Amritsar, December 3
The City Bus Service project, hanging fire for the past couple of years, has made progress with the MC floating tenders for buses for the second time in these many years.

The Municipal Corporation authorities have claimed that the service was likely to be launched by February 2013 with 150 buses.

Tenders for as many as 150 buses, including 30 low floor, 25 semi low floor non-AC, 70 non-AC mini buses and 25 mini AC buses, have been released by the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation on behalf of the Amritsar MC.

The concept

An idea was conceptualised in 2007 by the Akali-BJP alliance to ape the Ludhiana project for Amritsar.

It was viewed that in the absence of any other mode of public transport, visitors fell prey to auto-rickshaw drivers who charged them exorbitantly.

The programme was chalked out, routes and ticket fares were finalised. Even the trial run for the city buses were conducted with much fanfare by the then Mayor Shwait Malik.

Subsequently, after getting approval from the Urban Development Ministry, a lot of 150 buses was sanctioned. Even tenders for the first lot of 30 buses were floated on the Ludhiana pattern. But the ambitious project got halted after the Punjab and Haryana High Court gave a verdict directing the state government to run buses only on LPG or CNG and stop registration of diesel-run buses.

Ironically, the Punjab Government after furnishing all the formalities was on the verge of finalising the orders for the new vehicle for the city commuting when this HC verdict came. The city administration too found itself helpless because of the non-feasibility of CNG and LPG filling stations.

Later, the high court lifted the ban on plying of diesel buses.

Tenders for as many as 150 buses, including 30 low floor, 25 semi low floor non-AC, 70 non-AC mini buses and 25 mini AC buses, have been released by the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation on behalf of the Amritsar MC

Funds received
Replying to an information sought by city resident Gautam Majithia under the RTI Act, the MC has admitted to have received Rs 11.66 crore (Rs 8.33 crore from the Centre under the JNNURM programme and Rs 3.33 crore from the State).

Money spent so far
The MC has so far spent over Rs 7.28 lakh on consultancy and ~12.57 lakh on advertisements for the project.

official speak
The process has been streamlined. Tenders for 150 buses have been released by the Ludhiana civic authorities on behalf of us. I guess it would take another two months for buses to hit run the road

— Dharampal Gupta, MC Commissioner

Amritsar, December 3
In a shocking incident, a 26-year-old man was killed in an elevator mishap. The elevator was installed at a five-storey shop in IDH market near the bus terminus here.

The victim, identified as Harish Mahajan of Katra Bagian, was employed in the shop.

The police claimed Harish took the lift to go to the upper floors of the shop when it halted after developing a snag. Eyewitnesses said as he tried to look outside the lift after opening its grill, the lift started moving all of a sudden.

Before he could understand anything, his head was completely chopped off.

The family members who were informed by the shop owners alleged that it was a lapse on the part of the shop owners as they had not employed a lift operator.

Family members approached the police which has started investigations in the case. 

Tragic death
Harish Mahajan of Katra Bagian, an employee of a five-storey store, took the lift to go to upper floors. But the lift developed a snag due to which it halted on the way. When Harish tried to look outside the lift, it started all of a sudden chopping his head off completely
The family members who were informed by the shop owners alleged that it was a lapse on the part of the shop owners as they had not employed a lift operator. They have approached the police which has started investigations.

Amritsar, December 3
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh today flagged off a 217-member Sikh jatha for Bangladesh where it will take part in the celebrations to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. This is the fifth jatha being sent to Bangladesh by Mata Amar Kaur Memorial Sewa Society since December 2010. These jathas had been visiting Bangladesh to celebrate Baisakhi and Guru Nanak Dev’s birth anniversary every year.

The organisers claimed that this was the biggest ever Sikh jatha headed to Bangladesh as 100 more members would join it from Bihar and Jharkhand. They said the event would be more significant this year as Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, Takht Sri Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh, Bangladesh Gurdwara Management Board office-bearers and pilgrims from Dubai would visit Bangladesh to take part in the celebrations. — TNS

Amritsar, December 3
In a major setback to the cancer survey campaign, ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers have boycotted the programme, thus making it difficult to complete the survey in stipulated time.

The ASHA workers have complained that the department is paying them only Rs 200 for the entire 15 days of the survey. “The remuneration is very less. Practically, one would be getting a little above Rs 10 for each day. The workers are required to go from door to door to collect the data,” said a worker.

Notably, of all categories of workers engaged in the survey, ASHA workers have the highest strength. According to official figures, to cover 824 villages, 1,123 ASHA workers, 55 ASHA facilitators, 272 Auxiliary Nurse Midwives, 179 male workers and 75 supervisors have been engaged.

At present, with ASHA workers and facilitators quitting the work, only 30 per cent of the total strength is available for the survey. The ASHA workers and facilitators union, which held a massive rally outside the Civil Surgeon’s office today, has demanded that they should be paid Rs 100 for each day of work.

ASHA workers are reportedly not being paid any fixed salary for their services in rural areas. They are being given incentives on the basis of number of cases they are bringing to the hospitals.

Parminder Kaur Mann, a worker, said, “When government is spending crores on publicity, is it justified to pay Rs 10 to a worker for her day’s labour? Why would anybody like to spend her day roaming in the streets just for Rs 10?”

Civil Surgeon Dr Yash Mitra said work in rural areas had been affected by the ASHA workers’ strike today. He maintained that not all workers had boycotted the survey.

“It is difficult to mobilise more workers as already a great number of them have primarily been engaged in the survey,” he said, adding that they are trying to get the workers back to work.

“We have assured them that we would forward their demand to the headquarters,” he said.

Amritsar, December 3
While the director of health and family welfare has explicitly ordered the district health department to shift out the pharmacist and workers of other categories deputed at the local civil surgeon’s office, the orders have not been complied with even after a month has elapsed.

In a directive dated November 1, the director had ordered that two employees, pharmacist Satish Kumar and multi-purpose health worker Navdeep Singh, be sent to their place of posting.

The order stated that the department had taken serious note of violations in the wake of clerical work being taken from pharmacists and other trained employees.

Earlier, the Punjab Health Department Subordinate Clerical Association had held a meeting with the director and apprised him of the situation.

Instead of complying with the earlier orders, the Civil Surgeon had, on November 7 (seven days after the orders), in fresh orders, asked Vajinder Pal Singh, an employee with malaria branch, to render his services at the birth and death registration branch for four days in a week.

Notably, the birth and death registration branch is frequently in the news as the general public often complains of harassment and corruption.

The association’s general secretary Jagdish Thakur said, “These posts are of clerical cadre and only trained clerks should be appointed herein.”

He said the Civil Surgeon’s office does not have any staff shortage and in such a situation, the pharmacists and Multi-Purpose Health Workers (MPHWs) should be sent to their places of work.

President Sukhwinder Singh said, “The postings have been made to please a few close associates. Otherwise, the trained health employees can serve better in their own field instead of at clerical posts.” The association leaders added that the director’s orders had deliberately been flouted.

Civil Surgeon Dr Yash Mitra admitted there was no staff shortage, but there was an overload of applications for birth and death registration. He added that he had not flouted any orders as he had informed his seniors of the overload. He said he had taken formal approval from the higher authorities.

Amritsar, December 3
Bibi Kaulan Ji Public School organised its annual function in its CBSE-affiliated branch near Gurdwara Tahla Sahib, Tarn Taran Road, Amritsar.

The programme started with invocation of the supreme power. As many as 300 students put up a show with the message of female foeticide, educating the girl child etc through Punjabi play, nukkad naatak, mime, gidha, bhangra etc. The chief guest and the guest of honour for the programme were Cabinet Minister Anil Joshi and Khalsa College principal Dr Daljit Singh respectively.

Both of them lauded the students' performances and congratulated the school management and principal Parveen Kaur Dhillon for portraying social issues. Students with brilliant performances in academics and co-curricular activities were awarded prizes. The principal gave a vote of thanks.

Amritsar, December 3
Canadian province British Columbia’s Finance Minister Michael de Jong on Monday interacted with students and officials as part of his drive to raise awareness about diabetes and other lifestyle problems.

De Jong, in his interaction with students of Government School at Primary Health Centre, Mannawala, said around 330 million people the world over suffer from diabetes. He said along with other regions, Punjab has the maximum number of diabetes patients.

He said people in Punjab, who largely consume butter-rich foods, should change their eating habits. Talking to the media outside the Golden Temple, he said the British Columbia government also plans to open its new office in Chandigarh.

He said after strengthening of cultural ties between Canada and India, the need of the hour is strengthening of trade ties. He said the office in Chandigarh would be a step in this direction.

The minister, who was accompanied by a large number of members of his official delegation, also had a large number of Canadian NRIs accompanying him. He also had an interaction with students of Fateh Academy at Mannawala.

However, he had to drop his plans for his proposed walk to create awareness regarding diabetes and other lifestyle problems as he was reportedly denied permission by the Union Minister for the same.

Amritsar, December 3
Dr Naresh Grover, renowned neonatologist and paediatrician, spoke on inclusive education during a session at Spring Blossoms Senior School on World Disability Day today.

He said no child should be described as disabled but differently abled.

Dr Naresh Grover spoke in detail about the challenges faced by differently abled children and the urgent need of breaking barriers and creating bridges of social justice and equality.

Aajjeeth H Kaur, facilitator, Spring Blossoms Senior School, said, “We still call a rose a flower even when its petals fall off. Similarly, we have no right to isolate differently abled children.”

Arun Kumar Aggarwal, secretary, District Legal Services Authority, urged the audience to show affection and care towards the special children.

Rajiv Kumar Sharma, principal of Spring Dale Senior School, said, “It is time for us to recognise each child’s talent and appreciate it because every child is unique.”

Amritsar, December 3
An awareness campaign on AIDS was held in Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Mall Road. Students holding banners and posters took out a march to convey gravity of the problem.

The rally passed through various areas of the city, including Lawrence Road.

Earlier addressing students, principal Mandeep Kaur said the number of HIV patients in the world in 2010 was 34 million. It was 2.4 million in India and 60,000 in Punjab.

She showed sympathy with HIV patients and urged everyone to treat them with respect, love and care.

On the occasion, students took a pledge to spread awareness against AIDS. A poster-making competition on AIDS was also held. — TNS

Amritsar, December 3
A cool light breeze of innovation and colours in the middle of the winter chill can be quite a success story. Ask Priya Tulli, a third year student from Inter National Institute of Fashion Designing (INIFD), Amritsar.

Her designs based on the theme “Breeze”, have been selected for display at the Lakme Fashion Week. And the 21-year-old designer is all set to join the big league at one of the biggest fashion extravaganza in the country.

“It is a pleasant surprise to know that my hard work has paid off. Like every fashion graduate in the country, I want my designs to spell a brand in the fashion industry and this could be a stepping stone,” says Tulli.

Talking about her collection, the girl from Gurdaspur explains, “It’s a summer resort wear collection with kaftans, loose garments and summer dresses. Sticking to the theme, I used lots of natural colours, greens, aqua and whites; my designs are high on comfort.”

With her having chosen fabrics that are multi-utility, comfortable, light and easy to pack for a beach holiday, her collection was prepared within a 15-day deadline.

“I was aiming at designing clothes that exude a relaxed sense of fashion. The accessories were kept light, with lots of fabrics and light metals. They are easy to wear,” she says.

Coming from a humble background, Priya swears by comfort and this seems to be her fashion mantra too. “There is no point in wearing a designer label if one is not comfortable carrying it off. There has been a drastic change in the definition of fashion over the years. It is not about which label or how much make-up or accessories one wears. Simple jeans and a tee make for a fashion statement today. So I too like to keep it simple.”

That doesn’t mean compromise on creativity or innovation. “Complexities do not necessarily promise creative designs. Moreover, I want to bring about a change in the superficial technicalities involved in a fashion label,” she says. With her designs sharing the limelight at the Lakme Fashion Week, Priya is confident of her future in the industry. “There is still a lot to do,” she signs off.

Amritsar, December 3
After a grand opening by Bollywood biggies and the who’s who of Punjab in attendance, the latest edition of World Cup Kabaddi is well on a roll.

With over 23 teams from across the globe competing in the men’s and women’s categories, the event is generating tremendous hoopla and excitement.

The fourth day of the tournament will bring teams representing USA, Argentina, Pakistan, Scotland and Iran to the holy city, where the Guru Nanak Stadium will be the venue for the matches.

As Punjab is all set to embrace the full-throated zeal associated with the traditional game, the roaring support in Amritsar has the mood upbeat. Sports-lovers, especially those who desperately seek a break from the “cricket fever”, seem to have found their soft spot for kabaddi.

“The last tournament was successful because of the hype. But this time around, it’s bigger, with so many international teams competing. The last time, I watched it on television, but this time, I would make it to the stadium,” shares Sukhdev Singh, a physiotherapy practitioner from the city.

For some, it’s more about the sentiment than the sport. “Kabaddi is like the mother of all games in Punjab. It has primarily been a rural sport, but thanks to the World Cup Kabaddi, the sport is going global,” says Gurdyal Singh Kairon, another aficionado from the city.

Call it the nature of the game, kabaddi is never short of thrills. “More than the sport, the commentary excites me. The commentary in Punjabi is very racy and entertaining, quite different from that in other sports,” says Amrit, a radio jockey from Amritsar.

Amid the grandeur and the adrenalin-pumping, there are those who think they do not have it in them to be part of the spectators’ fraternity.

“Since kabaddi was always a rural sport, even this tournament has not been able to catch the fancy of youngsters in cities. I doubt if such a grand event is required to prove a point. Rather, the emphasis should be on sports that feature in Commonwealth Games or Olympics and they should be promoted well. Nonetheless, it is promotion of sports,” says Gurpal Singh, a city businessman.