Jalandhar, July 23
Hectic activity by the health department and the district administration to counter the diarrhoea monster in the city doesn't seem to be helping much, as the situation has certainly gone out of control.

With another diarrhoea death reported in the city today, the toll has risen to five deaths.

Hrithik (13), a resident of gali number 6 in the Abadpura area, died in the evening today.

Son of Rajinder, Hrithik had bouts of vomiting and loose motions in the morning today, following which he was taken to a private hospital.

Since the case was serious, the hospital referred the patient to the Civil Hospital, where he died at about 4 pm.

The rest of the Abadpura area, too, continued to remain in the grip of the disease for another day today.

Four new diarrhoea patients were reported from the Abadpura area today and two new fever pateints were also reported from Abadpura.

At Phaggu Mohalla, three new diarrhoea patients were reported.

There is anger among Aabadpura residents regarding the deaths, especially given the fact that compensation for the families of the deceased have still not been announced even though the death toll continues to rise with each passing day. 

Jalandhar, July 23
With two more private universities getting the government nod, Punjab is set to have 20 universities in all. With eight state universities, one Central university, three deemed universities, eight private universities and hundreds of professional colleges, there seems to have been an exceptionally high rate of expansion of higher education institutes in the state. But there are divergent views on the mushrooming of institutes.

While some academicians in the state are worried over the diminishing standards and little check on rules and regulations, there are others who feel that higher growth would lead to more competition and improvement in standards in colleges.

The educationists are worried over the use of foul means being adopted by some colleges and universities for attracting more and more students. There have been reports of almost all colleges using middlemen to pull students from Punjab and other neighbouring states and even offering commission to its own staff for every student they bring in through their own effort.

A retired DPI (Colleges) Dr Karamjit Kaur Chaudhary opines, “What I see around actually seem to be more of karyana hattis selling education at a premium, ignoring the provision of education to the downtrodden also.

The regulating bodies must go very rigid in giving NOCs to private institutes, check what good they have done to the underprivileged society and nation-building so far and maintain a check on their quality and fee structure.

“The actual point of check should not be whether there are adequate ACs installed or an aesthetically designed building with an institute. For that matter, the educational institutes may just have mattresses for children to sit, but they must be armed with well-qualified faculty, which is also duly paid. When this check will be made, half of the educational institutes would fail to qualify. Our school are producing a stuff which cannot even write a simple application.” Vice-Chancellor Punjab Technical University Dr Rajneesh Arora believes otherwise, as he says, “The growth of institutions has come as a big boon for the students who have varied choices at the time of admission. Owing to increased competition, the colleges are forced to keep on updating their facilities on their own to attract students.” He then quoted HRD Minister Kapil Sibal’s statement during his recent visit, “We cannot deny entry to more players. Ultimately, it will be the survival of the fittest.” Sikandar Singh Maluka, Minister for Education and Higher Education, Punjab, when contacted over the issue, said there, of course, had been an increasing number of private universities in the last few years. “We are contemplating bringing in reforms for the regulation of fee in private universities. We are working on it,” he said. He said there was no problem in admissions except in engineering and B.Ed colleges.

State Universities: 1. Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar 2. Punjabi University Patiala 3. Punjab Technical University Jalandhar 4. Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana 5. Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Ludhiana 6. Baba Farid University of Health and Medical Sciences Faridkot 7. Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law Patiala 8. Guru Ravi Dass Ayurveda University Hoshiarpur Central Universities 1. Central University of Punjab Bathinda

Deemed Universities: 1. Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology, Longowal 2. Dr BR Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar 3. Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology Patiala

Private Universities: 1. Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University Fatehgarh Sahib 2. Lovely Professional University near Phagwara 3. Guru Kashi University Talwandi Sabo 4. Adesh University Bathinda 5. Chitkara University Patiala 6. Chandigarh University Gharuan 7. Desh Bhagat University Mandi Gobindgarh 8. DAV University Jalandhar.

Poor in academics

The actual point of check should not be whether there are adequate ACs installed or an aesthetically designed building with an institute. For that matter, the educational institutes may just have mattresses for children to sit, but they must be armed with well-qualified faculty, which is also duly paid. When this check will be made, half of the educational institutes would fail to qualify. Our school are producing a stuff which cannot even write a simple application — Dr Karamjit Kaur Chaudhary, DPI (Colleges), retd

Varied choice now

The growth of institutions has come as a big boon for the students who have a varied choice at the time of admission. Owing to increased competition, the colleges are forced to keep on updating their facilities on their own to attract students

— Dr Rajneesh Arora, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Technical University 

Jalandhar, July 23
People of Punjab are so secretive about their personal information that they never divulge details like expenditure incurred by them on vegetables, spices, tobacco, wine and liquor to anyone.

The investigating officials of the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) often have to face hostile behavior of the people not willing to furnish information on consumer expenditure. They faced great difficulties in obtaining details of the expenditure of people even on items like foot-wear and clothing during its ongoing survey in Punjab.

The NSSO has initiated a mammoth exercise in Northern parts of Punjab to collect comparative data on various aspects of employment, unemployment and consumer expenditure behavior of people under its 69th round of survey which took off on July 1.

The survey exercise has been launched in 54 villages and 48 urban blocks in the districts of Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahar, Moga, Firozepur, Muktasar, Faridkot and Taran Taran.

The NSSO data on household consumer expenditure was used in the development of statistical indicators of level of living, social consumption, well-being and inequalities. Data collected on usage of Indian System of Medicine and Homeopathy would enable planners to understand the health requirement of the people and the extent of utilisation of the AYUSH system of medicare (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) by the people.

According to the sources, the informants generally become reluctant to furnish details on expenditure incurred on vegetable, spices, tobacco, wine and liquor.

“When our survey officials reveal their true identity for collection of data, people normally greet them with unpleasant comments in order to ventilate their anger against local administration,” said Ravi Kant Bhatnagar, the Deputy Director General of the NSSO, a wing of the Ministry of Statistics and Programmme Implementation.

People, according to NSSO officials, shy away from survey officials under their unfounded apprehensions that their personal information could be divulged by the department to others.

“Since the grooming of the NSSO’s Investigating Officials is done in such a way that they do not take the irritating comments of the household as any personal offence, they try to convince people smilingly and try to collect data with deftness.

Mostly, people turn survey officials away and ask them to visit their house-holds again and again. Interestingly, affluent and educated people who also understand the value of data in planning and policy formulation, display such rude and non-cooperative attitude,” Ravi Kant Bhatnagar, the Deputy Director General of the NSSO, a wing of the Ministry of Statistics and Programmme Implementation.

Jalandhar, July 23
PCS officer Sarojini Gautam Sharda joined as the Additional Chief Administrator of PUDA here today.

The post had been lying vacant since SK Singla was transferred to Phagwara nearly two months ago. The Jalandhar Development Authority (JDA) also does not have a regular Chief Administrator, as the charge lies with Deputy Commissioner Priyank Bharti.

Sharda had been the ADC (Development) in Jalandhar prior to the Assembly polls. She was then transferred to Pathankot as ADC. She earlier had also been the Registrar of Punjab Technical University.

After her transfer to PUDA, she will look after several ongoing projects, including that of the construction of commercial complexes on the old Central Jail site and old SSP office. Even the project of starting Urban Estate, Phase-III, at Pholariwal remains pending.

Amritsar, July 23
With the first meeting about the formulation of new industrial policy scheduled for tomorrow, city-based industrialists and economists suggested a string of measures to the government.

Primarily, they felt that the government needs to take special care of this border district while framing the policy.

There are as many as seven bureaucrats and five industrialists, including two from Amritsar, to take part in the deliberations of the meeting.

The city based industrialists to take part in the meeting are Kamal Dalmia and Sandeep Khosla.

A leading industrialist, Kamal Dalmia said Amritsar is a multi-functional centre. Tourism, aviation and hospitality sectors are prime engines of its growth, he said.

He said many of the city industries manufacturing textile, fans, carpets, nuts and bolts had vanished while several others are on the verge of shutting down. He said these industries needed help to rise again.

He said on the competition front, attempts must be made to waive off the central sales tax from the borders cities to put them at par with Chandigarh.

He said industrialists from Chandigarh can sell their material in Punjab without paying any CST, but Punjab-based industrialists have to pay 2 per cent CST while selling their products to Chandigarh.

PL Seth, president, Shawl Club of India, said there is no incentive for the industrialists to invest in the border districts of the state.

He said the power subsidy to farmers has risen from Rs 2,000 crore to Rs 5,800 crore this year. He demanded that at least 10 per cent (about Rs 580 crore) of the entire power subsidy must be reserved for industries in the border districts. He felt that setting up of a textile park here would encourage the traditional industry of the holy city. The combined share of shawl, stole and blanket industry in domestic and international market is nearly Rs 1,000 crore per year.

Sandeep Khosla, president, Plastic Processing Industrial Association, said at present the hospitality industry is the financial backbone of the city. He said the tourism was given industry status, but power tariff was being charged at the commercial rate. He said Amritsar must be linked with the tourist circuit.

Dr RS Bawa, former president, Indian Economic Association, said the industrial policy must concentrate on quality infrastructure. He said the policy should also focus on the preservation of existing revenue-generating sectors like tourism, hospitality, shawl manufacturing and dry fruits. He said it must advocate introduction of new footloose industries which do not require very heavy raw material.

Dr Varinder Bhatia, professor of economics, felt that the economic development of this border city must be linked with the educated youth so that they could be provided jobs at a local level.

Dr Bhatia, who had been the member of the District Planning Board, said the government must form an economic thinktank.

Kapurthala, July 23
Embezzlement of lakhs of rupees of market fees by some employees of the Kapurthala Market Committee has been unearthed.

The Punjab Mandi Board came to know about the embezzlement after finding a huge difference between the records of the district market committee and inter-state barriers at Madhopur and Shambu regarding the supply of melon and water melon to neighbouring states from Kapurthala district, it is learnt.

Subsequently, district mandi officer (DMO) Harminder Singh suspended mandi supervisor Bishan Singh and auction recorder Prithi Pal Singh in this regard on the directions of Punjab mandi board chairman Ajmer Singh Lakhowal.

The sources said the market committee had set up a collection naka for market fees at Shekhupur but some of the employees deployed there reportedly committed embezzlement of several lakhs of rupees in connivance with the mandi supervisor and auction recorder.

Market committee secretary Jaspal Singh said only Rs 3.5 lakh as market fees had been deposited during the season.

On the contrary, melon and watermelon were supplied to neighbouring states in large numbers from Kapurthala district.

Meanwhile, sources said the matter was being further inquired and some more employees might be suspended within a few days.

Kartarpur, July 23
A head-on-collision between an Army truck and a four-wheeler (Tata Ace) on the Jalandhar-Amritsar Highway here this morning left one person dead and another seriously injured.

After impounding the Army truck, a case of negligent driving was registered against the truck driver.

The accident occurred at 9 am when the Tata Ace vehicle, which was heading to Amritsar from Jalandhar, had the head-on-collision with the Army truck coming from Jalandhar. The impact of the collision was so much that the four-wheeler (Ace) got badly damaged.

The victim, Mehtabi of Ghamandi locality here, who was at the back of the mini-truck, died on the spot, while the driver, Nayab, of Gulabi Mohalla here sustained serious head injuries and was undergoing treatment at the local Civil Hospital.

The injured revealed that they were engaged with some local band group and were on their way to purchase some equipment.

Immediately after the accident, the Army truck driver, along with the vehicle fled from the spot, but were nabbed by the police near the PAP chowk here. 

Jalandhar, July 23
A woman died under mysterious circumstances after allegedly consuming some poisonous substance at her residence at Mehrajwala village in Lohian Khas near here.

Acting on the allegations of victim’s parents, the police booked her husband, and in-laws on the charges of abetment to suicide.

The deceased was identified as Jasveer Kaur. A case under Sections 306, 34 of the IPC was registered against her husband Sukhwant Singh, father-in-law Teja Singh and mother-in-law Parkash Kaur. The alleged accused are at large.

The victim’s father Balwinder Singh alleged that his daughter got married to Sukhwant, nine years ago, and immediately after her marriage, her husband and in-laws started torturing her without any solid reason, “Many times, my daughter was beaten up by her in-laws. Due to that, she was living under huge tension. Even a few days ago, Jasvir complained me of her in-law’s ill behaviour,” he said, alleging that on Sunday evening, her in-laws called him up and said Jasvir had consumed some poisonous substance and died.

Manjit Singh, Station House Officer, Lohian Khas police station said acting on the complaint, an abetment to suicide case was registered and raids were being conducted to nab them.

Amritsar, July 23
The Amritsar rural police today arrested three persons for allegedly stealing a truck laden with rice, which was lifted from a godown belonging to the Food Corporation of India at Bhrariwal. The truck (GJ-12-y-5547) laden with 315 rice bags worth Rs 18 lakh was stolen on July 10.

The accused were identified as Sukhdev Singh of Bolewal village, Angrej Singh of Khajala village and Dalbir Singh of Jeevan Pandher village.