Ludhiana, October 23
The transfer of five residential colonies developed by the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) to the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation seems to have hit a roadblock.

Not even a single colony has been transferred to the MC as yet. This despite the fact that both the LIT and the MC had passed resolutions in their general body meetings and even the state government had approved of the proposal.

The colonies include Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Rajguru Nagar, Maharishi Valmiki Nagar, Bharat Nagar Extension and Sant Isher Singh Nagar. These colonies were to be transferred to the MC for maintenance as per the provisions of the Punjab Town Improvement Act.

Sources in the MC said when Chunni Lal Bhagat was the Local Bodies’ Minister he had not cleared the file related to the transfer of colonies.

Even Mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria has written to the state government about the transfer of colonies. However, a local BJP leader wants that the transfer of colonies should take place when he becomes the LIT chairman,” reveal sources.

A councillor, a portion of whose ward was to be transferred to the MC, rued that there was no sign of development in these colonies for the past few years. “A resolution was passed in the LIT and the MC meetings to handover the colonies to latter. Even the LIT had given Rs Rs 3 crore to the MC for the purpose,” lamented the councillor.

Akali councillor from Ward number 59 Tanvir Singh Dhaliwal said the transfer of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar and other colonies had been stayed for the reasons best known to the Local Bodies Department.

Mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria said he had shot off letters to the department and the state government to expedite the process. “We had started the transfer of colonies after passing resolutions in the meetings of the LIT and MC. The state government also gave permission to transfer the colonies. I don’t know why there is so much delay,” said the Mayor.

Ludhiana, October 23
Prices of onions, a basic ingredient of every kitchen, surged to Rs 80 per kg in the city today, upsetting the household budget in residents.

The prices are expected to go through the roof. “It has become difficult to manage the household budget. I was expecting the onion prices to come down. The government should intervene before it is too late," said Mamta Aggarwal, a resident of Aggar Nagar.

Leaders of the ruling parties are also jittery over the hike in prices.

“Anticipating that the prices will touch the Rs 100 mark, agents are hoarding onions,” said Ramdin, a vegetable vendor at Jalandhar bypass.

India is the world’s second-largest producer of onions after China, and onion is the second-largest consumed vegetable in India after potato. "Onion is the main ingredient in every kitchen. I have restricted the use of onions. I hope the prices will come down soon," said another homemaker, Gagan Arora, from BRS Nagar.

Ludhiana, October 23
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari today chided officials of the district administration for not coming prepared to a meeting.

When Block Development Officer of Samrala was unable to answer any queries, the minister asked him what was the point to come to the meeting without doing the homework.

Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal took a serious note of the 'callous attitude' of the officials.

It all started when Samrala MLA Amrik Singh Dhillon complained against Samrala BDO Inderpreet Singh stating that he remained absent and was inaccessible when he along with MP Sukhdev Singh Libra went to meet the him.

This prompted Tewari to ask certain queries from the BDO which he was unable to answer. The DC assured the minister that appropriate action would be taken.

Tewari also raised concern over the poor expenditure under the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Under the scheme, an amount of Rs 150 crore was to be spent this year, but only Rs 11 crore has been spent so far.

He said there were no budgetary restrictions on the scheme. He said in one of the districts in Rajasthan, Rs 2,000 crore was spent under the scheme in one year. Presiding over the meeting of the District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee, Tewari expressed his displeasure over the manner the meeting was conducted. He asked the Deputy Commissioner that the officials concerned must be held accountable for projecting that they had spent Rs 150 crore under the scheme.

Co-chairman of the committee and Fatehgarh Sahib MP SS Libra said the local representatives were not updated on development works like social on MGNREGA. Tewari asked the Deputy Commissioner to upload the MGNREGA audit report on the official website and mark a copy to all members of the committee.

Among others present at the meeting included MLAs Surinder Dawer, Amrik Singh Dhillon, GS Bhoparai, Gurkirat Singh Kotli and DCC president Pawan Dewan.

Ludhiana, October 23
Virtually putting the noble profession of teaching to shame, two designated heads of schools were involved in a pitched battle to gain control of the principal's chair at Government School (boys) at Jawahar Nagal locality here.

One of the principals, who was transferred from Government School, Boparai, joined as principal of Government School (for boys), Jawahar Nagar Camp, here while the present principal "refused" to give the charge and proceeded on medical leave till October 31. Education Minister, SS Maluka, however, said she should be considered as "relieved".

The controversy to get hold of the reins started yesterday, when the education department released the transfer orders of three principals recently. As per orders, Jasbir Kaur, principal Government School, Boparai, was transferred at Jawahar Nagar Camp and the principal Barjinder Kaur of Government School, Jawahar Nagar Camp, was transferred to Government School, Dholewal. Principal Government School, Dholewal, Gurminder Kaur, was transferred at Dakha as the principal at Dakha is to retire on October 31.

Since the principal of Dakha School, PS Toor, refused to be relieved before October 31, the chain just stopped. The principal, Government School, Jawahar Nagar Camp, reportedly went to Chandigarh to meet higher-ups over her sudden transfer. In her absence, Jasbir Kaur joined the office here.

Today, the school saw both the principals. Since, all the documents were in possession of the previous principal and the latter reportedly locked all the almirahs, the newly joined principal put another register and started with the work. At the behest of certain teachers, the students and the staff members reportedly started raising slogans against the new principal and the Education Minister after the morning assembly today.

Having no other option, the new principal, Jasbir Kaur, called upon the police and the latter sent students to their respective classes. On this, the transferred principal, Barjinder Kaur, proceeded on medical leave.

DEO, Secondary, Paramjit Kaur Chahal, admitted that it was shameful on part of teaching fraternity to fight like this, especially, when orders were issued by the department.

"But realising our moral duty, we tried to resolve the issue by sending our officials, though we did not receive any complaint in this regard yet we got the locks opened and handed-over everything to the new principal,” she said.

Ludhiana, October 23
Free flow of liquor, sumptuous dishes and high-pitch music sum up a big fat Punjabi wedding.

Imagine a function without any of these. In what has come as a disappointment to many, marriage palace owners have decided not to serve liquor from November 1, courtesy the Excise and Taxation Department's directions.

The department has asked the owners to deposit a lump sum amount of Rs 2.35 lakh which includes Rs 1 lakh as luxury tax, Rs 1.25 lakh as VAT and Rs 10,000 as liquor licence fee. "We have decided not to serve liquor during functions as the department has put a huge burden on us. Earlier, we were paying Rs 50,000 as VAT for one function and Rs 10,000 for a liquor permit. However, the tax has been hiked to Rs 2.35 lakh (including VAT, liquor permit and luxury tax) for the Category A marriage palaces," said Harminder Singh, owner of a marriage palace. The revised rates are proving to be a boon for neighbouring states like Haryana where taxes and permit fees are quite low and there is no rule of advance payment of VAT. "We are left with no other option but to take the step. We will be losing clients but what do we do. It is only the Punjab government which is imposing huge taxes while no such taxes are imposed in the neighbouring states. Now those living in the border areas will obviously prefer banquets and marriage palaces located in other states," said Sukhdev Singh Sidhu, president of the Punjab Marriage Palace Association.

The department's officials have ordered video-recording of private functions to check evasion of tax which has come as a embarrassment for the owners and their guests," he stated. Owning a marriage palace is no more a lucrative business. "The government is on the spree of collecting taxes and burdening people. Collecting taxes in advance is a new formula adopted by the government which is turning out to be a setback for entrepreneurs," said Surjeet Singh Grewal, another marriage palace owner.

Ludhiana, October 23
The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation Commissioner is scouting for an office for himself in the Zone D office at posh Sarabha Nagar.

MC Commissioner Rahul Tiwari today asked the bridges and roads (B&R) department to find a suitable office for him in the Zone D building.

At present, the MC Commissioner office is located in the Zone A building near Mata Rani Chowk. When AK Sinha used to be the MC Commissioner, he used to operate from Zone D four days a week while he used to sit in Zone A once a week.

But when Rakesh Kumar Verma became the MC Commissioner, he took his office to Zone A and started operating from there all five working days of the week.

And now almost a couple of months after Rahul Tiwari took over as the MC Commissioner, he visited the Zone D office today and asked the B&R branch to scout for a suitable office for him. He has also asked the branch to carry out a survey and prepare a list of all MC offices in the city.

Rahul Tiwari said operating once a week from the Zone D office would help him perform better. "I want that the MC Commissioner should have offices in all four zones of the city. I have made it clear to the B&R branch that I don't need a lavish office to operate as just one room will be sufficient. Work of the MC Commissioner requires him to move to all parts of the city and having offices in all four zones will improve coordination," said Rahul Tiwari.

Ludhiana, October 23
Slump in market has dulled the shine of the festival of lights. The elite class has said a no to lavish card parties, which otherwise remain the main attraction of Diwali parties.

Industrialists said they did not have money to throw such parties. But things are not the same in clubs where gambling is a routine affair.

Terming it a blessing in disguise, an industrialist said gambling had ruined the future of many in the past. "When there is no extra money in the market, how can gamblers play? Earlier, they used to stop going to factories and would just focus on cards as the lucky ones could make a healthy profit in two or three card sittings. But this time, there is no such enthusiasm. Only a few are inviting people to such parties in their farm houses," said the industrialist. A Sunder Nagar area-based hosiery manufacturer, Vijay Kumar (name changed), said many industrialists had not even paid salaries to their workers because of blocked payments. "An average gambling party of about 50 persons costs anything up to Rs 2 lakh to the host. Branded hard drinks and snacks throughout the night are a part of such bashes. But this could be done with surplus finances. Businessmen are not getting good returns ," said the manufacturer.

'Small-stake' games 'kill the time'. Vanita Dyal (name changed) said their kitty group of 10 women had decided to host at least five card sessions before Diwali. "But we do not bet with high stakes. The winning and losing amount remains up to Rs 5,000," said Dyal.

Card lovers in the industrial city eagerly wait for the festive season as these are the days when they start card sittings. Those seriously involved in gambling will just focus on playing cards during Diwali as this would bring them several crores in just two to three sittings. Late night card parties are hosted by bigwigs ahead of Diwali where higher-ups (officials from the police and district administration) are also invited.

Ludhiana, October 23
The sale of 10,000 SIM cards on fake addresses has left the police department jittery.

A day after the arrest of three persons who were issuing pre-activated SIM cards on fake addresses, the police has launched a hunt to nab the employees of the cellular company who were working in connivance with the trio.

Yesterday, Commissioner of Police Paramjit Singh Gill had stated that the activation of such a large number of SIM cards was not possible without the help of a cellular company.

"Purchasing pre-activated SIM cards is as easy as buying vegetables from the market. The shop owners are making a mockery of national security for pocketing extra profit of merely Rs 100 or Rs 200," said Gill, adding that he would soon conduct a meeting with the representatives of the cellular companies to get the numbers issued by Jatin, Gagan and Amandeep deactivated. The role of cellular company employees came under the scanner after the police found that the SIM cards were operating without necessary verification.

"It is a grave matter. Nearly 10,000 fake SIM cards have been activated. We are not ruling out threat perception. We are going to coordinate with the intelligence agencies for sharing inputs," said Commissioner of Police Paramjit Singh.

They said it was strange that the pre-activated SIM cards were issued without necessary verification. He said when he (Commissioner) had applied for a new mobile number, he had to undergo a strict verification process. The first member of the gang, Gagandeep Singh, a resident of Kot Mangal Singh, was nabbed on October 19. The police had seized 102 SIM cards that were activated.

During investigations he said he was running the trade along with his two accomplices identified as Jatinder Kumar, alias Jatin, and Amandeep Verma.

While Jatin owns a mobile shop at the Sarabha Nagar market, Amandeep Verma runs a photography studio in Sherpur village.

The police today arrested Amadeep and Jatin. Around 1,000 fake identification cards, nearly 630 SIM cards , 47 fake stamps, fake forms of various cellular companies, scanners, printers, three demo SIM cards, camera and pen drives.

It was learnt that migrant labourers used to purchase the activated SIM cards from Jatin and Gagan while Amandeep prepared fake documents and activated the SIMs.

Ludhiana, October 23
Twenty-five persons tested positive for dengue today. As per officials of the health department, 18 patients are from the city while seven are from peripheral areas.

A health team led by Dr Anil Verma, district epidemiologist, visited Government Middle School Giaspura, Sant Kirpal Singh Bhajan Singh Public School, Maan Nagar Daba, and Mata Mohan Dai Oswal Public School, Jain Colony. The officials also visited Jain Colony, Maan Colony, Guru Amar Dass Colony, Ambedkar Nagar and New Ambedkar Nagar, Giaspura, Shiv Nagar Giaspura, Ajit Singh Nagar, and 33 feet road, Giaspura. An anti-larvae team checked 412 coolers and 218 containers and found larvae in two containers. The health officials informed the sanitary inspector of the Municipal Corporation who in turn challaned two persons for failing to maintain hygiene.

Khanna, October 23
Students of DPS, Khanna, have done the town proud by performing well in the recently held Junior Golf Tournament at Chandigarh Golf Club. Bishmadpal Singh, a Class V student, was declared the first runner-up. The school has a nine-hole golf course and imparts training to budding golfers.

The students practise under the supervision of Manjeet Kochar, who is also the overseas director of the Junior Golf Development Programme, ICGA, Canada. The students also participated in the athletics meet at DPS, Greater Noida. More than 50 schools participated in the meet. In the U-14 category, Gursimranjeet, Jaskaran, Yadveer and Pulkit managed to reach the final of the 4/100 m relay race. In the U-16, Sehajpal, Harbans, Parmod, Manjot, Manikjot and Jasenpreet performed well.

Khamano, October 23
Finding no way due to non-procurement of paddy, several workers of the BKU staged dharna in front of the SDM’s office at Khamano for about four hours and raised slogans against the Punjab and Centre Govt for not lifting their paddy.

The protesters, led by BKU Rajewal district president, Kashmira Singh Jatana, flayed the government for not making proper purchase arrangements of paddy. The protesters insisted that they will not go till the start of purchase and even presented them for arrests.

The speakers said they were sitting in the grain markets for the past several days. But the purchasing agencies were not purchasing discolored paddy and are making excuses on the pretext of norms. They said they are fed up with false promises of officials and will fight for their rights. ADC, Fatehgarh Sahib, Malwinder Singh Jaggi, also reached the spot and with SDM, Khamano, and convinced the farmers to lift dharna about 4 pm. When contacted ADC and SDM, they said they had persuaded the farmers to lift the dharna as a central team is expected tomorrow after which the matter of relaxation of norms may be expected solved. However, they directed the officials of purchasing agencies to purchase paddy that deserves and not to make excuses without any delay. The protesters threatened that they will not government officials to work if their demands are not conceded immediately.

Meanwhile, the BKU, Lakhowal, workers led by Ajmer Singh Ranwan, labourers and some commission agents of Khamano and Ranwan blocked traffic on the Ludhiana- Chandigarh road near Ranwan for about half an hour. The protesters alleged that they were forced to sit in grain market Ranwan for the several days but the purchasing agencies had failed to purchase discolored paddy.

Due to traffic blockade the commuters had to face difficulties to cross over to their destinations and they were seen roaming here and there to pass over Khamano. It is worthless to say that traffic was blocked two days ago also. But the situation remained the same till date. The protesters lifted the traffic blockade after assurance by SDM, Khamano, who reached the scene along with DSP, Khamano, and naib tehsildar, Harpreet Kaur, and started some purchase in the grain market, Ranwan.

The issue of purchase of paddy is heating up and before today's blockade, the farmers had already blocked traffic at Khanna, Samrala and Machiwara.

However, there are some reports that the private millers are offering very much low rate to the farmers at Samrala. Machiwara and at some other places to purchase their discolored paddy but the farmers are waiting in the grain markets for government fixed price with no other option than to wait or to give their produce at low rate. — OC

Ludhiana, October 23
Third day of the "Inter-College Youth Festival 2013-14," at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), was marked by the fine arts and literary events such as on the spot painting, elocution/extempore, and rangoli making. The participants from the four constituent colleges of the PAU demonstrated their creative skills, intellectual abilities, thought process, and aptitude in all the competitions. The participants expressed their views vehemently on the topic, “Youth is the Architect of Tomorrow" during elocution competition.

Chief guest of the morning session, Dr Rupa Bakshi, Dean, College of Home Science, applauded the views and confidence of the participants. She motivated the youths to bring a change in the society with their sincere efforts, and build India of their dreams. In her presidential remarks, Dr Ravinder Kaur Dhaliwal, Additional Director Communication, said the youth fest provides a competitive platform to the students to nurture their talent, develop self-confidence and become disciplined citizens. She also highlighted the importance of developing good communication skills in global era. In his address, the chief guest of evening session, Dr Jaspal Singh, Chief Engineer, said the participation in co-curricular activities helps in personality enhancement.

Earlier, Dr JS Bhalla, Cultural Coordinator, PAU Youth Festival, welcomed the dignitaries and the participants. Dr HS Hundal, Professor of Zoology, coordinated the programme. Dr Bakshi and Dr Dhaliwal distributed the certificates and prizes among the winners.

Results- Poster making: 1. Manpreet Kaur (Basic Sciences and Humanities), 2. Atma Singh (Home Science) and 3. Debamalya Chatterjee (Agriculture).

Haas Rass: 1. Sarbjit Singh (Basic Sciences and Humanities), 2. Navneet Kaur (Home Science) and 3. Jaspal Singh (Agriculture).

On the spot painting: 1. Debamalya Chatterjee (Agriculture), 2. Kanupriya Dawar (Basic Sciences and Humanities) and 3. Dharendra Mahey (Agricultural Engineering and Technology).

Elocution: 1. Sulakshna Rao (Basic Sciences and Humanities), 2. Silika Gupta (Basic Sciences and Humanities) and 3. Navneet (Agricultural Engineering and Technology).

Extempore: 1. Silika Gupta (Basic Sciences and Humanities), 2. Sameer Sood (Basic Sciences and Humanities) and 3. Gursharandeep (Agricultural Engineering and Technology).

Ravinder Dang, head, pharmacy department welcomed the guest. Dr Sachdeva dealt in detail with the breast, cervix and ovarian cancer. She informed the students that cancer was the second most common disease in India. — TNS

Ludhiana, October 23
While the festival of lights ‘Diwali’ is being eagerly awaited by those, who wish to spend lavishly on celebrating the festival, there are few, for whom it may be a ‘black-Diwali’ as they have not been paid their meagre salaries by the government for the past over eight months. Poor cooks, cooking midday meals in the schools running under the National Child Labour Project (NCLP), who have not been given single penny by the government since February 2013.

Swaran Singh, president of the INTUC Chapter, who is running one such school, said there were about 40 schools running under the NCLP and the cooks were not paid their monthly salaries for the past over eight months. He said it was Central Government-funded scheme. But the funds were to be released by the ADC (D) here.

He added that there was one cook for each school and he/she was paid a salary of about Rs 2,000 a month. “In this meagre salary, a cook also works as a peon in the school, being running for the wards of labour class. But they have not been paid their salaries by the government so far. No one is giving us any satisfactory reply on the issue and the condition of the cooks is very unfortunate in absence of money,” said Swaran Singh.

One of the cooks, Harjinder Kaur (name changed), said she was to get married in December and for a poor and needy person like her, Rs 2,000 a month was a big amount. “I have to get Rs 16,000 from the government, which can be of great help to my family. But all our requests go unheard as no one is willing to release the salaries,” rued the cook.

It may be mentioned here that few days ago, the Education Minister, Sikandar Singh Maluka, had made a statement that all the cooks had been paid the salaries and government had not withheld anybody's salaries.

Ludhiana, October 23
There are over 1,500 government middle schools in Punjab and in majority of them, there are no teachers for teaching mathematics to the students for Classes VI to VIII at all.

Such an important subject is being taught by the teachers of science, English, Punjabi and even physical education. On top of it, the department has started Remedial Coaching classes for weak students of class IX, for subjects of science and mathematics. In the absence of teachers of mathematics for three years, how can the department expect that students can cope up with the subject in just about one month.

As per norms, each teacher has to take at least 24 periods of mathematics, nine periods of subjects, including physical education and drawing every week.

Ironically, the department has deputed full-time teachers of subjects like drawing and physical education in middle schools but there are no teachers for teaching important subject like mathematics to the students.

Gurbir Singh, an office-bearer of the Maths Association, Punjab, said it was a long-pending demand to fill the posts of maths teachers in government middle schools at the earliest. But till date, all pleas have gone unheard. “The teachers of science, English and even physical education are asked to take the classes of mathematics too. How could they do justice with the students?" asked Singh.

Not just that at many schools, the lab attendants are being asked to teach the students because as per norms, no student could be failed in Classes VI to VIII in government middle schools. “When every student has to be passed, it hardly matters whether quality education is being provided to them or not,” said Satvinder Singh, a parent of a student studying in Class VII at a Government Middle School here.

One of the principals of a Government Middle School here said when for three years, an important subject like mathematics is taught by other subject teachers, the students are bound to lose the interest.

"In class IX, almost every student is weak in mathematics. The remedial classes for just about a month for weak students are just not enough to bring students back on tracks. Majority of the students fails to cope with the sudden stress, put on them by the department,” rued the principal.

Doraha, October 23
Various organisations today came forward to fight for the cause of the farmers who are reeling under the pressure of non-procurement of paddy and its repercussions. They blamed both the centre and state government who they alleged were paying a villainous role as far as the lifting of paddy.

“The farming community is literally on the verge of collapse. The produce which should have been duly honoured is getting spoiled in the open and there is none to own it as his own. Such a disregard has been shown by the procurement agencies that the farmers have no other option but to lament and observe a black Diwali this year,” expressed Lakhwinder Singh Buani, general secretary, Kirti Kisan Sabha, Punjab.

“Diwali is celebrated to welcome Lakshmi in the houses. But whom are we going to worship this Diwali. Our lives are on the verge of disaster, there is nobody to hear our pleas and our produce is lying unattended in the open with none to bother the least. How can a farmer sustain in such a position? It is better to end our lives rather than fight against our adverse circumstances and insensitive governments,” lamented a farmer from Daburjee village.

Prem Singh Bhangu, president of the Kirti Kisan Sabha Punjab said: “The state government makes tall claims to improve the condition of the farmers and the farming community at large. But these are all big bundles of lies as the reality is just the opposite. On one hand, the prices of fertilisers, pesticides, insecticides, diesel etc are sky-rocketing, on other hand, the resultant produce is being allowed to go to the dogs! What an irony! When a farmer, who has spent sleepless nights to rear up the fields, has to pass exactly from the same situation while selling his produce, he is bound to get depressed. The Punjab government has utterly failed in its objectives and it has given just torment and distress to the farming community.”

Saudagar Singh Ghudani, district general secretary, Bharati Kissan Union (Ugrahan), said, “How can we afford to rejoice in any festival? The state government has so far failed to lift paddy from the mandis and as a result, the farmers are suffering. This suffering seems to have no end. Various protests have borne no fruits, demonstrations have ended up in a fiasco as the so-called guardians of the farmers rights are heartless enough to feel for them and have left them to starve and suffer.”

Darshan Singh Kohli, district president of the BKU (IKTA-Ugrahan), said: “The specifications of the FCI are the same which were 15 to 20 years before. The price of onions is rising manifold while for paddy it is mere Rs 50 per quintal. Is the government or the so-called procurement agencies justified in playing such a cruel joke upon the farmers? How long shall they be able to suppress and torture those on who rests the economy of the country? This is surely going to explode one day.”

Ludhiana, October 23
‘Tax Virodhi Sangharsh Committee’ would burn the effigy of the state government on October 28. This was announced by Ex-MLA, Tarsem Jodhan, who is also the convener of the committee.

He rued that the state government had levied several taxes on the common man, which have added to their miseries and the reason they suffer.

“We would all gather in Chatar Singh park from where we would march towards Bharat Nagar Chowk where the effigy of state government would be burnt,” informed Tarsem Jodhan.