birth centenary
A century of an experience called Manto
Amritsar, May 9
Saadat Hasan Manto, one of the most creative minds of our times was born on May 11 a century ago. The city is ready to celebrate his 100th birth anniversary celebrations from May 11. What better way to remember a playwright than a play. To pay tribute to the legendary Urdu writer, city based theatre group Manch Rangmanch brings the play, 'Ek Si Manto'. The play is based on Manto's life, his short stories and plays.

Amritsar, May 9
The Civil Lines police arrested a murder accused Tejbir Singh, a resident of Bagga Chhina village in Rajasansi, from the residence of his brother where he was found consuming liquor.

Tejbir Singh, a suspended Agriculture Development Officer (ADO) who was posted at Fatehgarh Churian, has been facing trial for killing Balwinder Singh of the same village for more than four years.

Sukhwinder Singh, SHO Civil Lines police said he was arrested by the Circuit House police from Yasmeen Road. Tejbir was enjoying drinks when the police raided the residence of his brother Mandeep Singh. Mandeep Singh is a suspended police head constable, who was also booked for murder and is out of the jail on bail.

There was no jail security staff with Tejbir when he was arrested by the police in the evening.

However, Tejbir claimed he had come out of jail for medical treatment as he had severe pain the stomach due to gallbladder stones. He alleged that he was being framed by the police and the incident was politically motivated.

Deputy Superintendent of Jail BS Bhullar said he did not know about the incident as he was in Chandigarh for some official work. “We are investigating how he came out of the jail. Preliminary investigations point towards negligence on the part of the jail authorities and the security staff deputed with Tejbir when he came out of the jail," said Sukhwinder Singh. He said a case under Section 223 IPC (escaping from confinement negligently suffered by a public servant) will be registered against him. He said action will also be taken against the jail security staff if they are found guilty of negligence. He said a medical examination of the accused will also be conducted as he was drunk.

Amritsar, May 9
Supply of quality drinking water is the biggest problem faced by the residents of most of the localities of ward number two.

An unpaved Sher Shah Suri road in Ward number 2 of Amritsar. Photos: Sameer Sehgal

Residents of Shori Nagar had a tough time when water logged at the entrance of the area. The residents of Vikas Nagar rue that street number seven often gets inundated during rains. The street leading to Dhakha Colony also needs repair.

The residents complained that Sher Shah Suri road, which connects most of the areas in the ward was paved nine years ago.

They said Sunil Dutti got the road paved in the first year as the Mayor but nothing has been done since then.

The road from the GT road to Dashmesh Nagar has a slant due to which water enters the area during rains. Despite the foundation stone of a sewerage project was laid recently, the problem still persists.

The residents rue that the water pump for supplying water to Dhaka colony has been lying defunct for more than three years.

They also complain that lack of drinking water has made people susceptible to problems such as jaundice and diarrhoea.

A medical store owner said people often come to procure diseases for water-borne diseases.

At least two places where tubewells have been installed also have sufficient area to be converted into parks but are a picture of neglect.

The outer wall of the tubewell compound at Chintpurni Chowk needs repair.

A large vacant area lies unused. Same is the condition of the space for a tubewell-cum-park at Dhaka Colony. At this place though the walkways for residents have been constructed but there is no greenery.

During rains the entrance to the Sher Shah Suri road gets water logged. The sewerage system of the area needs to be improved. The corporation should become more sensitive to the problems.

Kuldeep Singh, a resident

The councillor gave Rs 5.5 lakh for a park in Guru Gobind Singh Nagar. But he has not given a paisa for our park as a result it is in a dilapidated condition and looks more of a waste land.

Kuldeep Singh, a resident of dhaka colony

The councillor never visited the area. Even if he is in the opposition, he should not have lost touch with the residents. Quality of drinking should be improved. More pumps should be installed to supply drinking water.

Mahinder Singh, a resident

Sewerage water often overflows. Water pumps should be repaired immediately. People here cannot afford to install submersible pumps in their homes.

Vijay Kumar, a shopkeeper

The safai sevaks hardly come here. Garbage can be seen piling up at places. Few places don't have adequate supply of water and some don't have it at all. Snatching incidents too have increased during the wee hours.

MP Satija, a resident

Amritsar, May 9
Saadat Hasan Manto, one of the most creative minds of our times was born on May 11 a century ago. The city is ready to celebrate his 100th birth anniversary celebrations from May 11. What better way to remember a playwright than a play.

To pay tribute to the legendary Urdu writer, city based theatre group Manch Rangmanch brings the play, 'Ek Si Manto'. The play is based on Manto's life, his short stories and plays. It will be staged on May 11 and 12 in Amritsar and then in Samrala, his birth place, followed by the last performance in Chandigarh. The play will also be staged in Lahore, where Manto spent the last years of his life.

"Saadat Hasan Manto was a phenomenal writer of his time and someone who could dare to write about social taboos and explore the society's dark underbelly. His short stories and plays were a reflection of important happenings that struck him hard. Our play will also have the same intensity," says Kewal Dhaliwal, who has written and directed the play.

The play will be in a narrative style, with Manto's three daughters telling their father's story. The play will re-introduce the writer through a conversation with his daughters. Dhaliwal's play will involve conversations Manto had with his three daughters. "The daughters ask him about the allegations of vulgar writings levelled against him by a section of the society and how Manto defends his writings before his daughters. All these conversations will be a part of the play," says Dhaliwal, who staged a play on Manto in Lahore five years back and was "honoured" by Manto's daughters as well. It will have reflections of his famous short stories like 'Bu', 'Thanda Ghosht', 'Dhuan', 'Kaali Salwar', 'Utte Hethan te Vichkar' and 'Khol Do'.

"Manto wrote scripts for films and he found instant success at that. His famous films include Kishan Kanhaya (1936) and Apni Nagariya (1939). Despite financial ups and downs in his life, he continued writing for films until he left for Delhi in January 1941. His best phase in screenwriting was films like Aatth Din, Chal Chal Re Naujawan and Mirza Ghalib. A play to mark his centenary birth celebrations is nothing but perfect," says Brijesh Jolly, a city based artist.

Apart from the play, city based theatre group will also organise events around Manto's works throughout the year. The group also plans to hold a festival dedicated to Manto. “We will plan another series of plays and Manto's daughters will be a part of it. Apart from this, there will be workshops and short plays based on his short stories,” says Dhaliwal.

Amritsar, May 9
The CIA staff has arrested notorious gangster Jasbir Singh alias Jassa who was wanted in more than 20 cases, including that of murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, snatchings, NDPS and Arms Act registered at various police stations.

Amritsar, May 9
The Regional Passport Office has detected a fraud involving the use of forged birth certificates and divorce decrees by applicants for issuance of passports. At a press conference here today, Regional Passport Officer JS Sodhi said they have detected forged documents in over hundred applications so far.

He said few of these applicants have even gone abroad on the passports issued to them on the basis of forged documents. “We send the documents to the issuing authority for verification. Sometimes it takes months. After verification, the authorities concerned have reported that few of the documents were fake,” said Sodhi. Passports issued on the basis of fake documents can be suspended for five years. He said the passport holders and applicants whose applications which are under consideration have been served show cause notices.

He said the office requires them to explain the situation and submit an affidavit furnishing the details of the agent or middlemen from whom they had got the fake documents.

“Even if the passports have been already issued and holders are residing abroad we will suspend their passports and a ban for issuance of any passport will be applied for five years as punishment,” said Sodhi.

He said the maximum number of fake birth certificates have been submitted by applicants from Tarn Taran. The regional passport office caters to eight districts. He said few applicants have also provided fake divorce decrees or other judicial documents to support their applications. He said people should supply only original documents to prevent legal hassles.

Sodhi said considering the rush of applicants, the Passport Seva Kendra has decided to entertain 500 applications every day instead of 400. He said the applicants requiring police clearance certificates have been exempted from taking prior appointments. He said these PCC applicants can walk in after submitting their application online.

Even if the passports have been already issued and holders are residing abroad we will suspend their passports and a ban for issuance of any passport will be applied for five years as punishment,” said Sodhi. The maximum number of fake birth certificates have been submitted by applicants from Tarn Taran.

— JS Sodhi, RPO

Amritsar, May 9
After the release of partial payment by the Amritsar Municipal Corporation, Antony Waste Handling Company resumed its operations in the morning and lifted garbage had been piling up for past four days.

The row between the AMC and the Antony Waste firm was highlighted through the columns of this newspaper 'Garbage Collection System Collapses in city on May 6. Due to the non-payment of dues by the AMC, Antony Waste firm had shut down its operations as the fuel pump owners had refused to oblige by filling the garbage trolleys on credit basis. The firm had also pasted a notice on its workshop located at Patahpur road, while announcing to lay off its staff for want of funds, till further orders.

The AMC had to pay the firm dues to the tune of Rs 1.5 crore, pending since December and the company could not clear the fuel bills amounting to Rs 20 lakh.

This move also affected at least 200 staff members, including 72 drivers, 90 helpers and other supporting staff who were out of work.

Confirming the patch up, Antony Waste firm manager Manjinder Singh said Rs 10 lakh has been released by the AMC and the garbage lifting work has resumed. He said the notice of shutdown operations and laying off the staff have also been withdrawn.

"We received the first installment of Rs 10 lakh from the AMC against our dues which enabled us to fill our vehicles.

Today, five big garbage lifting trucks and rest of our small fleet could be pressed into service. We have been assured by the MC Commissioner that all dues will be cleared within a week," he said.

About the notice, Manjinder said, "The notice was released because after the refusal of the fuel pump owners to extend us diesel on credit, we had to station our fleet. Under those circumstances it was illogical to call up the drivers and other supporting staff. But now that the things seem to have normalised, they have been put on job again," he clarified.

AMC Commissioner Dharampal Gupta said the payment got delayed due to financial closing, but the process will be streamlined. "A part payment was made to the company to resume the operation" he said.

Jalandhar, May 9
The new modules adopted by the Guru Nanak Dev University for better implementation of the Centre’s Post-Matric SC Scholarship Scheme has come as a boon for a large section of poor, Dalit community desirous of sending their wards for higher education in colleges.

Following strict directives from the Principal Secretary, Welfare Department, Punjab, to all the universities across the state to ensure that no SC student should be asked to deposit any fee at the time of admission, the university has amended its rules.

Registrar of the university Dr Inderjit Singh said, “From now on, the students would not be asked to pay for any fee or funds at the time of admission. Instead, the college would get a bank account opened in the name of the student after the admission and forward his claim to the Centre. The student, however, will have to give an undertaking that as soon as the funds would be made available in their accounts, they would deposit the same in the college account.”

Earlier, the SC students had no choice but to pay up thousands of rupees as college fee and university funds right at the time of the admission. It was refunded to them after the colleges sent claims in this regard and the Centre dispatched the scholarship grant, which usually came at the fag end of the year.

The move discouraged many financially weak Dalit students from taking admission as they could neither manage huge funds nor had any means to take loans for the same, defeating the very purpose of the scheme.

However, most colleges have done nothing to popularise the scheme for the welfare of the students from the category. Not just the colleges, even the social welfare department or education officers have not done anything to promote it. For the same reasons, there are only a few SC applicants against the sanctioned quota. Most colleges reap huge benefit of the vacant seats under the category transferring them to general pool.

A directive issued by the Principal Secretary, Welfare Department, Punjab, on June 25, 2010, to Vice Chancellors of the university in the state reads, “It is often seen that the educational institutes concerned demand immediate payment of fee from SC students and on not being able to do so, pass on the seat to other candidates, which is a gross violation of the government instructions. You are directed to follow the government guidelines. If any government or private institution is found levying fee from such students, strict action would be taken against and recommendation for canceling of their recognition would be forwarded to the Central and state government or their council concerned”.

Amritsar, May 9
“Consistency and hard work are the key to success. My attempt was structured on the class notes I prepared during graduation. Fix your target and work hard to achieve it," said Rukmani Riar, former GND University student who bagged the second position in the All India Civil Services Examination 2011, during a felicitation ceremony held at the university here today.

The Vice-Chancellor Prof AS Brar honoured her and her parents.

“Aiming high, commitment, hard work of students, teachers and blessing of parents always leads to success," said Prof Brar.

This function was organised by the School of Social Sciences, from where Rukmani did her graduation in 2008 and qualified with a gold medal.

Dr SS Sohal Singh, head of the department, Prof Gurnam Singh, former head of the department, faculty members and students were also present. Prof Brar said freedom of any kind should not be misused at any cost.

He advised students to give up bad habits and work hard in a disciplined manner to achieve their mission in life. He also advised students to respect their teachers and parents and avoid shortcuts in life.

Her father BS Riar credited the school for laying the foundation on which Rukmani could make her family, University and the state proud.

Prof Gurnam Singh highlighted the uniqueness of the course being run by the School of Social Sciences of the university. Prof Sohal said last year three students from the school, Daljit Kuar, Jatin Chopra and Barjinder Singh had cleared the Civil Services exams and hoped for more such success stories.

Meanwhile, Prof Jagrup Singh Sekhon, the head of All India Services Pre-examinations Training Centre and the Centre of Preparation for Competitive Examinations of the University said other students Ashwani Kumar, Mohan Lal, Gurjit Singh, Pawanjit Singh, Madhur Bhatia, Gurpreet Singh, Lakhbir Singh, Davinder Paliaal, Gurdev Singh, Sarabjit Singh, Bikramjit Singh, Vikram Singh Dhillon, Simpal Kochar and Mohit Mehra cleared the Punjab Civil Services main examination.

Amritsar, May 9
The district health authorities held a meeting of Senior Medical Officers today. The meeting was held to decide on the activities for the Sanitation Week beginning from May 15. Officiating Civil Surgeon Dr Hardeep Singh Ghai said the officers have been asked to take special measures to remove weeds and wild grass from the hospitals and dispensaries.

He said the department has issued instructions for chemicals to be sprayed to eliminate flies and mosquitoes from the premises of health institutions. He said the event aims to sensitise employees and the general public towards the importance of sanitation.

Reports of the National Rural Health Mission schemes were also reviewed in the meeting, said District family Welfare Officer, Dr Ranjit Singh Butter.—TNS