Consumer forum fines beauty treatment centre
Amritsar, April 7
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed M/s Kaya Limited, a beauty treatment centre, to compensate a local resident with Rs 42,275 along with Rs 2,000 as the litigation expenses.

11-year-old tennis prodigy promises to serve an ace 
Amritsar, April 7
Alisha Menon (11), a budding tennis player, is making waves after registering victory after victory. A strong backhand player, Alisha had clinched a silver medal in the prestigious All-India Open Tennis Championship at Gurgaon on March 29. She has been securing runners-up position in the championship for the past three years.

Amritsar, April 7
While the snatching incidents are on the rise, the police has drawn flak from city residents. The latest victim is Harleen Kaur Mohindru, a resident of Avtar Avenue, Majitha Road, who lost her purse to two unidentified snatchers. She, along with her mother, was going on a rickshaw when two unknown motorcycle-borne youths snatched her purse. Her purse contained Rs 9,000 cash, 200 pounds, 4 ATM cards, an Iphone and an Ipad.

The Civil Lines police has registered a complaint under Sections 382, 34 of the IPC in this regard.

Earlier this month, Urmila, a resident of Chowk Chabootra, was robbed with the same modus operandi.

She was going to the bus stand on a rickshaw when motorcycle-borne youths snatched her purse. She lost her gold jewellery worth lakh of rupees, besides Rs 5,000 cash and a mobile phone. Such instances have been reported earlier as well. A resident from Kolkata fell victim to snatchers in March.

The police had registered complaints and initiated investigations, but a number of inhabitants of the city alleged that the Police Department refrained from registering the FIRs as it would invite negative report and ire of their higher ups.

While claiming that the Police Department had taken a number of steps to curb such incidents, the officials said there was a need that the residents should themselves be alert while travelling on the road.

They pointed out that the Police Department had made it mandatory for the rickshaw drivers to pull the sunshade while they ferry passengers, but it had come to light that the passengers themselves asked the rickshaw pullers to remove the canopy. Moreover, they said the women should also refrain from carrying gold jewellery and huge amount of cash in their purse.

ADCP City-II Amrik Singh Pawar said the city police had succeeded in bringing down the snatching incidents significantly. But the residents should also be alert when they carry jewellery and huge cash with them. He said the police teams hold regular patrolling, besides nakas to catch snatchers.

Amritsar, April 7
The spurt in vehicle thefts has been giving sleepless nights to the residents. The police claimed to have busted a number of gangs, besides arresting a number of persons in this connection, but the incidents are on the rise.

Recently, a thief was captured in the CCTV footage while he was stealing a bike from a parking lot, located near the Chief Khalsa Diwan orphanage in Putlighar area. The police hardly cared to visit the spot and see the CCTV footage to identify the accused.

Residents complained that police officials discouraged them from registering cases or they registered complaints with a previous similar case reported from the area. So the people do not report the matter to the Police Department.

The CCTV footage revealed that the youth had several duplicate keys and tried all the keys to unlock various motorcycles parked in the parking space. The police said miscreants usually target two-wheelers, especially motorcycles. They said majority of criminals involved in thefts were active in and around areas of the districts as they found it easy to lift vehicles.

Absence of proper parking lots in the city also make it easier for them. Vehicles parked outside religious shrines, marriage palaces, markets and court premises were the prime target places.

Amritsar, April 7
Mid-day meal workers today held a demonstration at Ram Bagh, demanding implementation of the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s direction to fix their minimum salary to Rs 4,250 per month.

Union President Gurmeet Kaur said a memorandum has been forwarded to the government demanding salary for 12 months, instead of the present 10-month structure.

Other demands included insurance of employees, release of identity cards, provision for offs, release of uniforms, direct disbursement of salary in bank accounts and minimum monthly wages be fixed at Rs 10,000. 

Amritsar, April 7
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed M/s Kaya Limited, a beauty treatment centre, to compensate a local resident with Rs 42,275 along with Rs 2,000 as the litigation expenses.

In a complaint filed with the forum earlier on December 12 last year, a resident of Ranjit Avenue had stated that she had purchased a complete package for Laser of Chin and Upper Lip from the said beauty centre in August 2010.

She alleged that the centre advised her to take treatment for lightening of the peri-oral area. She said instead of lightening of the area, it turned darker after five days of the treatment.

Later, the Kaya Clinic was shifted to Jalandhar, where she was asked to avail the rest of her treatment. She alleged that her face turned brown and bruised. The opposite party submitted that they had followed a standard practice and prescribed most effective, widely-used treatment. It stated that the effect of itchiness skin was due to inherent factors arising from the customer's own skin behaviour and self treatment and not due to any act of omission or commission by the opposite party.

The forum observed that the customer had paid Rs 18,275 to the clinic and further Rs 24,000 to a hospital to get her skin problem cured. The forum has ordered the Kaya Clinic to compensate the amount that has been paid by the resident on her treatment. — TNS

Amritsar, April 7
Alisha Menon (11), a budding tennis player, is making waves after registering victory after victory. A strong backhand player, Alisha had clinched a silver medal in the prestigious All-India Open Tennis Championship at Gurgaon on March 29. She has been securing runners-up position in the championship for the past three years.

Earlier, she had won the silver medal in the All-India Open Tennis Championship, held in Chandigarh last year. She has grabbed the same position in the 2011 edition of the same championship, which was held at Dehradun.

Recently, she participated in the U-12 and U-14 categories during the All-India Tennis Academy (AITA) Ranking Tournament, held in Amritsar. Alisha secured the first position in the U-12 category, besides grabbing the second position in the U-14 category.

Born into a business family, Alisha started playing tennis at the age of six. She gives credit to her coaches Om Prakash and Naveen Gupta for training and honing her skills in the game.

During her five-year-long tennis career, she has notched the top three positions many a time. She had secured the third position in the CBSE (north zone) Championship, held at Rohtak last year.

She was runners-up in the Punjab School Games last year. Alisha had also managed to reach the quarterfinal of the National School Games. Alisha wants to represent India at the International level. 

Amritsar, April 7
Nitin Gupta (40) has been an addict for almost a lifetime, his poison being alcohol. Vishal, another young entrepreneur in the making, fell prey to drug addiction early in his life and struggled with it for 13 years before finally giving a chance to live a better life.

Jaspal Singh, a patwari from Pathankot, knew his worst fear was his fight against drug and alcohol addiction and he managed to win the battle after over a decade of drug abuse. Just like these people, there are many inspiring stories brimming inside the Hermitage, a one-of-its-kind drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in Amritsar.

On Sunday afternoon, all these stories were shared on a common platform to celebrate the successful rehabilitation of those, who were never given a chance in the first place. Honouring its success stories and inspiring the ones trying to come out of this problem, the patients and programme volunteers held a afternoon. The rehab facility is run under the patronship of Dr JPS Bhatia, an expert in nuero-psychiatric and drug de-addiction programme and has turned the success rehab stories into a source of inspiration.

"The first thing to understand is that drug addiction is a disease and can be cured. The patients, who come here, have not made a conscious choice of drug abuse, but to come out of it. Every week we have families of drug addicts under recovery come and share their experiences only to form a chain that will act as a mental deterrent for drug abuse," says Vishal, who is under recovery from last four years now and has taken up counselling of the new patients.

The main focus of the programme is on the family. "Most of the times, it's the family, who is under denial and fails to understand the problem of addiction. The family of a patient has to educate and understand that an addict is a patient and not an anti-social element," shares Namrata, a teacher by profession and wife of recovering addict Nitin Gupta. She emphasises that hiding was not going to help. "It's a common notion that educated and elite class would not fall prey to drug abuse, when it's completely untrue. Addiction of any kind is not about how educated or aware one is, it about how vulnerable one is to such urges. In our case, we had come out with the problem and it helped many to follow," she says.

Sharing numerous stories of drug and alcohol addiction while highlighting the process of transformation of their lives, the group encouraged others to be a part of something big.

"Drug addiction recovery process needs two magic words, time and patience. Most of the addicts have a mental block and even the families come with limited understanding. Self change is as important for the family members dealing with an addict as for the addict himself," opines Dr Bhatia. "While doing so, we have to rise from the debris of our own destruction and with maximum reach out," he adds.

The underlying fact to fighting drug abuse is to learn to love the ones struggling with it by taking action. "All we need is love," says Vishal. Guess, the Beatless already knew!

Amritsar, April 7
The protest by the unemployed youths, who had climbed atop the water tank, took a political colour today as on the sixth day of the protest, Congress leaders joined them and burned the effigy of the Powercom. The youngsters are seeking jobs in the Powercom on compassionate grounds. The Congress workers, led by District Congress Committee (DCC) president Jugal Kishore Sharma threw the weight behind the agitating.

One of the agitating youths, Sukhchain Singh, said the effigy of PowerCom chairman KD Chaudhary was burnt today. He said the decision to stop vehicular traffic was called off but he failed to give any plausible reason for the move. He said Congress leader Sunil Jakhar also spoke to them over the phone and assured to support them. "Jakhar has assured to raise the issue in the Assembly," Sukhchain Singh claimed .

Congress leader Sharma said his party shared the grief of the youth. However, he disliked the way of their protest. He said human life was precious and the way they were protesting would set wrong precedence.

Meanwhile, local Powercom officials maintained that it was of no use to put pressure on the department as the decision was a policy matter and was to be decided by the government. The Powercorp was an executing agency and it would carry out the orders as directed by the government, the officials said.

Over 12 youngsters, demanding jobs on compassionate grounds, had climbed atop a water tank in the Pink Plaza area. The protesters are still adamant and vowed not to come down till the authorities accepted their demands. The fathers of all the youngsters had died while in service and there are 340 such cases, which are pending with the government.

"The Powercorp (border range) has already conveyed the decision to the headquarters at Patiala but it was a policy decision, which was notified in April 2010 to offer employment to the next of kin of those Powercom employees. It does not apply for the period prior to the said date," the officials said.

Meanwhile, the protesting youths said they didi not opt for the Rs 3 lakh compensation, offered by the department. They said they were eligible for job on compassionate grounds. Earlier, the youths had earlier climbed atop a water tank in the Ram Bagh area on November 15, 2012. Sukhchain said power corporation officials had at that time assured them that their cases would be solved within a month. "Even after five months, nobody has got the job," he said. 

Amritsar, April 7
The Department of Commerce and Business Management, Guru Nanak Dev University, holds eminence in the research landscape of the country due to the gigantic research activity being undertaken here.

Continuing its unique contribution in research, the department organised a national workshop on structural equation modelling to find a ground among the new age researchers and academicians. The initiative was taken to chisel the research acumen of the researchers in the light of the dynamic developments and prevalent practises.

Dr MS Hundal, Dean, Academic Affairs, was the chief guest. Organising secretary of the workshop Dr Mandeep Kaur extended a warm welcome to the diverse audience from four different states which had budding research fellows as well as senior professors on the learning side. She apprised the audience about the research acumen and achievements of Dr MS Hundal and his supportive attitude which has been always inspiring.

Dr Balwinder Singh, Head of Department of Commerce and Business Management, and initiator of the workshop, expressed his gratitude and support towards the participants and officials for letting the idea see the day of light. Dr Balwinder Singh shared his pride in being the home to largest number of full time researchers in the country and expressed his commitment to nurture the department as the breeding ground of good quality research can make a mark on a global landscape. He shared his vision for the department and researchers and sought support of all to make the journey a memorable learning experience.

Dr Hundal cautioned the audience to make full use of the techniques and technology. He also reminded the gathering about the evolution of management personnel from being technically qualified to mathematically qualified. Wishing the organisers and participants all success, he motivated them to achieve greater heights.

Dr Lakhwinder Singh, senior faculty of the department, proposed the formal vote of thanks. Taking privilege in being part of the workshop as a participant, he discussed some future endeavors. 

Amritsar, April 7
Calling upon the people of the country, leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) today said another revolution was required to free the agriculture sector from the clutches of multinational companies.

The leaders stated this during a political rally, organised to mark the 100th anniversary of the Gadar Movement at Kukkrawala village. The leaders criticised the "anti-people" policies of the consecutive governments that ruled the country since the independence.

Darshan Singh Khatkar, a senior communist leader, said it was due to the wrong policies of the government that agriculture in the country was being undertaken by the multinational companies.

Sardara Singh Mahal, another leader of the party, said the political leaders in the country were playing in the hands of the multinational companies. The government was passing various bills in the Parliament, which were harmful to the interest of the common man, they said.

"Various means used in agriculture, including machines, tractor, fertilisers are being imported and foreign companies are imposing huge prices ," said Datar Singh, a state leader of the Kirti Kisan Union. He added that due to the wrong policies of the governments, the input cost had increased and farmers were committing suicide.

Dharminder Singh of the Pendu Mazdoor Union said because of a huge import of goods from foreign countries, five lakh industrial units had closed down, leading to a huge unemployment. 

Amritsar, April 7
Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Vallah, organised a continuous medical education (CME) programme on regional anaesthesia under the aegis of the Research Society of Anesthesiology Clinical Pharmacology today.

The programme was inaugurated by SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar, who is also the chairman of the Sri Guru Ram Das Charitable Hospital Trust. Rajinder Singh Mehta, executive member, SGPC, was also present on the occasion.

The highlight of scientific meet was a discussion on diseases such as paediatrics regional anaesthesia, joint replacement surgery in a cardiac patient, pregnancy induced hypertension.

Amritsar, April 7
Members of yoga ashram, Goal Bagh, and NGO Mission Aagaaz organised a health awareness walk to observe the World Health Day. Morning walkers joined the walk. MC councillor Dr Ram Chawla, who also joined the walk, laid emphasis on inculcating healthy food habits among children.

He said in view of increasing ailments it was imperative to shift back to our traditional foods for better health of the younger ones.

Swami Gurbax of yoga ashram emphasised on the importance of yoga in daily life, particularly in contemporary stressful work environments.

He said through yoga, one can easily keep diseases at bay and lead a long, healthy and prosperous life.

Participants were exhorted to adopt healthy life style for healthy body. Deepak Babbar of the NGO, Mission Aagaaz, said participants were informed about the various health effects of different fruits and were asked to remain healthy. 

Amritsar, April 7
Sur Saanjh in association with the Amritsar College of Engineering and Technology organised a gala evening at the sixth Punjabi Film and Music Festival.

Celebrating the glamour and talent of the Punjabi entertainment industry, various artists under different categories are selected and honoured every year during the event.. During the programme the lifetime achievement award was given to Jaspal Bhatti. Guggu Gill received the living legend Award on the occasion.

"It was a special and emotional moment to honour late Jaspal Bhatti for his contribution to the Punjabi entertainment industry," said Navtej Sandhu, organiser of the event. 

Amritsar, April 7
The city police has arrested four thieves for stealing iron material from a factory. Those arrested are identified as Bachitar Singh, Dayal Singh, Satnam Singh, all residents of Vallah and Arun Kumar, a resident of Ekta Nagar, Chamrang Road. Their fifth accomplice, identified as Major Singh, was still absconding.

Satnam Singh of Albert Road informed the police that when he opened his factory, he found iron materials, including iron girder, blades of the machinery, wheels and other spare parts missing . Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused stole the material and sold it to Arun Kumar.

The police has registered a case under Sections 457, 380, 411 of the IPC. The police said raids were being conducted to nab the fifth accused.