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Election scene hots up
Grant of leave cheers special trainer teachers
Gaping loopholes in new policy on marriage palaces
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Craze for new vehicles
Road in a bad shape
3 incidents in a month indicate infighting within BJP
CPS blames Facebook for increasing divorce cases
Press Day celebrated
Function held to mark Children’s Day
Over 50 children take part in Balkalakaar
Three booked for cheating
1 more arrest in murder case
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Election scene hots up
Jalandhar, November 17 The election to the club is being primarily fought between two groups - Gora Group led by Satish Thakur Gora, who has been successfully contesting for the past four years as secretary of the club, and Progressive Group led by Gulshan Sharma, who was the joint secretary two years ago. Since the post of the president is held by the Divisional Commissioner, the contest is held for four posts of office-bearers - secretary, vice-president, treasurer and joint secretary and 10 executive members The Gora Group today partly opened its cards by announcing the name of Satish Gora for secretary, Dr Hardeep Oberoi for vice-president, and Amrik Singh Ghai for treasurer. For the post of the joint secretary, the group is likely to choose anyone of the two, including Dheeraj Seth and Pankaj Kapoor. Giving the two names for the post, Gora said one of the two would be taken for executives. The name of the last year’s winning executive member Anu Matta for the position is also doing the rounds. For executives, Gora said he had finalised the names of Tarun Sikka, Raju Virk and Gurpreet Singh Kocchar, all last year winning candidates of the Progressive Group, who had shifted with Gora this year. The name of Dimpy Sachdeva had also been finalised for the same post. From the other side, Gulshan Sharma did not finalise any names. “We will announce our candidates tomorrow,” he said. Jalandhar District Cricket Association president Surjit Rai Bitta, who had last year lost to Gora for the post of secretary, is a contender for the post once again. Other members of the group, including Gulshan Sharma, Rotarian Dr Pawan Gupta and Paramjit Singh Pinta, are nominees for the post. While the Gora group is riding on the point that an amount of Rs 1.5 crore had been spent to spruce up sports facilities and health club, the Progressive Group is lagging behind by not having decided on its agenda. Satish Gora is claiming that if given a chance, efforts would be made to improve the infrastructure of bar and administrative complex. Poll officials appointed
Divisional Commissioner Jalandhar and president Jullundur Gymkhana Club SR Ladhar has appointed Iqbal Singh Sandhu, SDM-1, as the returning officer for the conduct of the elections. Tehsildar (Elections) Raj Kumar Tangri has been appointed as the Assistant Returning Officer. There are about 4,000 permanent members of the club, including former minister Avtar Henry, Chief Parliamentary Secretary KD Bhandari and MP Mahinder Singh Kaypee. More than 3,000 members participate in the elections every year. The officials, who are temporary members owing to their posting in the district, do not have voting rights. |
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Grant of leave cheers special trainer teachers
Jalandhar, November 17 Hired by the SSA to run the special training programme being run for slum and underprivileged children across the state, these teachers had recently been issued a directive that they could not avail "any kind of leave" because they were hired on a temporary basis. A directive which had caused much angst among teachers throughout the state. As many as 494 special trainer teachers (of the total 1,894) across the state have been relieved so far and the rest were living under the threat of losing their jobs due to the denial of even sick leave and maternity leave to them. But a special meeting with Parkash Singh Badal (accompanied by Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka and DGSE Kahan Singh Pannu) with the union state head Dawinder Singh and other members, at Punjab Bhawan in Chandigarh this evening, has provided the much-needed hope to the teachers. The CM today assured Special Trainer Teachers Union that all the relieved teachers would be reinstated and leaves (on a par with other SSA teachers) would be granted to the teachers. “Of the total 1,894 special trainer resources working in the state, so far 494 teachers across the state have been relieved. The reason for about 200 of them being relieved was that they took leaves. About 20 of the 200 were relieved because they were on maternity leave. But now that the CM has promised us that they will be reinstated, we look forward to a brighter future,” said Dawinder Singh, state president, Special Trainer Resources Union. While the special training programme was being run for the past more than five years, these teachers were hired at different times. Notably, in Jalandhar many teachers have had to go through hard times because of the recent no-leave directives. A special trainer teacher, who was working at a school in Shahkot, and was relieved because she went on maternity leave, said, “I requested the BPO, Centre head Teacher, district coordinator and other officials concerned to grant me leave, but no one did. Leave alone informing my superiors, I roamed through offices when I was nine months pregnant in the hope of saving my job. I previously had a miscarriage, so my pregnancy is complicated. I needed the maternity leave, but was refused leave by everyone I talked to. I was doing my job even till the 31st of the last month and I haven’t yet received my salary of last month also.” She confirmed that at least four more women teachers had been seeking maternity leave but were denied it. “I am hopeful that the CM’s statement brings the much-needed respite for us. I have struggled hard to hold on to the job,” she said. Somnath, Jalandhar district coordinator of the special training programme, however, said, “In Jalandhar, so far only about three to four people were relieved because they went on leave without informing the department. Hence, they resigned.” Somnath also confirmed that teachers (from centres where children were being less than 10) were being relieved. Though the CM's statement has brought hope to teachers, union heads still continued with the dharna. “The Education Minister had assured us in an earlier meeting that our demands would be accepted within days, but it never happened. The CM has asked for two days’ time to grant our demands this time and we are hopeful. But this time, we will continue with the dharna at Bathinda as long as our demands are not met,” said state president of the union Dawinder. In Bathinda, special trainer teachers had been sitting on a 21-day dharna and a five-day-long hunger strike. The dharna still continues. Looking forward to better times
Denied leave, teachers look forward to better times, with the CM promising reinstating the relieved teachers. But will continue dharna until demands are implemented. In Jalandhar, many teachers lost jobs because they were not granted maternity leave
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Gaping loopholes in new policy on marriage palaces
Jalandhar, November 17 The policy has been framed only for those palaces that fall within the ambit of the development authorities and not for those that are under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Corporations (MC). The scrutiny and approval committees formed at the district levels have been verifying documents only for palaces outside MC limits. However, a sizable number of palaces in city areas continue to flout norms that the new policy has set. Moreover, policy rules are applicable only to existing palaces and those that are yet to be set up. According to the new policy, existing palaces are defined as those which were set up before January 1, 2012. So all marriage palaces, that were set up between then and now, are not under the ambit of the new policy. There are at least two such palaces Nanda Farms and Marine Plaza in Jalandhar that were set up during this period. Under this policy, even hotels with large banquet halls are defined as marriage palaces and the policy directives are applicable on them. But, several hotels continue to ignore the parking bylaws. As per the policy, “a marriage palace is an open or closed premises where accommodation or space is used to hold weddings, receptions, social gatherings and meetings etc on regular or periodical basis where no less than 50 persons can congregate”. Prabhjot Sidhu, secretary of Marriage Palace Owners’ Association, Jalandhar, has demanded that hotels, which primarily held weddings, were not punished for flouting parking norms, while the authorities were severely penalising marriage palaces that were breaking policy standards. Asked why the Local Bodies Department was not actively pursuing the matter, Suresh Kumar, principal secretary, Local Bodies, said, “Only 10 per cent palaces are in cities. We already have bylaws for them and almost all of them are complying with the norms.” But that is not the case. In Jalandhar, out of a total 157 palaces in city areas, 55 palaces had been defying the law and breaking parking norms, building norms and not obtaining the the permission for change of land use. SK Sandhu, principal secretary, Housing and Urban Development, said, “Date is not an issue. Every palace has to comply with the policy.”
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62,936 already registered this year
Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, November 17 As many as 62,936 vehicles have already been registered with the District Transport Office this year. The figures are indicative that the total number of vehicles getting registered this year would cross the 70,000 mark. As many as 5,010 vehicles have been registered for the past one and a half months on account of the festival season. The figure includes 1,590 transport vehicles and the remaining 3,420 non-transport vehicles. Bikes and scooters registered maximum sales of 2,979 while the remaining 441 were cars or SUVs. There were nearly 60,000 vehicles registered last year, 50,000 in 2010, 37,000 in 2009, indicating a significant annual increase. The figures indicate an annual increase of 10,000 in the total sale of vehicles. As per the current figures, nearly 6,000 new vehicles are getting added to the vehicular traffic every month. District Transport Officer Dalwinderjit Singh said he was expecting the rate of registration of vehicles to remain low till the year end. "Customers generally put off their plans to buy new vehicles in the last two months of the year as the resale value of the vehicle becomes low," he said. Going by the growing sales and increasing traffic, no efforts are being made to increase the infrastructural facilities at the same pace to streamline traffic or ensure better parking provisions by the civic authorities concerned. Vehicles remain parked haphazardly beyond the yellow line in all city markets, leading to complete chaos. Parking is a major issue outside all hotels, marriage palaces, commercial centres and banks and shopping malls, as many do not completely fulfill the parking norms. Laxity on part of the town planning department of the MC in not making appropriate checks is likely to cause deterrent effects in the long run. Besides two basement parking lots, the MC has just eight parking sites, those too along roadsides. The eight sites included those in front of President New Court Hotel, in front of Kamal Palace, Tubewell Park on Police Lines Road, HDFC Bank and State Bank of India in Civil Lines area, outside Civil Hospital and within yellow line from Namdev Chowk to Geeta Mandir in Model Town along the tow-away zone. The auction of two of the sites has not been done this year so far.
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Road in a bad shape
Jalandhar, November 17 Meanwhile, commuters are bearing the brunt of large potholes on the road. Four-wheeler and two-wheeler riders are more prone to accidents on this stretch. “Last night while I was driving home from office, my bike skidded and I sustained injuries on my leg. Even earlier also, I escaped unhurt after my bike slipped off the road,” Amandeep, an employee alleged. Sonu Singh, a rickshaw-wala, also echoed similar views and said they faced a huge difficulty while plying rickshaw on this road, “Once a person fell off my rickshaw while I was crossing the stretch full of potholes,” he added. Ironically, several officials of the MC use this road to reach their home, still nobody seems interested in improving its condition.
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3 incidents in a month indicate infighting within BJP
Jalandhar, November 17 The major issue within the party at the local level has been its failure to appoint three circle presidents from the Jalandhar (North) constituency with unanimity for the past one month. The elections to the posts of 11 circle presidents from the Jalandhar (West), (Central), (Cantonment) and (North) constituencies were held on October 28. While three circle presidents of the Jalandhar (Central), three of Jalandhar (West) and two of Jalandhar (Cantonment) constituencies were appointed unanimously, a decision on the appointment of the three circle presidents (No 1, 2 and 3) of the Jalandhar (North) constituency was withheld. The name of councillor Kanwaljit Singh Bedi was first announced for one circle, but it, too, was withdrawn later following complaints against him by some party workers. Party sources revealed that since the supporters of MLA from the Jalandhar (North) constituency KD Bhandari and councillor Ravi Mahendru, who had been a contender for the post of Mayor, did not go along well on the issues of the constituency, consensus could not be reached. Asked on the matter, Bhandari said it was easier for the other constituency legislators to make appointments as they had simply repeated names. “I only have been trying to insist that the responsibility be given to more deserving party workers,” he said. District election in charge of the BJP Ashok Narang, when contacted, said he was waiting for further orders on the matter from the state party leaders. An accident about 10 days back had also led to a stir among BJP leaders of the Jalandhar (North) constituency. Two days back, BJP workers from the Jalandhar (West) constituency had clashed over the issue of use of pictures on hoardings for a religious function.
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CPS blames Facebook for increasing divorce cases
Jalandhar, November 17 Speaking at a function organised to pay homage to Lala Lajpat Rai on his 84th martyrdom day, Bhandari said: “He feels sad when he comes across cases where newly-wed brides desert their in-laws house on trivial issues”. Urging the young girls to abide by social and moral values, the Chief Parliamentary Secretary said: “There is an urgent need to imbibe our rich values among the young generation to minimise matrimonial disputes”. Speaking at the occasion, DAV College Principal Dr BB Sharma said: “We are not spending quality time with our children. The young generation is spending undue time on Facebook, mobile phones and watching TV, which is leading to degradation of our values”. Endorsing his viewpoint, Bhandari said: “The enemies of our country are trying to harm us in two ways. Firstly, they are driving our youth to drug addiction and secondly, they are deviating them from our rich culture by adopting every possible means”. The BJP MLA urged the young girls to make women like Kalpana Chawla and Kiran Bedi as their role models. Secretary of Gulab Devi Hospital Trust Dr KK Pasricha said Lala Lajpat Rai led an exemplary life. He had set up the first DAV College in Lahore, he said. A declamation contest was also organised on this occasion.
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Press Day celebrated
Jalandhar, November 17 The day started with a lecture by Dr Lakhwinder Singh Johal from Doordarshan, which was read out by Dr Omrinder Singh Johal. This was followed by tributes to Baba Banuana by Prof Pyara Singh Bhogal from Punjab Jagriti Manch and Satnam Manak, Jatinder Pannu as well as Shingara Singh Bhullar, from leading Punjabi dailies. They shared their experiences of working with Baba Banuana, his ideologies and personality. Inderjit Singh, registrar, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, also spoke. Earlier, Dr Kamlesh Singh Duggal, Head of the department, welcomed guests. The guests were also told about the significance of Press Day. Surinder Kaur Misha, former Principal, GND College, Basti Nau, Jalandhar, was honoured for her contribution in starting the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication in the university. |
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Function held to mark Children’s Day
Jalandhar, November 17 Teams of Police DAV Public School and AN Gujral Senior Secondary School won the first and second prize, respectively. Third prize was shared by the teams of Dashmesh Public School and Sanskriti KMV School. Jasbir Singh, SDM, Phillaur, presided over during the prize-distribution function. He said the winner team would contest at a state-level function to be held at Nawanshahr on November 23.
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Over 50 children take part in Balkalakaar
Jalandhar, November 17 Jullundur Gymkhana was the main sponsor for the event. More than 50 children from the across the city participated in the event. There were drawing, solo singing and group singing contests on the occasion. Singer Buta Mohammed was also present on the occasion. This was the third time that the Balkalakaar event was being held in the city. All participants were provided free transportation and food for the event. The event was arranged through donations. The issue of Malala Yousafzai was also raised on the occasion. Hand imprints of children gathered on the occasion were taken on a long white sheet. Organisers will attempt to send the sheet to Pakistan as India’s prayers and support for Malala. Satish Thakur, honorary secretary, Jullundur Gymkhana Club, was the chief guest and Lion Ram Bhardwaj, past district governor D321, was the guest of honour. SR Ladhar, president Jullundur Gymkhana Club-cum-commissioner, Jalandhar division, was also present on the occasion. Winners: Drawing: 1: Ravi Kumar; 2: Aarti; and 3: Nagma. Singing Solo: 1: Akash; 2: Chand; and 3: Pooja. Singing Group: 1: Lakshay, Gurpreet, Vikasm, Sumit; and 2: Chotti, Nisha.
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City professor presents paper at international conference Dr Amandeep Singh Bains, assistant professor of Physics, CT Group of Institutions, participated in the international conference on Plasma Science: Advance Plasma Concepts held at Portugal. More than 120 physicists from all over the world participated in the conference. The aim of the conference was to understand new techniques and hold simulation of various problems in space physics. Dr Bains presented two papers that dealt with the study of nonlinear wave structures in space plasmas under different environments and effects of different particle distributions. Dr Bains got the scholarship of 1,500 Euros to attend the conference from organisers. He has also presented many papers in conferences at national and international level in Italy, UK, Germany, US, etc. Presently, he is working on nonlinear wave in magnetosphere and ionosphere plasma in collaboration with Prof M. Tribeche from Algeria. S. Charanjit Singh Channi, chairman, CT Group, and Dr Manoj Kumar, group director, CT, have congratulated the professor. Placements
Students of the Mehr Chand Technical Institute of various trades like motor mechanic, welder, fitter and turner have got jobs in industries like Maruti Udyog, Manesar, GNA Udyog, Tata Motors, Leader Valves and Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala. As many as 15 students have joined at Maruti Udyog, Manesar, seven in Leader Valves, four in GNA Udyog and six in Rail Coach Factory and many more in other local industries with handsome salaries. Principal Vijay Kumar Sharma and placement officer Mohan Lal Sharma have congratulated the students for their achievements. |
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ND Victor School holds Kala Utsav
Two-day Kala Utsav was organised at ND Victor School. The second day of the Kala Utsav saw gidda, bhangra and Rajasthani folk performances. The contests, organised by the Citizen’s Welfare and Protection Council, saw the participation of 45 schools and 700 students. Chief guest Som Datt praised the special endeavour. Educational trip
Students of Sanskriti KMV School experienced a two-day knowledge enhancing excursion to Delhi. The group of nearly 31 students, along with school principal Rachna Monga and four teachers, commenced the excursion by paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at the Raj Ghat. Students got the privilege to visit Parliament House where they had a close look of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha and got to know about its working. The students also visited the India Gate, Jantar Mantar and Red Fort. They also went to Gurdwara Bangla Sahib. Greetings to Sunita Williams
Students of the St. Soldier Group of Flower arrangement contest
Students of Innocent Hearts School participated in Sahodaya Inter-School Rangoli and Flower Arrangement Competitions and bagged several prizes. Vanya and Manpreet Kaur got first prize for central table arrangement. Mehak and Ralnish Kaur got third prize for corner table arrangement. Kashish Seth, Arjunveer Singh and Jashandeep Singh bagged prizes in rangoli-making competition. Principal Dheeraj Banati congratulated the students. Basketball champs
Sanpreet Kaur and Rupinder Bir Kaur of Apeejay School, Rama Mandi, made the school proud by being selected for the Under-17 and Under-14 category National Level Basketball Camp to be held shortly. Sanpreet was selected after the U-17 basketball team of the school won the third position at the State Basketball Competition held at Muktsar. Rupinder Bir Kaur was selected for her wonderful gaming skills she displayed at the U-14 State Basketball Competition held at Amritsar. Principal Madhu Sharma congratulated the girls. |
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Three booked for cheating
Jalandhar, November 17 The accused have been identified as Hardev Singhs, Major Singh and Prem Singh, all residents of Salema village near Nakodar. A case under Sections 420, 467 and 71 of the IPC was registered against them and a manhunt launched to nab them. Police sources said a non resident Indian and a native of Nazamudeen village had recently complained to the police that some Hardev, along with her other known persons, had registered share of his ancestral property in his name by using forged property documents, adding that after conducing preliminary investigation, a case of fraud was registered against the accused and further investigation was on in the case.
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1 more arrest in murder case
Jalandhar, November 17 The accused was identified as Aman, a resident of Basti Mithu. The main accused Jarnail, alias Jaila, was also arrested by the police yesterday. Assistant Commissioner of Police (West) RPS Sandhu said the police had received secret information that Aman was hiding in a house at Basti Mithu and, accordingly, the raid was conducted and the accused was nabbed. He added that more raids were being conducted to nab the remaining accused in the case. The accused at large were identified as Mandip, Deepu, Sunny, Rinku, Bunty, all of Basti Mithu and Ajay of Basti Peerdass. The victim Satpal was brutally beaten up by the miscreants on the Divali night, following which he succumbed to his injuries in a hospital yesterday.
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Jalandhar, November 17
The Jalandhar chapter of AIESEC organised an event, "Balkalakaar", for underprivileged children in the city here at the Gymkhana Club today.
Jullundur Gymkhana was the main sponsor for the event. More than 50 children from the across the city participated in the event.
Institutions greeted NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and her team on their return to India from space after four months. Students held National Flags in their hands and cheered for Sunita Williams. They expressed their love and respect towards her with posters in their hands. They also prayed for her safe landing. Sangeeta Chopra, vice-chairperson, also wished the astronaut good luck.