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Labour rights violations rampant
Health Dept gears up to tackle rising patient load
Rs 1.50 crore earmarked to strengthen Dhussi Bundh
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CAMPUS notes
Students perform during Inter-St. Soldier Dancing Star Season-I in
Jalandhar. A Tribune photo
State info panel issues notice to MCJ Commissioner
Cong demands white paper on ex-DGP’s revelation
Former Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira addresses the media in Jalandhar on Sunday. A Tribune photo
Law & order situation in Punjab similar to Chhattisgarh: PYC chief
‘Jatts in Golmaal’ gets thumbs up from audience
77,000 SC/BC students’ EID database to be created
Glamour dose: Models walk on the ramp during a fashion show at Jalandhar Gymkhana Club on Saturday. Photo: Sarabjit Singh English Olympiad
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Labour rights violations rampant
Jalandhar, May 26 In child rights’ violation cases, not even a single FIR has been registered in the past couple of years. While the police and the Labour Department blame it on each other, the High Court guidelines about the state action plan for abolition of child labour has been reduced to a joke in the district, the recent raids being the proof. During the raids, the task forces often lack the required personnel, which some activists say, becomes a pretext for their not being able to bring the culprits to the book. Even as the action plan says the presence of a senior police official is mandatory in a raiding team in cases of child labour, none of the raiding teams has ever had one. The police, Labour Department, Health Department, Women and Child Welfare Department, Education Department, Social Security Department, Child Welfare Committee (CWC) officials, among others, are supposed to be present during the raid but a comprehensive task force is a rarity. The last FIR in child labour cases were registered in the year 2010 but the erring employers managed to walk free. About absence of senior police officers during raids and not filing FIRs in labour cases, ADCP (headquarters), Navjot Singh Mahal said, “We are not informed about the raids. If we are, we will accompany them. We can only act when we receive complaints.” Labour-cum-conciliation officer Sukhjinder Sara said, “The DC (chairman of the task force) calls all the officials. It is not possible that the police stays uninformed.” Labour-cum-Conciliation Officer Charanjeet Singh said, “Absence of proper staff and coordination issues could be termed as reasons for lack of action. Though we regularly conduct raids, the lack of staff is also a restricting factor.” The district has only 3 labour inspectors instead of sanctioned nine vacancies and has no support staff. A Deputy Commissioner has never summoned officials to question them for the lack of effectiveness of the task forces or to crack a whip on labour rights violators. An estimated 5 lakh labourers are reportedly working in the district, of which as many as 75 per cent of them are migrants from UP, Bihar, Chattisgarh and few from Haryana and Rajasthan. The rest 20 to 25 per cent are from Punjab. An estimated 2 lakh labourers are said to be working in kilns (sometimes 400 to 500 in a single unit), the rest work in factories, farms etc. Activists say most of these labourers are not given ration cards or registered under the Factory Act. While penury drives labourers to opt for any job, factory owners exploit them and cases of abuse and threats are common which go unreported. The number of child labourers (aged 14 or below) in the district is over 9,000. From January 2009 to February 2013, as many as 7,145 raids have been conducted in which 249 children have been rescued and as many employers found violating the laws. But even as 240 of these violators were prosecuted, only 120 were convicted (challaned) for the crime. The Juvenile Justice Act, 2000, and Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act (1986) clearly state that employing a child below the age of 14 for a hazardous occupation is a punishable offence. At least 25 of these children aged 14 or below were employed for hazardous occupations but no FIR has been registered. As many as 14 were rescued during the drives conducted in November 2012 and
11 were rescued from a factory the same year. The actual child labour violations are even more. Task forces lack required personnel
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Health Dept gears up to tackle rising patient load
Jalandhar, May 26 The immense heat wave in the entire northern region has also forced the Punjab government to observe Diarrhoea Prevention Week. Health Minister Madan Mohan Mittal claimed that May 27 to June 1 would be observed as the Diarrhoea Prevention Week across the state. The minister said the decision was taken for creating awareness among the general public about the prevention and management of diarrhoea and dehydration, especially among children. These diseases go up during the summer resulting in higher mortality due to dehydration. The minister claimed to have issued guidelines to all the civil surgeons to send medical teams in all government-run schools to impart health education about prevention and treatment of diarrhoea and administering ORS and zinc. In a press release, the minister said that all health institutions in the state had been directed to maintain adequate quantities of ORS and zinc supplementation. Dr RL Bassan, Civil Surgeon, Jalandhar, said directions had been issued to the hospitals, dispensaries and other healthcare institutions across the district to educate the general public, especially school students, about diarrhoea and dehydration. For the purpose, the auxiliary nursing midwives (ANMs), Aasha workers and other paramedical staff in Jalandhar district have been told to educate the children and the elderly to maintain hygiene, take more liquid, especially during the daytime, avoid exposure to sunlight, cover their body and face while going in the open, avoid eating from roadside vends selling eatables. The Measures
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Rs 1.50 crore earmarked to strengthen Dhussi Bundh
Jalandhar, May 26 Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shruti Singh recently announced while presiding over a meeting of
the district officers to review the flood prevention measures. The Deputy Commissioner said the money would be spent on
priority works first. A sum of Rs. 1.50 crore would be spent on strengthening the Dhussi Bundh, falling in
division while Rs 16 lakh has been earmarked for the flood prevention measures to be carried
out in Ismailpur and Fatehpur villages of Shahkot division. The Deputy Commissioner also directed the officials of the Drainage Department to ensure that the strengthening of the Dhussi Bundh should be completed by June 30, adding that the flood control centres (rooms) should soon be established at the district and sub-division level, which would be manned round the clock. She also asked the Drainage Department officials to ensure that the information pertaining to water level (rising and receding) in the rivers must be sent to the Deputy Commissioner’s office twice a day. The sub-divisional officers were also asked to identify sensitive villages (along the Dhussi Bundh), arrange telephone numbers of prominent people of these villages and install wireless systems in case of emergency. The Deputy Commissioner also asked the officials to identify safer places in flood-prone villages along with the river so that these sites could be used as relief camps, if needed. Besides officials of the Irrigation, Revenue and Panchayat departments, those who attended the meeting were Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC-General) Perneet Bhardwaj, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC-Development) Harminder Singh and
Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) from Jalandhar, Phillaur, Shahkot and Nakodar. Flood control exercise
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One-day trip
KMV Collegiate Senior Secondary School organised a one-day trip for 10+1 and 10+2 (Arts, Commerce, Medical and Non-Medical) students. The trip received an enthusiastic participation from over 96 students. The students were taken to Nada Sahib Gurudwara, Mansa Devi and Chandigarh. Students enjoyed a lot at Rock Garden and also did boating at Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh. Principal Dr Atima Sharma expressed happiness over this excursion and said that such trips should be organized in future also. St Soldier Dancing Star
An Inter St Soldier Dancing Star Season -1 Grand Finale was held at St Soldier Campus Kapurthala Road in which 25 teams of different Schools of St Soldier participated. Junior and Senior groups show their talent in Gidha, Bhangra, Rajasthani Dance, Haryanvi Dance, Western, Hip Hop, Jazz , Model House, Mann Nagar and Hadiabad branches won the title of Dancing Star in Junior and senior categories. Choreographer Arun Sharma from Volcano Dance Academy honor and appreciate the talent of students . He also told some dance steps of latest hindi , punjabi tracks. Video making contest
Angad Singh (Cl-10) and Arshnoor Walia (Cl-9) of Eklavya Schoo, Jalandhar secured first position in the Sahodaya Inter school Video Making Competition. The Competition was held at Kamla Nehru Public School Phagwara. There were 22 teams for the competition. The students were to interview a person and the topic of discussion was nature-gender sensitisation. Arshnoor interviewed Surjit Kumar and Angad Singh did the recording. Students got one hour to edit the video and the videos were shown to the judges. Students had to put in a lot of hard work for this competition and they were given practice by their able teachers Ms. Bhawna Bhatt (Coordinator) and Jyoti. The Director Seema Handa, Manager Sapna Bakshi and Principal Dimpal Sharma congratulated the winners and the teachers. Pool splash
Mayor World School threw open its splash pool for its students. The school boasts of having the biggest indoor splash pool in town and takes special care towards its upkeep and cleanliness. Students at Mayor World School are encouraged to be comfortable in water at an early age. Children as young as 3 year old were taught how to hold themselves, move and play in the pool. Every morning students enjoyed the excitement and mystery of water. World a Global Village Celebration
World a Global village celebration was held at Police DAV Public School. Math and Sanitation Club jointly presented a nukkad natika in the morning assembly. Children decked as representative of various countries welcomed the principal and gave a message to preserve water. They also presented the condition of the world in future when water scarcity would be faced. A really was flagged of by the principal which was taken through PAP Campus, spreading awareness on the necessity to save and conserve water. As many as 100 students along with the faculty participated in this really. Foundation day
Foundation Day, 27 May 2004, marks a significant date in the history of Eklavya School, for on that day the School laid its foundation and now has flourished in all spheres. Because of summer vacations school planned the Havan on 24th May 2013 to celebrate the Foundation Day. Havan had a purifying effect on the students educators and as well as in environment. Seema Handa, Director Eklavya School, Sapna Bakshi, Manager Eklavya School and Dimpal Sharma, principal Eklavya School and educators made offerings into the fire, which re-energized, created a revitalizing and rejuvenating effect for both the body and mind. The students from Pre-primary onwards were gathered to celebrate the foundation day of our school. Video making contest
Angad Singh (Cl-10) and Arshnoor Walia (Cl-9) of Eklavya Schoo,Jalandhar secured first position in the Sahodaya Inter school Video Making Competition. The Competition was held at Kamla Nehru Public School, Phagwara.
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State info panel issues notice to MCJ Commissioner
Jalandhar, May 26 Issuing notice of hearing to MCJ Commissioner-cum-First Appellate Authority Vinay Bublani, the State Information Commission (SIC) Deputy Registrar directed him to appear in person or through a duly authorised officer before the Chief Information Commissioner, RI Singh, on June 6. The commission has also forwarded a copy of the notice of hearing to
the Punjab Local Government Director. The MCJ Commissioner has also been asked to file a written reply before the next date of hearing with an advance copy to the said activist who has sought information. Earlier, in his appeal, activist Kailash Thukral said the MCJ had made mockery of the RTI Act by asking him to deposit Rs 1.5 lakh for getting information on house tax. In response to an application by him, the MCJ Assistant Public Information Officer (APIO)-cum-Assistant Commissioner attached a note of Tax Superintendent (TS) based on a report of the house tax clerk (HTC). The report said, “The expenditure on providing the required information on house tax will be Rs 1.5 lakh and this information will be provided only after depositing the said amount with the
MCJ.” “The date of last 11 years is not available in the computer as per the statement. It will take three months for preparing data from ledgers and it may be prepared after recruiting 10 contractual employees for doing the same and it will cost Rs 1.5 lakh,” it has been stated in the six-line noting. In his application filed under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act, Kailash Thukral had sought information regarding the publication of notices of public auctions of various immovable properties for the recovery of house tax under Section 138 of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act 1976 and other information concerned for house tax from 2001 to 2011-12. The RTI activist received the response from
the MCJ through letter number 660/HT dated January 30, 2013, in response to his application dated December 31, 2012.
Taking a strong exception for making a mockery of the RTI Act, Thukral said, “The information cannot be denied
simply on the grounds that the number of statements have not been provided in the computer
data and will be prepared by engaging 10 contractual employees.” “The cost of providing information should have been calculated and determined by the PIO concerned as stated under Sections 7 (1) and 7 (3) of RTI Act and details of such calculations are to be conveyed to the applicant,” the RTI activist further stated. The report of the HTC is baseless and deemed to be a willful denial of
information sought under RTI Act as the desired information was already prepared under the Punjab Municipal Account Code 1930 by the office concerned every year and kept in a record after the end of each financial year under the 'mandatory provision' of the code in the form of annual accounts, he said. Thukral had also sought a copy of the report of the dealing officer suggesting the provision of unit areas-based property tax self-assessment system for amendment in the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, forwarded to the government. “If so, the resolution of the MCJ also be provided,” he said in his application. |
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Cong demands white paper on ex-DGP’s revelation
Jalandhar, May 26 "Now the can of worms has been opened by a former top policeman of the state, alleging deep rooted nexus between the politicians, police and the drug mafia, operating not only in the jails but ruining the youth of Punjab as well. The sensational disclosures made by Shashi Kant need to be thoroughly investigated and acted upon without any further delay," Congress
spokesman Sukhpal Khaira said. Needless to mention, the drug menace is the biggest challenge facing the society in Punjab. Unfortunately, those in power instead of curbing this menace with an iron hand have become facilitators of drugs. Different reports from GNDU, NGOs and other organisations have indicated towards 70 per cent youth taking to drugs in one form or the other," he added. Politicians cutting across party lines, including a religious body like SGPC, to reap personal political gains have further added to the woes of the people by distributing drugs during elections, he claimed. Khaira said, "The former DGP has made a specific charge that he had prepared a detailed report on narcotic trade in the state. This report had been prepared after obtaining information from various intelligence agencies and was sent to DGP Sumedh Singh Saini about a year ago. As per the report, more than 185 top officials of the Jail Department were involved in the drug trade besides 10 top politicians and several businessmen." "Unfortunately, it is a matter of shame and disgrace that Saini pushed this sensational report under the carpet. It only goes to show that the DGP and the government are shielding the politician-police-drug mafia nexus, thus doing a great disservice to the state, besides abdicating their authority," he added. Paramjit Singh Kainth, president of the National Scheduled Castes Alliance (NSCA), said, "The disclosures made by the former DGP are serious in nature and the government should act on his report to wipe out drug menace in the state by taking strict action against the persons involved." |
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Law & order situation in Punjab similar to Chhattisgarh: PYC chief
Jalandhar, May 26 The ruling SAD-BJP government was targeting the Congress leaders and workers in a planned manner, he alleged. Criticising SAD president and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal and his companions, he also pointed a finger at the role of Punjab DGP Sumedh Singh Saini. “The role of Saini is also under scanner. He on the direction of the Deputy Chief Minister has withdrawn security cover of various state Congress leaders.” He added. Strongly condemning the barbaric attack by the Maoists during the Congress Parivartan Yatra in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, the PYC chief expressed sorrow over the death of the Congress leaders. PCC President Nand kumar Patel, his son Mahendra Karma, Udai Mudaliar and several workers were killed in the attack. Former Union minister Vidya Charan Shukla and many others got seriously injured in the attack. “This is the latest and most shocking example of the politics of violence and terror practiced by the Maoists in the BJP-ruled state. It is the murder of democracy. The BJP government in Chhattisgarh is answerable for the lack of security arrangements for the Congress yatra,” he said. |
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‘Jatts in Golmaal’ gets thumbs up from audience
Jalandhar, May 26 Breaking the monotony of daily life, the movie has proved many pundits wrong, who were saying that the Punjabi movies could not do well without a singer in lead role. The star cast of the movie includes Arya Babbar and Sameksha. All the characters gelled together in the movie to bring forth a great concoction of hilarious comedy. Arya Babbar’s foreign dreams, his illiterate remarks in the IELTS training centre, journey shared with comedian Gurpreet Ghuggi from the mails to fake visa and later the quest against fake visa makers, saving Arya’s donated heart and other such episodes have created an unprecedented comedy. The movie is running houseful in cinemas at Chandigarh, Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Bathinda, Hoshiarpur. Besides, the movie is also doing well in America, Canada. The film is doing a brisk business in Haryana and Delhi too. Manmohan Singh Jandu, producer of the movie, said, “We consider it an honour after receiving such a response from the audience.” He said even their team had not anticipated such a success. |
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77,000 SC/BC students’ EID database to be created
Jalandhar, May 26 All these children are those who receive stipends under some or the other central government sponsored scheme. The registering of their EID numbers will make their payments aadhar enabled. In all, there are eight schemes sponsored by the central government running in the district. While the directions involve the creation of a database registering the EID card number of all these students, the bank accounts of these students have also been taken so that the various stipends they receive under various centre schemes will be deposited straight to their accounts. The various schemes include the welfare scheme, post matric and pre matric scholarship schemes for SC/BC students, stipends meant for wards of safai karmcharis, incentive to girls (up to 9th standard, aged below 16 years), scheme for SC toppers, among others. The students were today called to a local school to deposit their stipends. DEO (Secondary), Neelam Kumari, "The EID numbers of these students are being taken as per a pilot project which has already been started in Gurdaspur and |
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Jalandhar, May 26
KMV Collegiate Senior Secondary School organised a one-day trip for 10+1 and 10+2 (Arts, Commerce, Medical and Non-Medical) students. The trip received an enthusiastic participation from over 96 students. The students were taken to Nada Sahib Gurudwara, Mansa Devi and Chandigarh. Students enjoyed a lot at Rock Garden and also did boating at Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh.
The congress today asked the SAD-BJP government to issue a white paper on the "startling disclosures" made by former DGP (Jails) Shashi Kant about the political, police and drug mafia nexus in Punjab.
"Now the can of worms has been opened by a former top policeman of the state, alleging deep rooted nexus between the politicians, police and the drug mafia, operating not only in the jails but ruining the youth of Punjab as well.
