Ludhiana, May 1
Politics within the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation is all set to take an interesting turn with Bains brothers-Simarjit Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains-officially rejoining the SAD today.

Simarjit Singh Bains, along with his elder brother Balwinder, had won as an Independent MLA from Atam Nagar and Ludhiana South constituencies, respectively. Simarjit, who is a co-accused in the Tehsildar GS Benipal assault and stripping case of June 2009, has also remained a councillor twice and Balwinder happens to be a SGPC member.

In 2007 municipal elections, the group had fielded five Independent candidates-Parminder Singh Soma from ward number 68, Swarandeep Singh Chahal from ward number 69, Kamaljit Singh Karwal from ward number 66 (these three had won), Sunita Garg from ward number 73 and Shamsher Badhesha from Dugri (both lost). These candidates were fielded against official SAD candidates chosen by then Cabinet Minister and District President of the party, Hira Singh Gabria.

Later, all winning candidates had officially joined the SAD in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. Another Independent councillor Daljit Singh Grewal from ward number 8 also joined the Bains group and had also contested the recent Vidhan Sabha elections as an Independent from the Ludhiana East constituency. Another councillor Jagbir Singh Sokhi from ward number 63, who was once confidant of Bains, switched sides in December last year and joined hands with Hira Singh Gabria, after his wife Sukhwinder Kaur was co-opted in the SGPC house after being denied ticket by the SAD.

When the SAD-BJP won the 2007 municipal elections, Simarjit Singh Bains had lobbied hard to become Mayor, but with the intervention of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Hakam Singh Giaspura was chosen as the city Mayor. At that time, Bains was having support of at least 22 councillors, but still he could not succeed.

After the “favourable” Vidhan Sabha results, Simarjit Singh Bains had even announced that he would be fielding his candidates from all 75 wards of the city.

After this development, a senior SAD (B) leader said, “Now it would be interesting to see whether the SAD candidates, who lost to ‘rebels’ fielded by Bains brothers during last MC elections, will get ticket or not.”

While speaking to The Tribune, Simarjit Singh Bains said he would lobby for ticket of councillors from his group with the party high command. “I have always been of this view that if any councillor is acceptable to the residents, he should be given party ticket. Now that we have joined the Akali Dal, we would make sure the party wins the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation elections,” he claimed.

Bains brothers had started their political careers from the SAD (Amritsar) almost a decade ago, but on October 30, 2004, they joined the SAD. Both brothers were again expelled from the party in December last year, when they had announced that they would be contesting as independents against Hira Singh Gabria and Mayor Hakam Singh Giaspura.

Ludhiana, May 1
Senior government officials have been issuing statements that there is no shortage of gunny bags in the state and the procurement procedure was going on smoothly in all districts. Contrary to this, there is a shortage of gunny bags in almost all districts. If arhtiyas and a few employees of the mandi board are to be believed then there is shortage of more than 2,500 gunny bags in the Ludhiana district alone. And about 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of wheat is yet to arrive in mandis.

An employee working at the district mandi office disclosed that as per data collected from various areas, a bumper wheat crop is expected in the Ludhiana district. About 9.35 lakh metric tonnes of wheat will be procured and 7.85 lakh metric tonnes had already arrived in mandis.

“But we are facing acute shortage of ‘bardana’. For this (9.35 lakh metric tonnes of wheat) 37,000 gunny bags are required. There is a shortage of over 2,500 gunny bags in the district and senior officials have ordered to pool in all bags and distribute it as per requirement. This step was taken after ‘bardana’ in about 20 mandis ended. The bags will be distributed judiciously till we get more,” he said.

Dalip Singh, an arhtiyas, said wheat was lying in open in Dehlon and Gopalpur due to shortage of jute bags. “The weather is unpredictable. If it rains in 48 hours, the wheat lying in open will get damaged. The government should have made arrangements in advance for the benefit of farmers,” Dalip Singh added.

Sources in the Food and Supplies Department, Chandigarh, said arrangements had been made for procuring bags from the Jute Corporation of India, Kolkotta. The department places orders in October and November with the Jute Corporation and the government starts getting the bags from December onwards.

“But no one was taking it seriously due to the Assembly elections in the state. As a result, heaps of gunny bags are still being procured from the Corporation,” said an official of the department.

The district was using heaps of gunny bags sent by respective mandis. Barring one or two places, there is no shortage of gunny bags in the district, Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tiwari added.

Ludhiana, May 1
It has been confirmed that the rabbits at Nehru Rose Garden were killed by stray dogs. An inquiry report prepared by the MC Joint Commissioner, AS Sekhon, regarding the death of over a dozen rabbits at the rose garden found that the enclosure where the rabbits were kept had not been repaired ever since the mini-zoo was shifted from the rose garden over a decade ago.

Sekhon found that the enclosure for the rabbits was “not up to the mark”. “It was not fit for keeping the rabbits and has never been repaired. I have ordered that the enclosure should be repaired at the earliest so that no such incident takes place in the future,” he said.

MC officials also found that the stray dogs had entered the garden from an “illegal” entry point adjoining a slum.

“Almost 90 per cent of the dogs present inside the garden as well as anti-social elements have been using that particular entry, which is 2.5-ft wide. The entry point had come up there over the years. And there was no check. We will take steps to check the entry point as well,” he said.

The supervisor, RK Bali, who has been placed under suspension following the incident, was also at fault. “He did not lock the enclosure’s gate properly that night. That is why the dogs managed to enter the enclosure and kill the rabbits. Had he locked the gate properly, the incident would not have taken place,” he claimed.

The MC Commissioner had ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident. It was also found that the rabbits do not even exist in the MC records as they were either “gifted” or “handed over” by area residents to the MC authorities.

Ludhiana, May 1
Differently abled persons are against the new guidelines laid by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) for the examination scheduled for May 3.

The guidelines say: “The writers should not be above the age of 20 years as on the date of exam; the writer should be the same person for all the papers; no request for change of writer shall be permitted; and the writer should not be a relative of the candidate.”

Reacting to it, Dr Neelam Sodhi, director of Ashirwad -- the North India Cerebral Palsy Associations -- said: “It is not feasible. As far as school exams till class IX are concerned, one easily gets a junior student for a differently abled student, but later it becomes difficult to arrange for the same writer for so many exams. My son, who is suffering from multiple disabilities and is pursuing computer engineering from Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, faces the same problem. No junior student in the college is ready to write all the exams as they have to appear for their own exam, too. The condition of the same writer for all the exams is illogical. What are they trying to prove?”

She said there should be permission for at least two writers for such students.

Sunil Saini, a differently abled chartered accountant (CA) who cleared his exam in 1993, said: “Earlier, there was no facility for such persons. But I think a person who cannot write should be allowed to seek help from two writers. Only one writer should not be mandatory.”

Recalling his exam in 1992 at Jaipur, Suresh Goel, another differently abled CA, said: “I remember that I was not allowed to appear in the exam while sitting in a relaxed posture. And now such candidates are not being allowed to seek the help of two writers. It is ridiculous that one has to bear all the hindrances to prove his abilities.”

Ludhiana, May 1
Gate-crashing at a wedding yesterday proved costly for a couple as they were mistaken to be thieves and beaten up by the relatives of the bride and groom.

After a day-long probe, the police decided to take no action against the couple from Haibowal. The incident took place when the couple entered the wedding venue and started eating food. They then sat in the front row and started watching a dance performance.

The groom’s family spotted them and suspected their movement. The drunk relatives of both the bride and groom surrounded them and thrashed them.

The guests thought that the couple was part of the notorious gang of thieves who stole gold ornaments and valuables from weddings.

The couple was handed over to the Sarabha Nagar police. However, they turned out to be innocent during a probe conducted by the SHO, Prem Singh.

“The couple had to pay a heavy price for eating food free of cost at the wedding. They were visiting Ferozepur to purchase marble and tiles as construction was in progress at their house. As they were hungry, they decided to have food at a wedding party, where they were caught and beaten up,” the SHO said.

Ludhiana, May 1
To pay homage to the martyrs of May 1, who laid down their lives for their fellow-beings (workers), various trade unions affiliated to the AITUC and CITU held a rally at the bus stand here today.

Those, who participated in the rally included the Punjab Road Motor Transport Workers Union (AITUC), Safai Labour Union, municipal corporation, PSEB Employees Federation, AITUC, PSSF, Government Class 1V Employees’ Union, Bank Employees’ Federation, PAU Employees’ Union, PRTC Employees’ Union and Mistri Mazdoor Union (AITUC).

While addressing a gathering, various speakers said the working class in India had played a glorious role in freedom struggle and thereafter in building modern India, they waged relentless struggle to get their rights; which included eight hours duty, job security, right to form unions, minimum wages, provident fund, medical facilities and retirement benefits.

They also struggled along with other sections of society for building public sector which includes nationalisation of banking, insurance, transport, power sector, mines, railways, telecommunication, education and research, which ultimately benefited the poor and middle class of society. But for the past few years, after the structural adjustment programmes under the diktats of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and introduction of Neo Liberal Economic Policies, which benefited multinational corporations and super rich, all these gains were being reversed, causing misery to the toiling masses in the country.

This was visible from the changes in labour laws in the name of labour reforms which were in fact anti-labour. The representatives from different trade unions said the laws, meant to protect the interests of workers, were being violated even in the public sector units and the government was paying no heed to this.

Those who addressed the rally included Com Bant Singh Brar, general secretary, AITUC, Punjab, Com Vijay Mishra, president, CITU, Punjab,

Com OP Mehta, vice-president, AITUC, Punjab, DP Maur, general secretary, Joint Council of Trade Unions, Ludhiana, Com Jatinder Pal, secretary, CITU, Com Jagdish Chander, CITU.

Another rally was held at the FCI depot, Mullanpur, which was addressed by Dr Arun Mitra, Com Charan Singh and Com Bhagat.

Rally by municipal corporation sanitation workers

The Safai Labour Union took out a rally today. Com Ramesh Rattan and Com Vijay Kumar were the speakers.

PAU employees

The PAU Employees Union also organised a rally on the PAU campus which was addressed by Com DP Maur, Com Paramjit Singh Gill, Dr Gulzar Pandher, Com Amritpal, Com Rajinder Singh of GADVASU, Com Avtar Singh Gurm.

Karkhana Mazdoor Union

The Karkhana Mazdoor Union and Textile Mazdoor Union today observed May Day at PUDA ground on the Chandigarh road here today. The workers paid rich tributes to the martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for lakhs of workers worldwide. During a function, the speakers were of the view that workers had always faced oppression, exploitation and injustice but they never halted their struggle. May Day had become the symbol of struggle of workingmen for liberation from unjust system. The speakers pointed out that workers were being denied of meagre facilities, including food, education, health, transport and even clean drinking water.

Northern Railwaymen’s Union

May Day was observed by the Northern Railway Union in which workers from many other unions, too, took part. The employees condemned the successive government for their “anti-employee” policies. The workers also took part in the rally which was flagged off by the union leaders. The leaders said since the Railways was an independent sector which had its own budget, due to wrong policies of the government, the sector remained in losses and ultimately the employees became the scapegoats.

Moulder and Steel Worker Union

The Moulder and Steel Worker Union also observed the Labour Day here today. Rich tributes were paid to the martyrs of Chicago who sacrificed their lives for the welfare of workers. Among others workers from Lok Ekta Sangathan, Hosiery Workers Union, Akhil Bharti Nepali Ekta Samaj also took part in the event.

Kirti Kisan Sabha

Doraha: A joint rally was organised by the workers of AICTU, Kirti Kisan Sabha, Government Pensioners’ Association, Anti Gas Pipe Line Sangharsh Committee and Krantikari Mazdoor Sabha at Krishan Kumar Kaushal Memorial Bhavan, Doraha. Tributes were paid to workers who sacrificed their lives in Chicago agitation in 1886 and to those who were killed in “Shital Fibres” building collapse at Jalandhar and in an explosion in “Dasmesh Chemicare” near Lalru by observing a two-minute silence. 

Ludhiana, May 1
When different labour organisations were busy celebrating May Day, there were a few labourers who could be seen working hard to make both ends meet.

They reminded one of “Halku”, a tenant farmer in Munshi Prem Chand’s story “Poos Ki raat” who toiled hard to earn his livelihood.

Collecting broken bricks from a road near the CFC school and loading these in an iron container, Rajan Lal was almost exhausted as it was time for a tea break, when he said, “I will sip tea at 3 pm and rest for 15 minutes. My day will end at 5.30 pm.”

When asked if he was aware of the significance of the day, he said, “Is maheene mein yeh pehla kaam ka din hai (today is the first working day of the month).”

It was Jhabbu Lal, who was busy selling mangoes on the Ferozepur Road, said, “I don’t know what day it is, but I am worried as I could earn only Rs 45. Only a few hours are left for the sunset and the fruit may start rotting.”

Amrit, a daily wager at a tea stall near Pakhowal Road, said, “I wonder why any shopkeeper has not organised a langar. Usually, on such days, langars are held,” said Amrit while picking up a tray of tea cups.

Not only men, but also women did not know anything about the day. Hardeep Kaur, who was busy harvesting wheat near Baddowal, said, “I have to harvest the crop in two fields. I think May Day marks the harvesting season.”

Ludhiana, May 1
Residents can now beat the heat at the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation’s swimming pool in Rakh Bagh. It will start functioning from tomorrow onwards.

Municipal Additional Commissioner (Technical) Operations and Maintenance Cell, Manjit Singh, accompanied by senior officials visited the swimming pool and ensured that all arrangements were in order.

He said two coaches and lifeguards had been hired for this swimming season. “Every year thousands of people use this swimming pool, which is one of the best in the region,” he claimed.

Anyone who wants to join swimming he will have to pay the government fee and if anyone wants to learn swimming, he would have to pay an additional amount as well.

For outsiders, government employees, students, couples and children below the age of 12 years, the coaching fee is Rs 700 for entire swimming season (May to September), while the coaching fee for MC employees and their family members is Rs 350.

Ludhiana, May 1
To deal with casualities at the railway station here, trainers from Ziqitza Health Care Company, a service provider, today trained porters.

Rajneesh Sharma gave tips on how to tackle a casuality in case of a fire incident, trauma, burn injuries, electric shock, accident, fractures and epileptic fits.

Jagdeep Singh, cluster head of Ludhiana-I, and Jatin Malhotra, cluster head of Ludhiana-II for “Ambulance- 108” service, said, “When an accident occurs, people try to save the victims, but sometimes they don’t know how to deal with the situation. Keeping in view all these facts, tips were given to porters at the railway station today.”

For the free service, one can contact the trainers of Ziqitza Health Care Company at 7307475502 and at 9888860098. 

Ludhiana, May 1
MCom in colleges affiliated to Panjab University is going to be revamped from this session onwards, even the syllabus of the course has been updated.

The new MCom course will have specialisations in the third and fourth semesters.

Prof Ashwani Bhalla from SCD Government College, said the new syllabus had been revised according to international standards. The latest International Financial Reporting Stardards have been introduced in the new curriculum. There will be specialisations in various fields, including HR, marketing, applied economics, international business, insurance etc, he said.

Students will have to choose a major and minor subject in the third semester and one specialisation in the final semester.

Talking about the difference between specialisations in MBA and MCom, he said that the approach of the course would be different as there would be more of research work and the course would be teaching oriented than the management courses.

There will be focus on research methodologies in the new curriculum, he said. This will not only equip students of MCom with research tools but will also help students pursuing PhD after the course, as they will be familiar with research work. The new syllabi also has syllabus included in the current UGC NET exam, so the students pursuing the course will not have to prepare for UGC NET exam, he said.

Workshops will have different parameters with student presentations and written examination. After the completion of the new course, students will be equipped with latest tools, including IT applications used in the field of commerce. The course will attune students better with teaching, research and business analysis.

It is a new concept, and the syllabus has been designed according to the current concepts in commerce, students and teachers will have to work harder and will gain more from the new syllabi, he further said.

Ludhiana, May 1
As Sachin Pilot, Minister of State for Communications and IT, announced the installation of ATMs at about 1,000 post offices in the country in the initial phase. The Head Post Office in the city is all set to be included in the initial phase, sources said.

Swaraj Kaur, Senior Postmaster at the Head Post Office, said the office had received directions to complete the data of all accounts. "Currently we are checking if there are any discrepancies in any accounts.

Some of the accounts are lying dormant or rarely being used. So we are compiling all the information required by the department."

She said as per information, no information had been received if ATMs would be installed at any of the sub-post offices in the city.

An official said, it was a step towards modernising the post offices. With the introduction of Project Arrow, there has been streamlining of the process, and the post offices are also expected to bring in business and generate profits, he said. So intallation of ATMs at post offices will help retain customers and win more, he said.

Ludhiana, May 1
He passes off as barely a five-feet tall man but his heroics sets him apart. However, the indifferent attitude of the authorities has yet again proved that the act of courage has no recognition in society.

Ajay Kumar (36), who earned accolades for his exemplary display of bravery as he suffered a bullet injury while trying to nab armed snatchers along with ASI Gurdial Singh in Vishal Nagar, has become the latest victim of hollow promises made by the custodians of law.

Nearly a year after the incident, when ASI Gurdial Singh was shot at while trying to nab the snatchers and after struggling for life for nearly a month after which he died at a hospital, Ajay now laments over his decision to accompany ASI Gurdal Singh to nab the snatchers.

Ajay, said the senior police officials visiting the hospital assured him of a job in the police department, but the tall promises soon fizzled out and Ajay's courageous act was forgotten.

"I was influenced by ASI Gurdail Singh and that was primarily the reason why I accompanied him on the ill-fated day. Gurdial's sacrifice was soon forgotten. Further, I was also made to run from pillar to post for a job in the Punjab Home Guard (PHG)," said Ajay Kumar.

It was Ishwar Singh, Commissioner of Police (CP), who came as a guardian angel and made arrangement for Ajay‘s medical expenses, otherwise has would have to bear the expenses for his surgery as well.

Ajay said, "Ishwar Singh told me that my file had been sent to the Director General of Police (DGP), it was further marked to the DGP (Home Guard). The file was further sent to the DIG,- Home Guards, but it has been nearly a year now, and my fate is still locked in the file that is gathering dust. Neither I was offered a job nor did the department give me any financial support."

He further said that the incident had added another financial burden on his shoulder. "Whenever the police nabs any snatcher, I am asked to identify them. I pay from my pocket and visit the police station to identify the suspect. I am being punished for my act of courage," said Ajay, who is the only breadwinner in the family.

Jagraon, May 1
Allegations of embezzlement of funds worth several lakhs by a few municipal authorities in connivance with contractors while carrying out development works in various parts of the town has once again rocked the house during the monthly general house meeting held today.

As soon as Executive Officer Jagtaran Singh declared the meeting open, a few councillors started levelling allegations and counter allegations of misuse of funds meant for various development works against each other.

Jagraon Municipal Council president Baldev Krishan Dhir, who has already been facing the ire of the local residents for alleged use of substandard material in various development works carried out in the town and delay in various ongoing development works, found himself in an awkward situation when a few councillors openly levelled allegations of corruption against him during the meeting.

While vice-president of the council Ravinder Kumar Sabharwal raised the issue of use of substandard material in various development works by the contractors in connivance with MC President, another councillor Kulwinder Singh Kala levelled allegations of corruption and misuse of the funds meant for different development works against him.

Alleging that the contractors had used substandard material while carrying out development works in different wards of the town, councillor Ravinder Kumar Sabharwal called for a probe into the matter and demanded to blacklist such contractors who had used bad quality material in development works.

Following this, Congress councillor Chandar Parkash attacked the municipal president for the delay in development works in the ward represented by him. Councillor Jatinderpal Rana alleged that the municipal council had been laying interlocking tiles in the areas, which were in relatively better condition, but no work has been started in the areas, which really are in dire need of development works. By doing so, the municipal council has been just wasting the public funds, he added.

Councillor from Ward number 1 raised the issue of dairies located in the residential areas and urged these to be shifted out of the town.

MC president, however, denied allegations levelled against him by the councillors. Terming the allegations as baseless and politically motivated, he stated that his political opponents were trying to tarnish his image.

Ludhiana, May 1
Resentment prevails among the mid-day meal workers against the government for not fulfilling the promises made by it till date. The government had promised to hike their salaries before the Assembly elections.

Mid-meal workers cook the food and take care of kitchen in schools. These female workers are receiving Rs 1,000 per month for this job. Mid-day meal workers had staged a protest for hike in their wages before the state Assembly elections.

General sectary of the Mid-Day Meal Workers’ Union Harpal Kaur said, “We were demanding Rs 4,016 per month as salary. The government is giving us very less wages. Single women cook food for 100 students every day and receive mere Rs 1,000 for this job”.

Parkash Hissowal of the union said, “Despite working for almost six hours everyday, these workers were paid a meager salary of Rs 1,000 per month. The government should give salaries according to the Minimum Wages Act.