Ludhiana, January 21
A team of the anti-narcotics cell of the police has arrested two drug peddlers and seized 270 gm of heroin from their possession. According to the police, the seized contraband is worth Rs 1.35 crore in the international market.

The police have also seized 250 tablets of synthetic habit-forming drugs from their possession.

The accused have been identified as Angrez Singh and Bachitter Singh of Moga and Jagraon, respectively. They were arrested at a police naka in the Dugri area here last night.

ADCP (Crime) NK Sharma said Harbans Singh, in charge of the anti-narcotics cell, had set up a naka on Dugri Bridge. Angrez and Bachitter, who were riding a bike, were asked to stop by the police at the naka, but they tired to escape. The police gave them a chase and overpowered the duo. The police seized heroin and the synthetic drug tablets from their possession.

The duo reportedly confessed before the police that they had bought the contraband from Jagga, a resident of Ferozepur.

They told the police that they were making good money as they used to purchase the contraband at cheaper rates from Jagga and sell it at higher rates.

Bachitter Singh is already facing drug peddling cases at Ludhiana, Moga, Sidhwan Bet and Jagraon. He was declared a proclaimed offender. Angrez is also wanted in a case registered against him at the Sarabha Nagar police station.

Ludhiana, January 21
Not caring two hoots to the guidelines issued by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), private schools in the city have allegedly refused to give the fee waiver to the single girl child.

Ajay Sharma, a city resident, complained to the District Education Officer (Secondary) against a private school for not giving the fee waiver to a single girl child.

A single girl child, Simranjit Kaur, studies in Class IX at a private school on the Jalandhar bypass. According to the guidelines of the CBSE, all private independent schools affiliated to the CBSE may consider waiver of the school fee of the single girl child studying in classes IX to XII.

Gurbaksh Singh, Simranjit's father, submitted an application and an affidavit for the fee waiver to the school, but the management did not consider the application.

"The school management doesn't want to hear us. The Director of the school refused to meet us on the issue. We have filed a complaint with the District Education Officer in this regard," said Gurbaksh Singh.

In October 2005, CBSE Secretary Vineet Joshi had issued a circular asking the schools affiliated with the board to give a fee waiver to the single girl child. The step was aimed at promoting girls' education.

Ajay Sharma, father of a single girl child said it was the right of the parents to get a fee waiver. The CBSE must ensure the implementation of its guidelines, he said. He said in the absence of proper implementation, these guidelines were of no use.

Rajesh Rudra, president of the Association of Unaided Schools of Punjab, said, "The CBSE guidelines for the fee waiver of the single girl child are not clear. We give the fee waiver to underprivileged students."

Ludhiana, January 21
The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation has made tall claims about going strict on encroachments in the city, but it has failed to notice a violation in the posh Sarabha Nagar locality. A school has illegally converted a building inside its premises into a godown for storing scooters.

Earlier, the same school had illegally constructed shops on its premises, which were demolished by the civic body on March 5 last year.

At that time, the management of New High Senior Secondary School, Sarabha Nagar, had allegedly indulged in illegal change of land use by constructing nine shops-cum-godowns on its premises, which were leased out to shopkeepers of the Sarabha Nagar main market.

Now, the school management committee has leased out land on its premises to a leading scooter dealer in the city and hundreds of scooters are stored on the school premises. The MC authorities seem to have failed to take notice of this illegal commercial activity.

Speaking to Ludhiana Tribune on condition of anonymity, an area resident said trucks were often seen loading and unloading scooters on the school premises. "It's shocking that the authorities have failed to take notice of this illegal commercial activity, which has been going on unchecked for the past several months," he said.

The land, where the school is located, was allotted under a scheme. The scheme was launched by the Improvement Trust, Ludhiana, but later it was handed over to the MC.

Ludhiana, January 21
After adopting a dilly-dallying attitude for three years, the Centre finally approved a Rs 116-crore water supply project for Ludhiana today.

About 10 wards of Ludhiana, where there is no water supply, will now be able to get water soon. A high-level meeting was held in New Delhi on the issue today.

Sumit Jarangal, Additional Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, told Ludhiana Tribune from Delhi that the Water-Sewerage Board had sent a proposal in this regard to the Centre about three years ago, which was approved today.

He said Rs 42 crore would be spent on laying water pipes in the wards. As many as 60 overhead tanks would be built at a cost of Rs 36 crore. “The Centre will contribute 50 per cent, the MC will chip in with 30 per cent, while the remaining 20 per cent will be spent by the state government. The Centre will release the amount in four instalments. The first instalment of about Rs 12 crore will be released soon,” said Jarangal.

For the past three years, the Centre was raising one objection or the other. About a month ago, a meeting was held in Delhi on the issue, but the Centre raised a query over water meters.

Ludhiana, January 21
On the second day of the mass movement launched by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) to focus on the demands of the common people, trade union workers, including women, held a protest today outside Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari's house against the hike in the prices of LPG, the direct disbursement of subsidy on LPG and denial of an industrial package to Punjab.

Addressing the protesters, former legislator Tarsem Jodhan and district president of CITU Jatinderpal Singh said the Centre had ignored Punjab for the grant of an industrial package while granting further extension in the industrial package to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. As a result, the industry from the state was migrating to other states, creating unemployment in Punjab.

They hit out at the Congress-led UPA government for the hike in the prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and against the Aadhaar-linked direct disbursement of subsidy on domestic gas cylinders, which had led to widespread resentment among the people.

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) leaders said a majority of the common people had either not been able to enrol themselves for the Aadhaar card, or their cards were still in the process of being made.

They also cast doubts on the procedure of direct benefit transfer to the bank account of the beneficiaries.

Alleging that both the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine were just different sides of the same coin, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) leaders said their policies were no different when it came to the interests of the common people.

Citing the example of Delhi where Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had to resort to a dharna against the police department, Jodhan and Jatinderpal Singh said both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were siding with the police for their political benefit.

They alleged that in Punjab, the ruling combine had politicised the police force, and its senior leaders were indulging in various illegal activities, including sand mining, drug peddling, land grabbing and other unlawful acts under the patronage of the police.

Sahnewal, January 21
For an average earner purchasing a cylinder today especially without an Aadhaar card is one of the most difficult tasks ever. As the distributors have refused to give subsidised cylinders without their Aadhaar cards’ bank linkage, consumers are finding themselves in the most difficult situation ever.

“Aadhaar card, it seems, has suddenly become the basis of our life. Cooking food seems out of our reach now,” said a rickshaw puller.

“It has been six months now, and my Aadhaar card is yet to be delivered. Early this morning, I went to the distributor requesting him to give a subsidised cylinder but the distributor, in turn, expressed helplessness. I had no other option but to buy a single cylinder for Rs 1,320. In this amount I used to get three cylinders earlier. My monthly salary is not more than Rs 3,000 and with a family of four, how can a man like me spend Rs 1,320 on one cylinder. This is a mere budget spoiler,” shared Manav, a daily wager.

Harbans Singh Sains, a social worker of Sahnewal rued, “Government takes all decisions in an unscrupulous manner. Firstly, the Aadhaar cards, especially those of the underprivileged, should be released on the basis of priority so that they may get it linked immediately and get subsidised cylinders at the earliest. Secondly, till the time the Aadhaar cards do not arrive, the date of providing subsidised cylinders should be extended and the authorities should ensure the cylinders are given at the earlier rates.”

“In many cases, post offices are not releasing the cards and have heaps collected with them. Under such situation, what are we supposed to do,” said Amana Baba, a member of the Young Citizens Association of Sahnewal.

“Only yesterday I collected my Aadhaar card in a poor condition from the post office. The bank account is in my husband’s name while the gas connection is in my name. If I have to get a bank account opened, I need Rs 1,000 immediately, which is not possible,” said Meena, a daily wager.

DFSO Dr Sona Thind said, “The consumers should better check up online for their E-Aadhaars which are equally acceptable. In case they find any discrepancy in their cards, they can re-apply and wait for another 20 days. They can also get the information from the Suvidha centres. As far as the post master’s keeping the Aadhaar cards at their places is concerned, we have already warned them and a meeting in this regard is being planned with the Deputy Commissioner.”

Ludhiana, January 21
A 100-bedded mother-child hospital is coming up on the premises of Lord Mahavir Civil Hospital, Ludhiana. Being constructed on 3.50 acres, it is estimated to cost Rs 18 crore. Disclosing this, Gurpinder Singh Sandhu, Subdivisional Engineer, Punjab Health Systems Corporation, said, "We started the construction work in January last year. The deadline for its completion is the last week of June. Work is going on smoothly and we hope to complete it on time."

The Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, Dr Subhash Batta, said, "Once this hospital becomes operational, we will be able to provide specialised health care in obstetrics and paediatrics."

Another 30-bedded hospital is also in the pipeline. It will be constructed on an area of 2,000 sq ft on the rear side of the Vardhman factory on Chandigarh Road. Recently, Principal Secretary, Health, Vini Mahajan, Managing Director, NRHM, Husan Lal, Project Director, NRHM, Vinod Gagneja and the Civil Surgeon visited the site.

Sources said the CM will soon lay the foundation stone of this hospital.

Ludhiana, January 21
It has been a year since Ram Bilas (38) lost his eight-year-old daughter and was left bedridden after the motorcycle he was riding collided with the wooden scaffolding installed outside a house on the Dr Sham Singh Road. However, no lesson has been learnt from the tragic incident as nearly a year on the scaffolding is yet to be removed.

The renovation of Sant Bhuriwala Temple has added to the woes of commuters. They complain that instead of keeping the construction material inside the premises, the temple authorities have scattered it on the road.

“The scattering of construction material by the temple authorities, coupled with the construction of the house, has compounded the problems for us. It is an uphill task to drive our vehicles from the area,” said Sumit Kapoor, a college student.

Area residents complained that devotees visiting the temple on car further add to the traffic problem.

“A majority of the devotees park their vehicle outside the temple, thereby choking the stretch completely. The locality, which is considered posh, is in a complete mess,” said Anirudh, a resident of the area.

Ram Bilas still shivers when he recalls the incident. “It was drizzling on the fateful night. I had purchased a new motorcycle and my daughter, Khushi, requested for a ride. When I reached Sant Bhuriwala Temple, I could not locate the bamboos erected on the road. The scaffolding fell on us. My daughter died at a hospital. I am still bedridden,” said Ram Bilas.

Ram Bilas said he did not lodge a complaint with the police after the owner of the house agreed to pay the compensation money.

“But soon the matter was forgotten. Over Rs 3 lakh had been spent on my treatment. All my saving has been exhausted. My wife does odd jobs to eke out a living, while my children are out of school. I am disabled and cannot fight for justice,” said Ram Bilas.

Nearly an year ago, the then Commissioner of Police Ishwar Singh had issued orders to all city police stations to register a case against people throwing construction material outside the house.

Once Ishwar Singh was transferred, the policemen refused to act and passed the buck to the MC for taking action.

Doraha, January 21
Schoolteachers are up in arms against the Punjab government’s move to shift male teachers to boys’ schools and their female counterparts to girls’ schools in the state.

The State Education Minister recently took this decision following complaints against male teachers working at girls’ schools.

Various teachers’ organisations are planning to march to the Mini-Secretariat to lodge their protest against the decision.

Terming this categorisation an affront to the entire teaching community, these organisations and unions--Master Cadre Union, Government Teachers’ Union, Government School

Teachers’ Union, Lecturer Union, Democratic Employees’ Front, Democratic

Teachers’ Front, BEd Front, Science Teachers’ Association, Maths Teachers’ Association, Hindi Shiskshat Sangh and SC-BC Teachers’ Union--will collectively burn the Education Minister’s effigy.

“Is such a move justified in any way?” questioned Dharamjit Singh, district president, of the Master Cadre Union.

He said education broadened a person’s thinking and broke barriers such as that of gender. Our Education Department, however, seemed to think otherwise, said Dharamjit Singh.

“When India is marching towards a developed state, is this a message the department wants to send out to the young generations?” he said.

Jagjit Singh, finance secretary of the union, questioned whether the shifting of teachers on the basis of gender feasible?

“Subjects such as commerce and science are more popular in girls’ schools. Teachers are deployed as per the availability of subject teachers, not their gender. Rather than punishing the guilty teachers, is it wise to penalise the entire teaching community? The segregation will have a negative impact,” he said.

The Democratic Teachers’ Front, meanwhile, maintained it would “not accept or tolerate” the Education Minister’s decision.

“It is not just the syllabus that a teacher is meant to cover in the class. Both the male and female teachers are needed for a balanced personality development of the student,” said a member of the Government Teachers’ Union.

Ludhiana, January 21
Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, Rajat Aggarwal visited the old-age home of District Red Cross yesterday evening. He was accompanied by Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Neeru Katyal Gupta and Assistant Commissioner (General) Shena Aggarwal.

The Deputy Commissioner, who stayed there for around two hours interacting with the elderly, said: "All is well there. I interacted with the elderly there and found the things up to the mark as far as the kitchen and meals are concerned."

Rajat Aggarwal and his wife also enjoyed tea with the senior citizens.

Superintendent of the old-age home Chandermohan said the DC checked the kitchen, raw material being used for cooking meals and found them satisfactory.

“The DC assured the residents that in the coming summers, a generator set will be installed here," said Chandermohan.

The DC also assured the residents of medical assistance every week, said the superintendent.

He said, "Every week a team of doctors, including a skin specialist, an orthopaedic, a doctor of medicine and a heart specialist will visit the old-age home."

The inmates asked the DC to get the premises whitewashed. The DC assured them of doing the needful.

Ludhiana, January 21
Students from across the city schools have started rehearsing for the Republic Day function at SCD Government College. Officials of the Education Department said around 2,500 students from over 50 schools will participate in the function on January 26.

The students, who will be present cultural items and other performances, will rehearse till January 23. A full-dress rehearsal will be organised on January 24 at the same venue.

The district administration has made arrangements to provide food to the students during rehearsals. The District Education Officer has also deputed teachers to maintain discipline at the venue. 

Ludhiana, January 21
A team of the Health Department today raided Dr DN Kotnis Hospital at Salem Tabri. The team found the drug de-addiction centre was not maintained as per the prescribed norms.

“The general conditions of the rooms were very shabby. Although the size of the rooms was okay but the sanitary conditions were not up to the mark. The beds and beddings were in a really bad shape and there was not even a proper provision for ventilation in the rooms,” said drug inspector Sukhbir Singh.

The hospital authorities have been instructed to make the necessary changes in the rooms, said the drug inspector.

Sukhbir said, “Further course of action will be decided once the Civil Surgeon submits a report to the headquarters.”

The drug inspector said they had received information that the hospital was running without a valid registration number. “But after visiting the hospital we found that the hospital did have a registration number, but other things were not up to the mark,” said the drug inspector.

Khanna, January 21
The railway overbridge on Lalheri Road will become operational from January 25. The railway overbridge, made at a cost of Rs 10 crore, is almost complete, but has been not made public yet as it has been closed for an inauguration.

The railway overbridge has been a long pending demand of the residents here.

Gurjit Singh and Sonu, both residents of the area, said they are happy with the completion of the overbridge.

A large number of villages will attach with Khanna as a result of the railway overbridge, thereby, reducing the distance remarkably.

Balbir Singh, a technical expert of the company who constructed the railway overbridge, said the railway overbridge was completed in the month of April last year, but due to some unavoidable circumstances it could not become operational then.

The technical expert claimed that the width of the railway overbridge is 8 metre andup to two four-wheelers can cross on it at a time.

Ranjit Singh Talwandi, halka in charge, SAD, said the PWD Minister, Punjab, Shranjit Singh Dhillon, will inaugurate the railway overbridge on January 25. 

Ludhiana, January 21
Working towards making the environment cleaner and greener is a passion for Dr Arvind Kaur Walia, a lecturer of environmental science at Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, Gujjarkhan Campus.

While passing out higher secondary education in medical stream with geography as an optional subject, Dr Walia had never thought that she would ever get an opportunity to work for the noble cause. After starting her career as an English lecturer, she got a chance to contribute towards the field and she immediately availed the offer. It is then, that her passion became her profession as well.

Dr Walia said, “After doing masters in English from SCD Government College, Ludhiana, and masters in political science from Delhi University, I joined as an English lecturer at Guru Nanak Khalsa College in 1990. After joining here I did post graduation in environmental science and at present I am pursuing PhD in the same from Delhi University."

Dr Walia has 25 books to her credit on the subject. Her books have been recommended in the Universities of Kerala, Jammu and Delhi for students of BTech and MTech. Besides teaching Dr Walia also uses her knowledge for the welfare of society. She makes farmers aware about the consequences of environmental pollution.

Being the president of the Ludhiana Chapter of Women Wing for State Vikas Form, an NGO, she said, “Last year, we visited as many as six villages of Ludhiana district and apprised farmers of environmental pollution by showcasing some documentaries as to how the air is polluted when they burn the remains of crops. Similarly, I also advise the gardeners to not to burn the leaves of trees, instead they should dig a pit and throw the same in it along with some water. With this they will get humus, which makes the land fertile.”

Honoured by NGOs Yug Parivartan and Sambhav for her service towards the society, Dr Walia now plans to raise awareness among farmers of Haryana about the same.

Starting her classes with yoga daily, Dr Walia delivers lecture on human values and then starts with routine studies. Dr Walia motivates her students to grow at least one tree and take care of it throughout their life. She has even appealed to the district Administration to display boards stating that person smoking in public will be fined Rs 1,000.

Besides thanking the college management, Walia extended gratitude to her brother Amarjit Singh and her parents Jagjit Singh Walia and Jasjit Kaur for encouraging her to work for the welfare of the society, the lecturer said she is indebted to them for supporting her and motivating her at every step.

Ludhiana, January 21
A delegation of the United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association (UCPMA) had a meeting with Minister of Labour Bhagat Chunni Lal, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Chaudhary Nand Lal and Principal Secretary Labour Vishivjeet Khanna.

The delegation, under the leadership of Charanjit Singh Vishivkarma, president of the UCPMA, and Avtar Singh, president, Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertaking, discussed the day-to-day problems being faced by the industry.

The problems discussed during the meeting included issue of NOC/consent by the Punjab Pollution Control Board, approval of factory layout plan/exemption from the SCA/SAC in Mixed Land Used Area, revision of labour wages and inspection of the unit by factory inspector.

The minister listened to the difficulties of the industry. It was decided that the layout plan in the Mixed Land Used Area could be approved from an approved architect, and SAC exemption in these areas was also discussed in detail.

Ludhiana, January 21
Four Station House Officers (SHOs) have been transferred following the orders of Commissioner of Police NS Dhillon.

Inspector Mandeep Singh, SHO at Meharban Police Station, has been shifted to the Police Lines. He has been replaced by inspector Manjinder Singh.

Kuldeep Singh, in-charge of swat team, is posted as SHO, Moti Nagar. Jagjit Singh, who was posted as SHO, Moti Nagar, has been sent to the Police Lines.

Harjit Singh, assistant sub-inspector and in-charge of Police Post Jagatpuri, was sent to the Police Lines and Sukhdev Raj has been made the in-charge of Police Post Jagatpuri.

Ludhiana, January 21
Diamond enthusiasts, hobbyists and connoisseurs have an opportunity to learn more about the preciius gemstone from one of the world's leading experts.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA), a non-profitable institute, is conducting a five-day practical programme on diamonds in Ludhiana at Hotel A from January 27.

The class imparts technical and practical skills to students to observe and evaluate diamond quality and the basics of the 4Cs (colour, cut, clarity and carat weight), an evaluation system created by the institute, said Nirupa Bhatt, managing director, GIA, India and Middle East.

Ludhiana, January 21
Residents of Punjab’s industrial hub are increasingly taking to online shopping. Preferring to buy products online, many residents have started combing websites for best deals.

“Online shopping is catching residents’ fancy as you come across a wide range of new products and discounts, sitting at home. It also saves a lot of time,” says Anshul, a resident of Civil Lines.

“However, checking out the product at a retail store reassures you before making the purchase online,” he says.

The term ‘showrooming’, which describes this behaviour, is becoming popular nowadays. It means visiting showrooms just to have a look at the product, before ordering it online on portals that offer discounts.

Harkinder Singh, who works at a mobile phone store, says websites offer more discounts as they have lesser overheads than showrooms and shopping malls.

“This is especially true in case of gadgets, as they are very popular and their value depreciates pretty quickly. Websites, therefore, are able to offer better discounts,” he says.

“The trend of ‘showrooming’ will only increase with time. Moreover, competition between the various portals will ultimately benefit the consumers,” says another resident.

Ludhiana, January 21
As many as 1,19,305 children were immunised during the Pulse Polio drive of the Health Department today.

The team of the health department visited as many as 2,87,443 houses and carried out the needful on the occasion.

The Pulse Polio drive of the Health Department will continue tomorrow and the teams will be immunising children in the age groups of 0-5 by visiting at their respective homes. — TNS

Ludhiana, January 21
The Department of Dietetics of the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), under the aegis of the Indian Dietetic Association (IDA), celebrated Dietetics Day today.

The day was marked by various activities like educational lectures, display of banners and posters and counselling.

Dean Academic Dr Rajoo Singh Chhina (professor and head of gastroenterology) and Dr Subhasini Verma, former HoD of the Department of Home Sciences at PAU, delivered lectures on nutrition.

Dr Rajoo Singh Chhina said: “We need to take natural diet, which is best for human body”. He strongly refuted the use of artificial food supplements and vitamins, which people normally use without consulting qualified medical practitioners.

An exhibition on a balanced and healthy diet was held during the occasion. A healthy recipe cooking contest was also organised among the women faculty members of the DMCH, a day prior to the function.

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Jagraon, January 21
With the arrest of three persons, the Jagraon police claimed to have busted a gang of thieves that was active in the area for the past several months. The accused have been identified as Sarabjit Singh, alias Sethi, of Chooharchak village in Moga; and Veer Singh, alias Veeru, and Gursewak Singh, alias Sewak, both residents of Dhudike village in Moga.

The police have also recovered electronic equipment worth lakhs of rupees, several mobile phones, mobile phone accessories, six domestic gas cylinders and other goods from the accused.

The police said the accused were arrested on the outskirts of Kothe 8 village near Jagraon by a Criminal Investigation Agency (CIA) team following a tip off last night.

CIA Staff, Jagraon, in charge inspector Prem Singh said a police team led by ASI Manjit Singh had set up a naka near Lande Fatak yesterday.

"Late in the evening, an informer told the police some suspicious persons were seen near Kothe 8 village. The police team immediately raided the area and arrested three persons from the cremation grounds of the village,” said Prem Singh.

The accused were booked under Sections 379 and 411 of the IPC at the Jagraon City police station. During the preliminary interrogation, the accused confessed of being involved in several thefts in Jagraon in recent past, said the police.