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This college has only walls to boast
Govt schools too in a bad shape |
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infant’s death at jalandhar civil hospital
Deficit rain: Badal for special package
Khaira fires another salvo at Amarinder
Farmers clip wings of flying academy
Principal Secy: No leniency against erring policemen
They wait for water in the dead of night
Milkfed plans to export lassi to US
SGPC executive meeting now on Aug 3
Docs protest sealing of hospital
HC comes to rescue of leprosy home
Court finds no wrong in hiring of woman against reserved post
ASI booked for illegally detaining man
Five of family booked in dowry death case
BSF jawan commits suicide
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This college has only walls to boast
Ferozepur, July 28 Belying claims of the state government of transforming the higher education, the college, which has been rechristened as Punjab University Constituent College, has nothing in the name of infrastructure. Even the principal has to sit on the floor as there is no furniture in his office. Piles of bricks topped with blackboards are being used as computer tables by the college staff. The dilapidated college campus speaks volumes of callous attitude of the authorities concerned. There is a library, but it has no books. Similar is the case with the laboratory which has no apparatus. The college has a generator, but it has no funds for fuel. There is no provision for potable water. The list is endless. The college building, which was constructed at a cost of Rs 8 crore, has started crumbling. A large part of the boundary wall is lying damaged. There is no canteen on the campus. The college requires 23 faculty members, but there are only seven staff members on its rolls. There is no lecturer for subjects like mathematics, economics and political science. Dr Hira Singh, officiating principal, said the college furniture and other items like almirahs and water coolers, had been shifted to Government College, Jalalabad, the constituency represented by the Deputy Chief Minister. He said he had sent several requests to the government and the university in this regard, but in vain. He said the college was initially set up under a UGC's scheme where model degree colleges were established in all educationally backward districts of the country. "Later, our institution became a constituent college under Punjab University following which the UGC stopped funding the college," he added. In the absence of any other college in the area, the college witnessed a huge surge in the number of admission seekers. The college administration recently refused to admit more than 600 students this year. Perturbed over the denial of admission, students from several neighbouring villages had resorted to a relay hunger strike. The students relented after ADC Gurmail Singh took a representation from them regarding increase in the number of seats besides provision of basic facilities in the college. "We have forwarded the representation along with our recommendation to the Chief Secretary for further action," the ADC said. Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka said he was not aware of the problems being faced by the college, but hastened to add: "Since you have brought it in my notice, I will now look into the matter". An apology in the name of college
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Govt schools too in a bad shape
Kahan Singh Pannu, DGSE, said: "We are tabulating our findings to draft a concrete action plan for improving the teaching structure. We are attempting a unified action plan in the state instead of a patchwork approach". Around 14 teams were constituted for Patiala district and six for
Bathinda. In GSSS, Ugani village of Patiala, the inspecting team found that certain dilapidated classrooms were required to be razed. In
GSSS, Munder village, near Nabha, the team recommended to demolish certain portions of its unsafe building. One of the biggest problems in the schools was absenteeism. Besides a considerable number of teachers who are on long leave, several teachers were found reaching late at school and even choosing not to report on duty. The reports have specific reference to schools at Hashampur and Kaboolpura villages in Patiala district, besides several schools in
Bathinda. A team member said: "It was appalling to see the ground conditions at Government Senior Secondary School, Paras Ram
Nagar, Bathinda. Nothing at the site resembled a school. A school in Rampura Phul had two science teachers for one student while an adjoining school had no science teacher for more than 40 students". Mid-day meal scheme has crashed in several schools in Kahangarh Bhootna and Balbeda in Patiala and Rampur Mandi in Bathinda because of paucity of funds and other reasons.
Pannu said: "I have sought a detailed report on the visits which will be studied in greater details before formulating a unified action plan for a revamp".
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infant’s death at jalandhar civil hospital
Jalandhar, July 28 In May, a Bhogpur-based woman, Tara, had alleged that her child died due to the hospital staff's negligence. She claimed she was kept waiting for two days despite the staff having told her that she have to undergo a caesarian section. The woman later delivered a stillborn child. A Jalandhar resident had also complained a few days ago that his wife's delivery was delayed as the staff kept on insisting on advance payment. Anita Kumari, mother of the five-day-old child who died three days ago, alleged that another couple from Nurmahal had lost their child while she was in hospital. "The couple left without raising any hue and cry after they were snubbed by the staff," she alleged. Gynaecology Department Senior Medical Officer Dr Sangeeta Chopra said 300 to 350 deliveries take place in the hospital in a month. An average five to six child deaths in a month are reported at the hospital, the staff said. Dr Sangeeta said, "In most of the cases of child deaths, poor health of their mothers is to be blamed. Such cases are common among women belonging to financially backward families."
On protest, staff want baby’s body exhumed for autopsy
Jalandhar, July 28 The protesters, comprising among others doctors, nurses and class-IV employees, claimed Harjit Kaur had been suspended without even being issued a show-cause notice. Committee president Jasbir Kaur Thind said, “It is unfair to suspend Harjit Kaur. She is not posted in the paediatrics ward and was not on duty when the death occurred.” Union general secretary Jaswant Virli claimed the staff was not at fault in asking for fee as they had not received any notice asking them not to charge for neo-natal care.
Docsfed for action against health dept high-ups
Patiala: The Doctors Federation of India (Docsfed) has demanded registration of a criminal case of negligence pertaining to the death of the newborn child at the Civil Hospital in Jalandhar two days ago. In a statement issued in this regard, Docsfed president Dr DC Sharma demanded action should be initiated not against the hospital staff, but against the top functionaries of the Health Department and the Punjab Health Systems Corporation. "The suspension of a nurse is uncalled for,” he said. — TNS
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Deficit rain: Badal for special package
Kamahi Devi (Hoshiarpur), July 28 Talking to mediapersons on the second day of his sangat darshan programme in this village today, Badal said deficit rainfall had created an emergency situation in food producing states which were not able to cope with the demand for power for the farm sector. He said the government’s main thrust was on upgrading health facilities, providing technical and skilled education to the youth and providing water to the people of kandi areas. He said he had met Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde a few days ago and urged him to allocate 1,000 MW of additional power for Punjab from the central pool. Earlier, Badal laid the foundation stone of an ultra-modern community health centre at Beh Nangal village that will be constructed at a cost of Rs 5 crore. The Chief Minister disbursed a grant of nearly Rs 3 crore to 56 villages for various developmental works. A grant of Rs 5 lakh was given to Guru Golaknath self-help group of Behdulo village for their contribution to handicrafts.
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Khaira fires another salvo at Amarinder
Jalandhar, July 28 In a letter to Capt Amarinder Singh, Khaira urged him to also take up the matter of "illegal" appointment of Sumedh Singh Saini as Punjab DGP. Khaira said: "Capt Amarinder had been in the forefront alleging political vendetta against Congress cadres during the SAD-BJP government. He had led a number of delegations to various ministers, besides the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, condemning the alliance government for registering more than 30,000 false cases against Congressmen in Punjab. Even during the elections in February 2012, he had complained against Saini for distributing cash on the instructions of Sukhbir Badal to influence voters". "It is surprising that he no longer seems interested in these issues," he said. Khaira said: “Saini's appointment has been challenged in the Punjab and Haryana High Court by an NGO, which has stated that Saini was chargesheeted by a special CBI court at Delhi under sections 364 (kidnapping and abduction in order to murder), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 342 (wrongful confinement) of the IPC”. Therefore, according to the new Police Act as well as the established law, Saini could not have been appointed Punjab DGP, he said. The former MLA added: “Despite these charges, the Badal government hurriedly and wrongly promoted Saini by superseding five officers senior to him and probably also did not follow proper procedure while conducting proceedings of the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC)”.
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Farmers clip wings of flying academy
Bathinda, July 28 Though the Ministry of Defence has given its nod to the Talwandi Sabo academy, opposition from the farmers as well as a high-tension electricity line passing through the area are proving to be hurdles. Sukhbir had chosen nearly 100 acres of land for the purpose about two years ago, but the first step of land acquisition notice under Section 4 is held up at the Punjab Secretariat. Sources in the civil aviation department confirmed the project had so far failed to take off as the land acquisition process was yet to be initiated. The other academy at Faridkot has run into rough weather as the High Court has quashed the acquisition of about 104 acres of land for the purpose. The land that was the aerodrome of the then ruler of Faridkot is now looked after by Mehrawal Khewaji Trust, which had challenged the acquisition process. The Army had also opposed the project as the land was adjacent to the cantonment and also the ammunition depot. However, the antique aircraft of Maharaja Harinder Singh Brar, parked in the spacious hangar, have over the years turned into junk. The tin roof of the hangar sprawling over 6 kanals of land has corroded and rain water trickles over these aircraft. Among the aircraft acquired by the former ruler are Gemini M65, Fairchild 23, Percival Proctor and Stinson L-5 Sentinel. The Fairchild was among the 325 listed vintage military and civil aircraft. The aerodrome was constructed over an area of 176.4 acres in 1939 and was abandoned in the 1960s. The runway is now covered with wild growth of shrubs and elephant grass.
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Principal
Secy: No leniency against erring policemen
Fatehgarh Sahib, July 28 Bains, who was in the town to inaugurate the plantation drive on 28 acres of panchayati land of Mahadian village under the Punjab Green Mission, said action would be taken against those senior police officers, who fail to discharge their duties in safeguarding the life and property of the common man. To a query whether such action would affect the morale of the police, Bains said no leniency would be shown against the erring police officers while on the other hand, the state government would recommend the names of the officers for the President’s Medal, who perform their duty honestly. About the Green Mission, Bains said plantation drives would be carried out on the berms of the GT Road once six lanning of the road was completed. He said it would help in improving the environment in the state. The state government has decided to set up four nurseries at Beas, Nabha, Faridkot and Ladowal towns and the total area under a nursery would be more than 10 acres, he said, adding that 2 crore saplings would be planted in the state during the current year. Bains said the state government had received Rs 30 crore as compensation this year against the old trees that had to be chopped off due to the widening of roads or other central projects. The Principal Secretary said earlier plantations had helped the state achieve the number one position in the country as per the survey conducted by the Central Government agencies. He said, “The green area in the state has increased by about 100 sq km, which is a record. The total green area in the state has increased by 6 per cent while in other states it is about 3 per cent.” Deputy Commissioner Yashvir Mahajan, senior SAD leader Prem Singh Chandumajra and SSP Mandip Singh Sidhu were among others present on the occasion.
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They wait for water in the dead of night
Bathinda, July 28 Storing “safe” water for drinking, cooking bathing and washing has become an everday struggle for them. With the water pressure low, they have to use motors to fill tanks. Colonies like Farid Nagar, Patel Nagar, Green Avenue, Ajit Road and Guru Nanak Pura are the worst-hit. “Safe drinking water is simply a must in the area that is known for a high incidence of cancer. We are dependent on the Water Works Department that gets water from the Sirhind Feeder Canal and supplies it to the city after filteration.The entire process takes time and the water is released by midnight,” said Sukhminder Singh Sidhu. “Me and my wife decide among ourselves as to who will keep awake at night for the water job. Children have to be in bed early as they have to attend school in the morning,” said another resident. For Surinder Mohan Paul, waking up people through phone calls and SMSes to inform them of the water supply has become a social cause. Tenants in the city are having it easy with the landlords opting to keep awake for the job for an additional charge of Rs 500. “My landlord charges me Rs 5,000 for a two- room set and Rs 500 for remaining awake at night to fill the water tank,” said Charanpreet
Kaur. Supply route The government provides drinking water from specially installed reverse osmosis (RO) plants. Water from the Sirhind Feeder Canal is first filtered and then supplied to over 70 per cent of the city, covering 85 per cent of the population. Blame it on location Several colonies like Patel Nagar are at a higher level. These areas get water supply from 10 pm to 2 am while the rest of the city gets water between 4pm and 7pm. The city needs another treatment plant to rectify the problem
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Milkfed plans to export lassi to US
Chandigarh, July 28 The federation is now in the process of getting two of its milk plants located at Chandigarh and Amritsar, registered as Export Oriented Units (EOUs). Already, two other milk plants located at Ludhiana and Bathinda have been registered as EOUs. This will help the federation increase the quantum of exports. So far, the federation is only exporting ghee. Over the past three years, the export of ghee has been rising steadily. From Rs 12 crore in 2010-11, the ghee export increased to Rs 17 crore in 2011-12. In the first quarter of this year, ghee worth Rs 9 crore has been exported, and by the end of this year, ghee worth Rs 20 crore is expected to be exported to Dubai, Doha, Amman, Kuwait and other west Asian countries, besides New Zealand and Australia. Initially, the Milkfed was also exporting skimmed milk powder (SMP). No exports of the powder have taken place in the past two years because of a ban imposed by the Central Government. With the ban on export of the SMP having been lifted last month, the federation is hopeful of re-starting the export of the SMP. The federation has 3,000 tonnes of surplus SMP, which is now ready to be exported to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. An official said they were ready to start the export of lassi to New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and the USA once the two milk plants at Chandigarh and Amritsar get registered as EOUs. “We are also getting machines to manufacture tetrapacks, which will be installed at Chandigarh and Amritsar milk plants for packaging of these milk products,” said the official.
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SGPC executive meeting now on Aug 3
Amritsar, July 28 The SGPC had failed to pass its annual budget in March this year as its new House could not come into being. The Supreme Court had allowed the SGPC executive elected in 2010 to manage the SGPC’s daily affairs on March 30, following which it had passed vote-on-account on April 3 to manage the affairs of the SGPC till July 26, which was the next date of hearing. However, as the verdict is yet to come out in the case, the SGPC executive will again have to give its nod to the expenditure for the coming days. A SGPC spokesperson said fiscal issues will figure prominently in the SGPC executive meeting on August 3. Makkar today felicitated Surjeet Kaur, a resident of Mumbai, and her daughter Jyoti Kochhar by presenting them a ‘siropa’. Surjeet Kaur has presented 886 grams of gold at the Golden Temple with which ‘Dhan Dhan Ramdas Gur Jin Sereya Tine Sawaraya’ has been written atop the Darshani Deodhi at the holy shrine. Earlier too, she had presented various items made of gold at the shrine.
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Docs protest sealing of hospital
Patiala, July 28 The MC authorities sealed the hospital run by Dr Rajiv Aggarwal and Dr Sarita Aggarwal two days ago without any prior notice or intimation. More than 200 members of the association gathered at the residence of the Aggarwals under IMA president Dr BL Bhardwaj to show solidarity with the couple and to decide further course of action. The protesting doctors formed a clinical establishment cell to challenge the sealing of the hospital on legal grounds and demanded immediate intervention of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to diffuse the situation. Dr DS Bhullar, secretary of the association, said, “Nursing homes and hospitals unlike other commercial establishments are in fact essential socio-commercial institutions needed to be established in the residential areas only to tender immediate and timely medical aid and care to the emergency cases and needy patients.” They urged the state government to issue necessary guidelines in this regard, he added. Also, an emergency meeting of the executive body of the Punjab Medical and Dental Teachers’ Association, Patiala unit, was held under its president Dr JPS Walia. The association condemned the action of the MC in sealing Aggarwal Nursing Home without giving them any chance to explain their point of view. The nursing home was started in 1982 by Padam Shri Dr ND
Aggarwal.
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HC comes to rescue of leprosy home
Chandigarh, July 28 The direction by the Bench of Acting Chief Justice Jasbir Singh and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain came on a petition filed by Upneet Kaur Mangat for directions to the State of Punjab and other respondents not to dismantle or demolish the Ashram for laying down a road till alternative arrangement is made. As the case came up for hearing, an affidavit was filed by Chief Engineer, Canals, Amarjit Singh Dullet. He asserted that the new proposed site for the Ashram, behind a dispensary, at the left site of Sirhind Canal, was approved in a meeting held on July 19 under the chairmanship of the Principal Secretary (Home). The High Court was also informed that the funds for the Ashram’s construction would be provided by the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board; and the liaison between various departments would be maintained by Commissioner, Ludhiana. “In the interest of equity and justice, exactly the same area of land will be transferred to the Social Security Department at the new site,” the Bench was told. After construction of new building it would remain under the charge of the Social Security Department,” the Bench was further told. Taking on record the assertion, the Bench observed: “As per the proceedings of the meeting, it is specifically stated that equivalent area of land shall be allotted to Mahavir Kusht Ashram for housing leprosy patients and a new building shall also be constructed before dismantling/shifting the Ashram to a newly allotted place”. Disposing of the petition, the Bench added: “We dispose of this writ petition directing the respondents to comply with the decision taken and further till such time an alternative arrangement is made, as is also stated in the affidavit, the existing structure shall not be demolished”.
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Court finds no wrong in hiring of woman against reserved post
Chandigarh, July 28 Rita K. Singh was issued an SC certificate by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Chandigarh, on September 30, 1986, after she married Kuldip Singh, who also belonged to the same category, in 1984. She was appointed as a reserved category candidate with the New India Assurance Company after it advertised an assistant’s post in 1987. But, she was charge-sheeted on November 25, 2004, for failure to produce an SC certificate from her parental side. Her dismissal from service order was passed on December 18, 2009. The caste certificate issued to her was also withdrawn. Taking up her petition, the Single Judge set aside the dismissal orders saying the then prevailing law permitted the issuance of an SC certificate to a wife after her marriage with an SC candidate. Recent Supreme Court judgment in Dattu Versus State of Maharashtra and others was also referred to by the Single Judge. In the case, the admission of a candidate to an educational institution on the basis of a caste certificate was not annulled due to the cancellation of the caste certificate. The Bench of Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Rajiv Narain Raina asserted: “It is not even alleged that the writ petitioner has concealed her status before marriage as that of a non-SC person, since the certificates were issued by the competent authority on account of her marriage with a person belonging to a scheduled caste…. Dismissing the appeal, the Bench ruled: “We do not find any illegality in the order passed by the Single Bench”.
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ASI booked for illegally detaining man
Muktsar, July 28 According to the FIR lodged at Lambi police station last year, the ASI had confined Baldev Singh for a crime committed allegedly by his sons. Four persons, including two brothers of Jai Singhwala village in Bathinda district, were booked for looting a fuel station last year, but no arrest could be made in this regard. Later, the police detained Baldev Singh, the father of the two brothers. Baldev's wife Kuldeep Kaur then moved the High court seeking its intervention in this regard. The court finally ordered an inquiry and registration of a case against the
ASI.
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Five of family booked in dowry death case
Patiala, July 28 Sardara said in 2008, his daughter Karamjit Kaur got married to Jagdish Singh, who along with his family members tortured Karamjit and asked her to bring more dowry. “On July 26, Karamjit’s in-laws poured diesel over my daughter and burnt her. We admitted her to a hospital but she succumbed to her injuries,” said Sardara. A case has been registered against Jagdish Singh, his brother Harjeet Singh, sister Jhain, mother Shamsher Kaur and father Bawa Singh. “We are yet to arrest the accused,” said Kherhi Gandian SHO Satpal Singh.
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BSF jawan commits suicide
Amritsar, July 28 A constable with the 65th battalion, Raman belonged to Jagatpura village in Gurdaspur. He was deputed near gate number 103 on the India-Pakistan border fence when his colleagues heard gunshots. They rushed towards the pillar and found him lying in a pool of blood. One of the shots pierced his head killing him on the spot. The incident occurred at 2.25 am. The reason behind his taking the extreme step was yet to be known as no suicide note was recovered from the spot. The Kahangarh police have initiated proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC. The body was handed over to the family after a post-mortem examination.
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Bathinda, July 28
Bathinda, July 28
Chandigarh, July 28