Amritsar
Centre to monitor meal scheme: The Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) is all set to introduce daily monitoring of the mid-day meal scheme by the end of this year. A workshop in this regard was held here on Thursday in which representatives of 17 states participated. HRD Ministry mid-day meal scheme director Gaya Prasad said the new system would link the mid-day meal management information system (MIS) with interactive voice response system (IVRS). The IVRS-based daily monitoring system envisaged an automated MIS where data of children availing mid-day meal would be available regularly, he said.

Chandigarh
Energy efficient streetlight project: Punjab has become the first state in the country to introduce energy efficient street lighting project with a view to improving the overall energy efficiency of all the urban local bodies. The project will lead to a substantial savings in the electricity consumption, besides reducing operation and maintenance expenditure. Local Bodies Minister Chunni Lal Bhagat said the project would encompass the replacement of about 3.5 lakh street light points with light emitting diode-based energy efficiency equipments throughout the state.

Ludhiana
Cricket tourney to begin today: Ludhiana Sahodya School Complex Cricket Tournament 2012 is being organised at Green Land Convent School, Civil City, from October 12 to October 30. Over 30 teams from various schools of Ludhiana, affiliated to the CBSE, New Delhi, are participating in the tournament. The fixtures for the matches have been drawn.

Muktsar
Farmers protest delay in lifting paddy: Demanding an early lifting of paddy, a large number of farmers from Seerwali village on Thursday blocked the Muktsar-Sadiq-Ferozepur road for almost four hours. They alleged the district administration had failed to lift their produce from the purchase centre at their village. It was only after officials of the district administration, led by Muktsar SDM Varinder Pal Bajwa, reached the spot and started the purchase of paddy, the farmers lifted their dharna.

Nawanshahr
No let-up in illegal mining in Rahon: Despite a ban, the mining mafia continues to excavate the Sutlej riverbed adjacent to Ratnana village in Rahon.The illegal activity is going on in connivance with the local police. The mafia men have been using earth movers, tippers, tractor-trailers and labourers to extract minerals from the riverbed for the past 10 days. Scores of residents from Ratnana, Mirzapur, Hussainpur and nearby villages recently held a protest in Ratnana village against the illegal excavation on the riverbed.

Sangrur
Sarpanch suspended for fraud: Tarlochan Singh, sarpanch of Sherpur village, has been suspended by the Director, Rural Development and Panchayats. Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sangrur Zila Parishad Gurmeet Singh said Tarlochan had been suspended for embezzling government funds. He alleged the sarpanch had claimed payments against fake bills and made fake entries showing payments to various firms.