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Day4: Tussle between GNDU faculty, authorities intensifies
Health Dept to observe Diarrhoea Prevention Week
Five booked in child labour case
Rights body seeks high-level probe into woman’s death
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Union protests ‘false’ FIR against 21 teachers
Amritsar, May 26 
State executive members of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union
(PCCTU) today held a protest against an FIR lodged by Khalsa College principal Daljeet Singh on March 31, 2011 against 21 teachers.Members of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union held a protest at DAV College in Amritsar on Sunday. Photo: Sameer sehgal
Municipal Corporation animal shelter in state of utter neglect
274 cases disposed of at Lok Adalats
Hoteliers keep their fingers crossed as mercury soars
Textile manufactures bat for reduction in interest rates on loans for SMEs
Pay litigation expenses to complainant, Power Corp told
Durgiana Temple panel proposes memorial for victims of terrorism
Police collects vital clues in forgery case
from schools |
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Day4: Tussle between GNDU faculty, authorities intensifies
Amritsar, May 26 Reacting over the statement of the vice-chancellors about some ‘disgruntled elements’ vitiating the peaceful atmosphere on the campus, the teachers questioned the attitude of the authorities towards unlawful and undesired activities being held on the campus. They pointed out recent instances of unhygienic food being served in hostel girls and a gambling racket busted on the university campus a couple of weeks ago and misplacement of more than 2,000 answersheets, which affected many students of the colleges affiliated to the university. “How many persons have been booked and punished for this colossal loss and dereliction of duty? There should be no wonder if tomorrow the Vice-Chancellor accuses the teachers association even for the above lapses. The VC’s statements are only meant to sidetrack the real issues and divert the attention of the teachers, non-teaching employees, students and the public from the pitiable situation of the university,” said Davinder Singh, president of GNDUTA. General secretary of GNDUTA Lakhwinder Singh said nobody could stifle the voice of the teachers against an unjust and suppressive administration. The association has filed an appeal in the court of District Judge against an order of the lower court restricting the teachers from holding demonstrations within the radius of 100m from the campus. It has been stated in the petition that it is a violation of their fundamental right “The association will not take the unwarranted comments of the Vice-Chancellor against the teachers lightly. The teachers are attending their duties in regular manner. The work of evaluation of answersheets and other examination-related activities are going on as per the schedule. The teachers are visiting the venue of the hunger strike only in the free time,” he clarified. Meanwhile, Dr Rajinder Singh Sandhu and Dr Surinder Pal Singh, executive members of GNDUTA, sat on the hunger strike. All other members of the executive committee were present during the strike. The Guru Nanak Dev University Pensioner Association led by its president Amarjit Singh Bai and the Bahujan Samaj Morcha led by vice-president Inderpal have extended their support to the protesting teachers.
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Health Dept to observe Diarrhoea Prevention Week
Amritsar, May 26 Civil Surgeon Dr Yash Mitra said students would be educated about various precautions to stay healthy. He said they would be educated about the use and preparation of ORS solution at home. Dr Mitra advised people to observe proper hygiene. He said the knowledge would also be given about the use of zinc tablets in case of diarrhoea. The department is also planning to distribute free chlorine tablets for treatment of water in the city. "The department has also identified vulnerable areas and keeping a keen eye on the situation." said Dr Mitra. He said in case of sickness, patients must report at the nearest government hospital and dispensary. He said diarrhoea was caused by consumption of unhygienic food and water.
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Five booked in child labour case
Amritsar, May 26 The police has registered a case following a statement of Assistant Commissioner Kirat Singh. Yesterday, the Child Labour Task Force rescued seven children following a raid conducted at the Guru Bazaar area. Four of the rescued children of 11-13 years belong to West Bengal, two to Uttar Pradesh and one to Tarn Taran district of the state. Among those who have been booked include Sanjiv Kumar, Sanjiv tea stall, Bazaar Kesarian; Montu of Hira Market, Chitranjan of Uttam Market, Heera Ram of Guru Bazaar and Rafeek of Subhash Market. They have been booked under Section 362, 370, 374, 34 of the IPC at the Kotwali police station. The police will take strict action against the shop owners under the Protection of Children Act, under Section 23, 24, 26 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000 and the Bondend Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976. No arrest has been made so far in this regard.
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Rights body seeks high-level probe into woman’s death
Amritsar, May 26 In a communiqué to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, the organisation alleged that as per their probe, it has come to light that the girl had committed suicide and all the proceedings conducted thereafter were only to save the police official and hush up the matter. Sarabjit Singh, the principal investigator of the organisation, claimed that during the course of their investigations, they had come across a recorded phone conversation between the deceased girl and one of her friends, in which she detailed about the circumstances, forcing her to take such an extreme step. He said the accused police official created the circumstances, which compelled her to commit suicide. He said the girl, whose father is a head constable, was keen to joining the police and had come into the the ffficial's contact. He said the accused had promised to get her recruited in the Punjab police, using his influence. He alleged the accused allured the victim and developed physical relations with her. He claimed that the policeman even got married to her in March in a temple after she threatened to expose him. It is pertinent to mention here that the culprit was already married and has children from the first marriage. Sarabjit Singh said the information of their marriage was leaked to the policeman's first wife, who reached the spot (at Zirakpur flat), which led to an exchange of heated argument among them. His wife allegedly hit the victim with a bottle. Fed up with this, she allegedly jumped from the six-storey building and ended her life. The PHRO alleged that after the incident, the SP and his wife removed all the evidence from the crime scene and took away the body to Chandigarh and then to Dera Bassi without informing the local police. The organisation demanded registration of an FIR aginat the accused and demanded for his dismissal from the service.
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Union protests ‘false’ FIR against 21 teachers
Amritsar, May 26 Union leader HS Walia said the FIR was false and motivated to intimidate and silence their agitation. He claimed that “The Khalsa College Managing Committee signed a written agreement with the representatives of teachers on June 16, 2011, wherein it was mentioned that the FIR against teachers will be withdrawn, but later the college authorities backtracked from it.” The protest was addressed by PCCTU president Prof JR Prashar, general secretary Prof Kuldeep Singh and GNDU area secretary Prof Tejinder Virli and others. After one-and-a-half hour of protest, a meeting of the executive committee was held to chalk out the future course of action. The PCCTU also decided to support the ongoing agitation of the Guru Nanak Dev University Teachers’ Association for early release of their arrears due from January 1, 2006. The executive committee also expressed its concern over non-acceptance of their pending demands by the state government.
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Municipal Corporation animal shelter in state of utter neglect
Amritsar, May 26
SPCA inspector Ashok Joshi alleged that stray animals kept at the shelter home at Lahori Gate were living in a deplorable condition, which is no less than cruelty. He said over 40 animals were kept on 150 square yards of land. At present, 32 cows, five buffaloes and their calves were found at the shelter. It was congested and many animals need to be shifted to other place. He said reports were filtering in that there was no regular supply of fodder and potable water to the animals. He said the offer to maintain basic facilities was given to a corporation official but he refused. Inspector Ashok Joshi during his visit to the shelter home found that cleanliness was a major issue. “Though the scorching heat has gripped the city, there is no arrangement for fans to provide respite from the heat to the animals.” MC Commissioner Bhupinder Singh said, “The civic body takes care of animals and the shelter at the Lahori Gate serves as home for animals caught from illegal dairies.” He said if a dairy owner did not approach to get the animals released within a couple of days, then they were shifted to a gaushala, on Ramtirth Road. He said the officials would soon visit the shelter and if any anomalies were found, then these would be rectified immediately. He added that the Corporation gave an annual grant of Rs 50,000 to the gaushala. Recently, a proposal was passed in the MC House to extend the same quantum of grant to the SPCA.
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274 cases disposed of at Lok Adalats
Amritsar, May 26 Around 21 benches comprising of judicial officers, advocates and social workers were constituted to settle civil, criminal, matrimonial, MACT, rent, pre litigative cases. Social workers, Professors of colleges and advocates were inducted to assist the benches. HS Madaan, District and Session Judge has appealed to the litigants to resolve their cases through Lok Adalats as the same provides prompt and inexpensive justice.
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Hoteliers keep their fingers crossed as mercury soars
Amritsar, May 26 A hotelier, Satnam Singh Kanda, said with the mercury rising up to 48 degree Celsius, the hospitality sector was expecting a lukewarm business ahead. Otherwise, summer vacation in various parts of the country bring a good number of tourists to the city, which is well connected with the tourist circuit of Jammu and Kashmir. All kinds of transportation are conveniently available to take tourists to Jammu and Kashmir valley. Besides, road link to Himachal Pradesh via Pathankot and Hoshiarpur are also available. Amritsar Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHRA) president APS Chatha said summer vacation were round the corner, but people in the hospitality sector were keeping their fingers crossed due to unavoidable chain of events. "The mercury is on the rise. Secondly, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited has already announced long-duration power cuts from next month to divert power to the farm sector with the inception of the paddy season," he said. Chatha said in summer breaks, the average hotel occupancy jumped to over 30 per cent. He said the majority of the tourists come from the Western parts of the country like Gujarat, Maharashtra. “A spate of high taxes by the Union and state governments have made the domestic tourism costly and in the same budget the tourists from southern India can travel to many foreign destinations,” Chatha added. He said high taxes had been imposed without providing any benefits, assistance and incentives to the industry leaving. The annual average occupancy of hotels here is less than 50 per cent, which normally rise to 80 per cent during summer. Educational institutions in various parts of the country remain closed for one-and-a-half month during summer. The six-week-long vacations provide an ample time to families for recreation. A leader of the Taxi Drivers' Union, Ashok Kumar, said the season provided an ample opportunity to taxi operators for doing roaring business. He said the demand for taxis between the Golden Temple and Attari-Wagah joint check post had jumped manifold during vacations. However, they were praying for a good season this time. He said a large number of tourists hire taxis for visiting tourist places in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
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Textile manufactures bat for reduction in interest rates on loans for SMEs
Amritsar, May 26 In a communiqué to the Union Finance, Textile and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Ministries, they expressed their concern that textile exports were falling continuously due to a high cost of production. PL Seth, general secretary of the Shawl Club (India), Amritsar, said, “The shawl exports from the city contributes Rs 300 crore to the total shawl exports of the country which stand at Rs 1,000 crore. An interest at 14 per cent per annum charged by banks and financial institutions and high investment costs are making the Indian shawls financially unviable in the international market. How can we compete at the global market when our archrival like China is providing loans to its SME sector at the rate of 4 per cent per annum?, he questioned. Neighbouring countries, Bangladesh and Pakistan, are providing incentives to boost the textile sector, he said. Seth said the issue of interest rate for the SME sector on a par with the agriculture sector was taken up by the Confederation of Indian Industry at a meeting of the Reserve Bank of India was held in Amritsar on November 14, 2009. Later, it was principally agreed by the Ministry of Finance but restricted it to the handloom sector only. Further, an aid of Rs 3,654 crore was given to the handloom sector in December, 2011 and an amount of Rs 5,884 crore was earmarked for the next five-year plan. He said Gujarat in its industrial policy for 2012 announced an interest subsidy of 7 per cent to the textile sector over and above the TUF scheme to bring the interest rate on a par with the agriculture sector. Rajinder Jain, another shawl manufacturer, said the Union government should take an initiative to compensate the states on the pattern of the Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Development Scheme in respect of levy of property tax and other many schemes. The states which make a policy of interest subsidy for the SME textile sector to bring interest rate on a par with the agriculture sector should be compensated under the Central schemes. If the government takes this move, the sector will get a boost to compete globally and grow in domestic and international markets, he said. He said, “The SME sector, with 4.88 crore enterprises and employment generation for 8.11. crore persons, contributes significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country. The SME sector the country is growing at an exceptional rate and has the potential to be one of the primary drivers of the Indian economy.”
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Pay litigation expenses to complainant, Power Corp told
Amritsar, May 26 Later, the complainant had prayed for checking of the meter and deposited the requisite fee for the same. She stated in her complaint that for the fear of disconnection she made a payment of Rs 30,000 on April 15, 2011. The power corporation submitted that that bill was rightly issued to the complainant as per actual consumption recorded by the meter. It was submitted before the court that the old meter from the premises of the complainant had been removed and in its place a new meter was installed. The forum observed that as per the consumption data placed on record by the opposite party, the meter of the complainant recorded consumption of 9,360 units in July, 2010, the bill for which was issued to the complainant. The forum observed that the consumption recorded by the meter of the complainant was exorbitant in comparison to the consumption recorded by the meter of the complainant before and after the period. In its order, It further stated that it was clear that no DDL of the meter challenged by the complainant was ever carried out by the opposite party. The forum has held the corporation guilty of deficiency of service and directed it to revise the bill issued to the complainant for the consumption of 9,360 units in July, 2010 on the basis of consumption recorded by the meter during the corresponding period of previous year( July, 2009).
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Durgiana Temple panel proposes memorial for victims of terrorism
Amritsar, May 26 In yet another significant decision, it was decided to provide medical aid at nominal rates. It has been decided to establish a state-of-the-art laboratory, which would house facilities like MRI and CT scan. The assistance of doctors from ayurvedic college and hospitals run by self-help groups would be sought for the purpose. It has also been decided to illuminate all the temples, located within the Durgiana complex. A proposal has also been mooted to repair the roof of the Laxmi Narayan temple besides beautifying it with 10-kg gold. A model of the Durgiana Temple would also be installed at the railway station entrance on the Gol Bagh side.
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Police collects vital clues in forgery case Amritsar, May 26 Gurdip, a resident of Zora Phatak, Mohkampura, was arrested by the police from the Khandwala area and he was remanded in police custody till tomorrow. Sources said Gurdip admitted the crime. He had been involved in a bank dacoity of Rs 13-14 lakh. He had been declared a proclaimed offender in a snatching and dacoity cases. Yesterday, following a tip-off a raid was conducted on the designated spot in the Khandwala area. The police nabbed Gurdip while his accomplice Sharanjit managed to escape. The police recovered 17 identity (ID) cards out of which eight were of nambardars of different villages with their photographs pasted on them. Besides, the police also seized three fake stamps of nambardars of different villages, 200 forged papers from Gurdip’s possession. Parminder Singh, investigating officer, said more revelations were likely to be made soon.—TNS
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from schools
Students of Government Senior Secondary School, Mattewal, won the district-level maths quiz, in which students from all government schools from 17 blocks of Amritsar took part. Quiz master Manisha said the students from Classes VI to VIII took part in the contest. The students underwent oral and written test to reach the finals. The second position was won by Government Elementary School, Vijaynagar, and the third place was secured by Government Girls' Secondary School, Mahna Singh road. All the winning students were given medals and certificates. Young Chef Contest
Sahodya Schools Complex held the Young Chef Contest and the Caricature Contest at Sri Guru Harkrishan Senior Secondary Public School, Majitha road bypass. Students from as many as 23 CBSE schools participated in the event. The theme of Caricature Contest was "Political Scams". The aim of conducting the contest was to enlighten the young generation about the turmoil and turbulences in the political arena. the "Young Chef Contest" was conceived to encourage the creativity and innovativeness of the students to incline them towards health and nutrition and to keep them away from junk food. The event began by invoking the blessings of the almighty. Principal Dapinder Kaur welcomed the teachers and the students and told the students to take part in the event wholeheartedly. The Young Chef Contest was judged by TK Singh, who has dedicated herself to the field of cooking, and Jyoti Arora of Masterchef fame. The Caricature Contest was judged by Rubina Singh, a young artist from the city. The judges appreciated the efforts of the participants and encouraged them to take part in such events. The Caricature Contest was won by Sri Ram Ashram Public School, SGH Senior Secondary Public School, GT road, SGH Senior Secondary Public School, Tarn Taran. The Young Chef Contest was won by Sri Ram Ashram Public School, Delhi Public School and SGH International School. The consolation prize was given to The Millenium School. —TNS
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The Durgiana Temple Management Committee has proposed to construct memorial in the memory of the victims of terrorism at the Durgiana complex on the lines of a the Blue Star memorial built at the Golden Temple complex. This was disclosed by the committee members during their executive body meet here today.
