Amritsar, August 14
Relatives of a factory worker, who was electrocuted at a BS Spinning Mill here last night, blocked the Majitha road for two hours and even smashed the glass panes of the factory building.

A heavy police force was deployed at the factory premises after the incident.

The angry protestors demanded compensation for the death of Balwinder Singh, 48, who had joined the mill just four days ago. He was electrocuted last night when he was working in the factory.

The family members of the deceased alleged that factory owners were trying to hush up the matter terming it as a death due to cardiac arrest.

“The accident had occurred at about 12 am. People residing close to that factory informed us that the mill owners had tried to throw the body in the ganda nullah to which the residents had objected,” alleged a relative Jagpal Singh.

The traffic to Majitha was disrupted from around two hours because of the blockade. Agitators lifted the blockade only after a compromise was reached. The mill owners agree to pay compensation to the family of the deceased. All this happened in the presence of senior police officials.

Later, as the factory owners agreed to pay the compensation through a cheque, the relatives became adamant to take the compensation in cash.

Meanwhile, a case under Section 304A of the IPC has been registered against the owners. ADCP Gurnam Singh said the agitators lifted the protest after a meeting with the factory owners. He said factory owners had agreed to compensate the family.

He said though no arrests had been made so far in the case, the FIR has been registered. “We will take the necessary legal procedure against the factory owners if they are found guilty of negligence,” he said.

Relatives of victim Balwinder Singh allege that mill owners tried to hush up the matter terming the death as a result of cardiac arrest The owners also allegedly tried to throw the body in the gunda nullah Protestors block the Majitha road for two hours and even smash the glass panes of the factory building A compromise was reached when the mill owners agree to pay compensation to the family of the deceased The police registers a case against owners

Amritsar, August 14
Safai karamcharis today issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Amritsar Municipal Corporation to accept their demands otherwise which they would go on an indefinite strike.

They demanded regularisation of temporary employees and recruitment of more staff instead of hiring private hands and machinery on a rental basis. The threat of the MC workers gains significance as the garbage collection system has already been hit after the private firm, Antony Waste Handling Cell Pvt Ltd, engaged for garbage collection, pulled out of the contract with the MC.

Though the MC has engaged 15 trolleys at a rate of Rs 1,000 per trolley per day to lift garbage, the garbage crisis is far from over.

MC safai karamcharis demanded that instead of shelling out Rs 4.5 lakh every month on private garbage-lifting trolleys, the MC should invest the money in raising its own infrastructure.

Safai karamcharis under the banner of the Sanjhi Sangharsh Committee submitted its charter of demands to the MC Commissioner.

Amarjit Singh, president, sanitary supervisor union, demanded that the sanitary inspectors and sanitary jamaadaars should be provided uniforms, gum shoes and gloves.

Surinder Tona, general secretary, Municipal Corporation Workers Union, Amritsar, said a large number of safai karamcharis, which included Mohalla Sudhar Committee employees and those employed under the DC rate scheme, had not been paid salaries for the past several months.

“We have given them a 72-hour notice. If we do not get satisfactory reply from the authorities, we will halt the garbage lifting process after 72 hours,” he said.

Narinder Goldy, president of Safai mazdoor union, said, “We demand that the MC should regularise the services of safai karamcharis and engage extra hands to fill up the vacant posts. Even as the interview process for the same has already been done, but the process got stalled midway,” he said.

Amritsar, August 14
Even after 65 years of Independence, many in the city earn their livelihood by begging at traffic signals or collecting reusable items from the garbage heaps.

The Independence Day holds no significance for beggars and rag-pickers.

This marginalised section of the society, which is often cursed by residents in general and drivers at busy traffic junctions in particular, include kids, who had never gone to schools.

“What’s there to celebrate if the freedom doesn’t guarantee a safe and bright future,” said a handicapped woman beggar. She said, “Even though we live under the flyover near the bus stand, cops don’t leave an opportunity to harass us,” she said.

Beggars can been seen outside almost every religious place, railway station, bus stand, traffic signals, outside cafes where youngsters visit and even outside liquor shops.

Though the district administration had set up a shelter home for beggars to check beggary, lack of employment opportunities and skills makes this vulnerable section return to beggary.

Though the district administration claims that it had nabbed around 1,700 beggars and rehabilitated 800 of them, there is no decline in their numbers at traffic signals or religious places.

An old beggar Shantu said, “For all these years, we have heard that the country is progressing. But looking at the competition among beggars, it seems the country is moving backward and more and more people are joining this disrespectful way of life.” 

Amritsar, August 14
The artists in the city have come out to celebrate the day innovatively and the best way they know. Putting up a live art exhibition at Alpha One, the Art Persons, a city-based group of 40 artists have done a first for the holy city.

“It is for the first time that such a live group show consisting of such a large number of artists from city is being organised. It has got a tremendous response from the crowd, as we have people coming in and asking to try out painting themselves,” says Brijesh Jolly, director of KT Kala art gallery and an artist himself.

The show puts together prominent names like Nita Mohindra, Dr Bladev Gambhir and relatively new artists on the block like Priyanka Sharma, Tina Sharma and many more. The event that has been organised to celebrate the day is like an art mela. “It has created a very positive atmosphere for art here. Artists are directly interacting with the crowd, we have also put up an impromptu art competition and people are coming in asking to participate. The general public is being involved in every process of art,” says Jolly.

“It’s a maiden attempt to popularise artists from the city who do not get attention otherwise. And along with that it celebrates Independence Day in a different way,” Jolly shares. 

Amritsar, August 14
While patriotism can be an overwhelming emotion, the symbols of our nationalist feelings have been reduced to just a concept thanks to the younger lot who doesn’t believe in celebrating the day the old fashioned way.

Sporting the symbolic tricolour, singing the national anthem, remembering our history is too heavy stuff to be doing on the national holiday. Ask the youth, primarily the GenNext on how they would celebrate the Independence Day and they answer with a smile, a confused one though. “I won’t be doing much. I plan to go for a movie Ek Tha Tiger with my friends,” says Ritika Madaan, pursuing BCom at DAV College. Her answer may be sincere, but it also reflects the lost traditions of our patriotic display.

It’s not about doing the obvious or maintaining the decorum of the day, but the changing mindsets. While the youth is too busy in their own lives to have room for such patriotic fervor, symbols of pride have been just reserved for certain days in the year. “I used to be a part of celebrations when in school. But now, not much happens around the city apart from the official functions. The only celebrations I am involved is planning how to spend the day,” shares Saurabh Mehra, a third year physics student from the university.

While this is the same youth that made Anna Hazare a national hero during the Lokpal campaign or that aims to make India a superpower in the coming decade, the indifference could be misleading. “Firstly, I don’t believe that just singing the national anthem or shouting slogans would make me a better Indian. In fact, a better way to be a part of celebrations is to do something that relates to the Independence we are so proud of,” adds Rohit Salhan, another student of physiotheraphy from the city. “I would be a part of a blood donation camp on the day and I think it’s a better way to celebrate the spirit of the day.” Rinita Singh, a professional in a private company, says, “Our culture is getting diluted and the youth is indifferent towards traditions. Independence Day and Republic Day are the two days when we have a chance to celebrate the Indian in us and we should not forget it.”

Amritsar, August 14
Flying high on patriotism, kite makers have displayed a range of kites ahead of the Independence Day in Amritsar.

Kites of different shapes and sizes, sporting the Tricolour and pictures of freedom fighters, have been displayed at shops throughout the city.

A kite maker on the Sultanwind road, Jaswinder Singh said, “The process of making kites with patriotic themes started about a fortnight ago. Though these days people do not have time to fly kites, Independence Day still influences people to fly kites,” he said.

He said kites were available from as small as 2 inch to as big as 10 feet.

Another kite maker Jagmohan Kanojia said he had also prepared special kites to mark the occasion. Most of his kites carry pictures of freedom fighters and national leaders. These also carry small messages to stir the mind and heart of people.