Jalandhar, November 27
The Chief Commissioner of Right to Service (RTS) Commission, SC Aggarwal, today conducted a surprise inspection of various public utility departments (PUDs) of the district administration.

Among the departments where the inspection was conducted were Police Commissionerate, District Transport Office (DTO), Suvidha Centre, PUDA Office and Municipal Corporation.

The DTO was found to be the worst performer in all aspects. Lot many vehicle registration certificates (RCs) were found there which had not been despatched to the applicants for long.

The Chief Commissioner also expressed displeasure over the sluggish working of the Police Commissionerate and suvidha centre.

"Most of the departments were found to have huge backlog which is not acceptable. Since they are the major PUDs and have the maximum rush, a careful monitoring of these departments should have been done on a regular basis,” said Aggarwal.

"The District Transport Office was found to have the maximum backlog while the Police Commissionerate was deemed as "trying to progress" although not performing up to the mark,"he added.

He said a lack of awareness about some recently introduced services and inadequate infrastructure in the public utility departments are also acting as a big deterrent in the efficient functioning of these departments. He also laid emphasis on linking all the public utility services to SMS facilities.

Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner Varun Roojam while taking to Jalandhar Tribune said, “The backlog found in these departments would be cleared on a priority basis.”

"We are committed to provide speedy and competent services to the public and I will personally look into this matter from now onwards," said Roojam.

He added that although some of the services had already been linked to the SMS facilities, the rest would also be linked shortly besides planning awareness campaigns to make people aware about some of the recently introduced services.

The Punjab Right to Service Act-2011 (PRTS Act-2011) came into effect on October20, 2011.

Initially, there were only 69 services that were provided under the Act but 80 more services have recently been included in the list of public utility services, making a total of 149.

Earlier, 11 public utility departments were providing public utility services. With seven more departments, the number has gone up to 18.

Recently, many discrepancies like fake marriages and birth certificates, corruption in the District Transport Office and brawls between the police and public were exposed by the media in the major public utility departments. 

Jalandhar, November 27
The mobile wing of the Excise and Taxation Department detected tax evasion to the tune of lakhs of rupees by a metal trader. Iron scrap and brass material hidden underneath a dug-up waste soil was recovered during a raid conducted late last night.

Excise and Taxation Officer Satpal Singh Multani said he got a tip-off in this connection and impounded a truck near Rama Mandi headed to Muradabad from Jalandhar. The Excise and Taxation Officer added that during search at the naka, the information given was found to be correct.

"There were no documents or bills with the driver. We are still assessing the value of loaded metal goods but the tax evasion is in several lakhs of rupees,” Satpal Singh Multani said.

The exact value would be ascertained tomorrow. We are also looking for more links as to check the details of the buyer and supplier. So far, we do not have any vital clues to the same," the Excise and Taxation Officer further said. 

Kapurthala, November 27
The CIA staff today nabbed two persons for stealing wheat bags during a raid carried out near the railway station here. The accused were arrested while loading the wheat in train bogies. The police also recovered 15 bags of stolen wheat bags from their possession.

A truck bearing registration number PB-12-B-5145 was also impounded by the police.

The police said the raid was carried following a tip-off and the pilferage of wheat reportedly took place while the vehicle transported the consignment from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) godown to the railway station. The accused have been identified as the truck driver, Sunil Bhangra, a resident of Dera Jaggu Shah and Santokh Singh alias Bittu, a flour mill owner.

Lakhwinder Singh Mal, in-charge CIA, said he got the information over telephone in this connection after which they raided the spot.

The confiscation of a truck with only 15 bags of wheat has also raised questions. Abhishek Sinha, District Manager (DM), FCI, Kapurthala, confirmed that a fully loaded truck was dispatched from the FCI godown to railway station. Not only this, no FCI staff was present when the vehicle was impounded.

Sinha said the department was also investigating the matter in this connection.

It has been learnt that this was not a first incident of stealing of wheat during special loading.

Earlier too, there have been similar incidents but the accused were allegedly shielded by politicians and other influential people.

CIA in-charge Lakhwinder Singh Mal said during the preliminary investigations, the two accused have admitted to their involvement in stealing of wheat for the past many years. They were produced in the court on Tuesday and were sent to two-day police remand.

Diljinder Singh Dhillon, Superintendent of Police (SP-D), said action would be taken against others found involved in the case.

Jalandhar, November 27
A visit to various Rain Baseras in the city today showed how ill-equipped these night shelters are when it comes to catering to the needs of the homeless and the destitute.

Most shockingly, none of the Rain Basera has provision for a separate stay for women and children, the most vulnerable segment of the society despite clear directions by the Supreme Court in this regard.

Also, in the complete absence of any publicity, very few are actually aware of the fact that these shelters exist and for what purpose and hence they were found abandoned.

Although the Municipal Corporation has constructed eight night shelters in the city at various locations but no shelter has been made specifically for women and children. Women and children are not allowed to stay inside the night shelter without a male companion.

The night attendants at the shelter whisk them away if anyone comes there for a night halt.

“I have four children. My husband left me and got married again. I came to the city three days ago to find some work in the city. Presently, I am without food and shelter. One of the shopkeepers told me about a Rain Basera nearby. I went there with my children last night but was turned away by the policeman standing there. He told me that I cannot stay there alone,” said Sahiba Noor who was found by this reporter sleeping in a corner of the bus stand with her four children.

She informed that she has even been flogged many times by the bus stand authorities since then.

Jalandhar, November 27
Chairperson of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB), Dr Tejinder Kaur Dhaliwal, declared open events on the second day of co-curricular competitions for the PSEB schools at Lovely Professional University (LPU), near here today.

In her key note address, Dhaliwal said, “Students learn commitment, vision, exposure, latest technology many other social activities besides inspiration for competition at such events. I advise students to learn from competitions and grow.”

She reiterated her commitment to over-haul the board system by bringing changes in books, software utilisation, technology, examinations, online registration, certificate verifications etc as per the need of the hour.

Participants of category-II (Class VI to VIII) from four regions of Jalandhar, Amritsar, Bathinda and SAS Nagar competed in 12 events - shabad gayan, declamation, painting, calligraphy, folk songs, solo dances, gidha, kavishri, war gayan, bhangra, general knowledge and poetic-recitations.

One act plays, which focused on social themes like female foeticide and molestation, drug-addiction, corruption, unemployment, war-horrors, poverty etc, were the crowd pullers.

Results

Solo dance competition: Mansi from Sr Sec School, Punjabi University, Patiala, stood first; Taranpreet Kaur from Gobind Model School, Puri, Sangrur, was second; and Khushbu from GN Public Sr Sec School, Ludhiana, got third position.

War gayan competition: Harjit Singh and friends secured first position, Harmandeep Kaur and friends were placed second, while Simranjit Kaur and friends got third position.

Calligraphy competition: Amandeep Singh from Sr Sec School, Uddat Saidewala, stood first; Harsatdeep Kaur from Baba Farid Sr Sec School, Bathinda, second; and Simran Kaur from Sarkari Kanya Sr Sec School, Sohian, Ludhiana, was placed third.

Shabad gayan competition: Pavneet Kaur stood first, Mehak second and Taranpreet Kaur third.

GK test competition: Manjinder Kaur from St Soldier Sr Sec School, Jandiala Guru, stood first; Aastha from Bharti Model Sr Sec School, Rampura Road, Bathinda, second and Mehakjot Singh from Teja Singh Sutantar Memorial Sr Sec School, Ludhiana, was place third.

Jalandhar, November 27
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the owner of local Woodland Store and chairman of the Sirmour-based manufacturing company to refund an amount of Rs 4,995 to the buyer of the shoes.

Anil Kumar, a resident of Globe Colony, said he visited the Aero Club Woodland Store at Viva College Mall on December 29 last year. He said, he purchased many items, including one brown 41 leather footwear (GB 0914110) for Rs 17,334. He said within one and half months of the purchase, its leather started cracking and coming off due to manufacturing defect, use of inferior quality and expired leather.

Anil said he approached the showroom manager on February 21 and handed him over the defective shoes for which a repair slip number 260 was given to him. He said the manager assured that he would revert to him after taking up the matter with the Sirmour-based manufacturer. He said the company failed to refund the price or replace the shoes till present date. The showroom manager refused to change or refund the price of the shoes to him, he added.

Upon notice, the company filed a written reply saying that the crack in the leather was part of the design. It was explained to the complainant specifically. For his satisfaction, his shoes were compared with other pair of the same design, which had the same crack in the leather as part of the design. But the complainant insisted that the shoes be replaced. It was stated in the reply that the customer was informed telephonically to collect his shoes as the same had no defect, but he did not.

During hearing, a representative of the company said it was ready either to replace the shoes or to refund the price of the same to the complainant. So the forum accepted the complaint and directed the company to refund Rs 4,995 as the price of the shoes to the complainant within seven days from the date of receipt of the copy of the order. 

Jalandhar, November 27
A large number of family members of Border Security Force (BSF) officials participated in a free medical camp organised at the BSF’s Punjab Frontier headquarters here today. The camp was organised by the BSF Wives Welfare Association (BWWA), Punjab Frontier.

The BWWA vice-president Urmila Uniyal inaugurated the camp. She was accompanied by the BWWA secretary Neelima Jaswal. Chief Medical Officer, Dr Saivta Butela, advised family members of BSF officials about the importance of staying fit and healthy. Participants were also made aware about perils of lifestyle diseases.

Urmila and Neelima said the BWWA was going to organise a week-long health awareness programme for families of BSF officials from December 1, the raising day of the BSF.

Jalandhar, November 27
At 24, he is one of the youngest success stories in the field of marketing, witnessed in the region. Young and robust Lokesh Goyal has passed Harvard University’s graduate course in international marketing. Out of thousands, who applied for the extension school course in international marketing last year, Lokesh is the only Indian to have cleared the qualifying exam. He was the only Indian in the batch of 36 students of international marketing in his class. Many among them also were people who already had a lot of business experience.

Born and brought up in Jalandhar, Lokesh pursued a major part of his schooling at Bishop’s Cotton School in Shimla. He completed his high school education from the DAV, Jalandhar. He passed his graduation in marketing and advertising (honours) from the GD Goenka World Institute. He cracked the test for Harvard in 
January 2012.

Pursuing the international marketing course at the Harvard Extension School, Lokesh says was a memorable experience of his life. “From my professors to the students I studied with, it felt lucky to be in that atmosphere because everything was special. There were people who had spent a considerable time in their restive businesses and were big names in their own right, but they just wanted to earn Harvard credits and be a part of the experience. We were encouraged to spend a majority of our time studying,” he said.

Lokesh said accompanying his father Rajendra Goyal in their business was always the prime aim in his mind right since he chose to delve in business studies. It was important to crack Harvard because it helped him prove himself, he added.

He said, “One of my cousins cleared Leeds University and said cracking it was very difficult and I did not have it in me to make it to a good business school. That is when I decided I would aim for the top.”

Lokesh said, “While attending Harvard has also made me aware how much I still have to learn talent wise. I felt dwarfed as compared to others many times. I am also determined to go back to pursue the MBA course at the university when I have gained more experience, and of course for more Harvard credits.”

While the international marketing course earned him four credits, an MBA from Harvard was worth 16 credits, he said.

Presently director of Farideal Agencies, the firm owned by his father, Lokesh has his eye on expanding the firm and taking it to newer limits. Their firm is a pioneer in robotics and welding equipment. His idol is India Panasonic President Daizo Ito, who has interned with JJ Malya, and won accolades on various volunteer ventures for the UNICEF, AIESEC among others. An experience, he says he would be incorporating in his vision to take his family business to newer heights. 

Amritsar, November 27
A newly married woman was allegedly gang-raped in a conspiracy perpetrated by a duo belonging to her native village on the pretext of getting her a cheque of Shagun scheme.

The victim had lodged a complaint with Majitha police which have registered a case in this connection and a manhunt has been launched to arrest the culprits identified as Jeeta of Ugar Aulakh village and his unidentified friend.

The victim told the police that on November 22, the accused took her to in-laws' house at Jajjoani village and told her that her mother was waiting for her at the Block Development Office at Majitha for getting the checque under the Shagun scheme. She was married around three months ago.

She alleged that the accused took her to Amritsar where Jeeta along with his friend raped her in a residential building. She told the police that the accused left after threatening her of dire consequences if she spoke to anyone about the incident.

She narrated the whole episode to her relatives who took her to Majitha police station and lodged a complaint against the two culprits. 

Jalandhar, November 27
Army Recruiting Office will be organising an open recruitment rally at Ludhiana from December 3 to 9 for general duty candidates hailing from Ludhiana, Ropar, Mohali and Moga districts and for soldier clerk/store keeper technical/technical from all districts of the state.

According to a press release by defence spokesperson token distribution and screening of candidates hailing from Mohali (for soldier general duty, soldier clerk/store keeper technical, soldier technical) will be held on December 3, for candidates from Moga (for soldier general duty, soldier clerk/store keeper technical/soldier technical) it will be on December 4.

Similarly, token distribution and screening of candidates hailing from Ropar (for soldier general duty, soldier clerk/store keeper technical/soldier technical) will be held on December 5, and for candidates from Ludhiana (for soldier general duty, soldier clerk/store keeper technical/soldier technical) will be on December 6.

Token distribution and screening of candidates for soldier clerk/store keeper technical, soldier technical for candidates hailing from all districts of Punjab except Ludhiana, Moga, Ropar and Mohali will be held on December 7. 

Phagwara, November 27
More than 15 passengers travelling in a private bus, including its driver sustained injuries, three of them seriously, when the bus going from Zandiala Manjki to Goraya collided with a tractor-trolley, near Rurrka-Kalan village today. 

All the injured were admitted at the Bundhala hospital.The bus driver was referred to Ludhiana as his condition was stated to be serious.