make sure not to leave home without putting on my best shades, scarves,” shares Rimple Bhatti, a student from GNDU. “I also wear caps and hats that go well with my tee-jeans look. They are simple, yet sporty. The only drawback is that you have only selected colours to choose from,” she says. This girl has loads of them, one to go with each t-shirt. “They also protect my hair from getting damaged in the sun,” she adds.

“Baseball caps are not just for boys. In fact they look better on girls because they can carry it with style,” says a city-based designer Tarika Mehta. She recommends caps with rounded front flaps for girls. You can get these in all sizes, shapes and designs. “A baseball hat or a wide brimmed sun hat looks fabulous when worn with a casual outfit. Do not wear it with formals, lest you want heads to turn,” says Tarika. Girls can team up these caps with short denim skirts and even capris. Coloured printed caps and washed ones in denims are quiet in demand. In addition to these, you can also go in for designer caps with designs on them or the local ones. They are priced somewhere between Rs 150 and 600.

Scarves have many utilities as these can be worn in various ways. “Light weighed cotton and chiffon wraps and scarves can be knotted to your bag or just simply worn around the neck. Scarves are a multi-utility summer fashion accessory,” says Varsha Khanna, a city-based entrepreneur who has a fetish for scarf. “For a smart, trendy look you can tie a bandanna in different styles, depending on what you can carry off well. It can be tied up backwards, a very common style, or you can let some portion of it fall on the shoulders. Else try the hair band style, like a scarf. What’s important to remember is that bandannas should be worn only with casuals,” says Tarika.

Another hit is the crochet bandannas or the ones which have some work done on it. It’s a unisex accessory and looks equally sporty on both boys and girls.

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Rare laparoscopy surgery conducted
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 1
The Fortis Escorts hospital has claimed to have performed a rare surgery. A large pancreatic tumor was removed. The surgery was conducted by Dr Ravinder Singh Malhotra, Chief Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgeon at hospital.

The surgery was conducted on a 24-year-old woman who was suffering from constant stomach pain for three months.

She visited several physicians in the past few weeks and had a CT scan which revealed a pancreatic mass.

Dr Malhotra said, “The patient did well and was discharged on the fourth day post surgery.”

He said the surgery was the first in the region and it would revolutionise medical services in the city.

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