Jalandhar, January 25
Slum dwellers of Kot Ram Dass Colony in ward No. 9 are being forced to sleep in half-built, roofless houses in chilling nights, as they have failed to get timely instalments from the Centre for completing their houses.

The Integrated Slum Housing Development Scheme entails the felling of old kutcha houses and then building these again from foundation.

Under the scheme, the payments of grants were to be made in four instalments and the repayment would be made only after the checking of the completion work of each stage.

Many residents have not got the first instalment after the completion of the foundation stage. They can't proceed further and are living in non-built houses, some in tents. Many have got two instalments, which were not enough to build even the walls. Subsequently, they are forced to live under roofless houses.

Swarni (75) has been living with her family in a partially built single-room for the past four years. She said she had applied for the grant to construct the house under the scheme as her house was in a dilapidated condition. ‘‘We have a dripping roof and recent rain in the area has wreaked havoc. We are two adults and two children living in single room. Life can’t be more miserable than this,’’ she added.

School going 16-year-old girl Shama Devi said, "She lost her mother to cancer seven months ago. ‘We had already broken our house before her death, as we were expecting money to build a new house. People from the area donated us money to build a roof on our head after her death. We have been leading such an undignified life,’’ she lamented.

Municipal Corporation councillor Sudesh Rani said there were around 400 such people in the area, who were supposed to get benefit from the same scheme. ‘‘We have raised the issue in the house as well, but nothing has been done as yet,’’ she claimed.

Meanwhile, Kulwinder Singh, Superintending Engineer (B&R), ruling out councillor Sudesh Rani’s claims, said, "There are only 24 beneficiaries of the scheme in that particular locality, who are due to get grant for eight houses, four kitchens, six kitchens and toilets. Besides, the matter was being investigated."

Jalandhar, January 25
Having come up with interesting revelations by way of the RTI Act regarding the poor functioning of the municipal corporation (MC), the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the civic body has now failed to respond to a query put forth to him regarding the details of the amount spent on roads in the last three financial years.

Activist Anil Vashisht, who had shot off an application on November 28 last, was even made to deposit an amount of Rs 130 with the office on December 12 by Assistant PIO-cum-Additional Commissioner (Technical) B&R for providing a 65-page reply. The PIO, however, has still not been able to deliver him the information even after two months.

Vashisht, who intends to expose as to how funds are being indiscriminately used for road relaying year after year with contractors and staff not made accountable for untimely wear and tear, says that the officials had deliberately withheld the information. Aiming to file a PIL on the basis of the reply, he said he had yesterday moved a first appeal under the RTI Act for getting no reply.

The application pertains to the list of the roads constructed during the financial years 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13, their present condition, action taken against the contractor of the MC engineers for bad roads, permission to inspect records of roads and providing copies of more documents, if required.

Even the councillors have been time and again complaining about the quality of roads being laid in the city and crores of rupees spent year after year and breakage within a few months. Even yesterday, the House had passed road laying work worth over Rs 150 crore encompassing almost all localities and main roads of the city.

The MC’s attempt to authorise the XENs of the departments concerned as PIOs for replying to the RTI applications is also learnt to have resulted in the blocking of the flow of information.

Anupam Kler, Joint Commissioner-cum-first appellate authority, said she was yet to get the copy of the appeal. I will try to find out the reasons for the problem and get the replies issued, she said.

Jalandhar, January 25
It is likely to be a tough going for Mayor Sunil Jyoti, with not just the Senior Deputy Mayor but councillors from his own party opening a front against him.

Barring BJP councillor Joginder Tony, his close allies, including Bhagwant Prabhakar, Minta Kochhar and Ashwini Bhandari (CPS KD Bhandari’s cousin), have openly started venting their ire against him, complaining that the Mayor had failed to even ensure delivery of the basic civic amenities to the residents.

The BJP councillors have also been complaining of the Mayor’s alleged arrogant attitude, while adding that they were not being taken into confidence on most matters. Ravi Mahendru, BJP’s state vice-president, an aide of MLA Manoranjan Kalia and a claimant of the mayoral seat, is already not on good terms with Jyoti.

Despite the Mayor having held a three-hour preparatory meeting at his official residence in Model Town on Thursday evening to convince and cajole the SAD-BJP councillors in his favour, there was none except the otherwise extremely vocal Tony who spoke in his favour during the House meeting yesterday. With only three Congress councillors attending the meet and Leader of Opposition Jagdish Raj Raja staying away, it were the men from the Mayor’s own party who had rather assumed the role of the opposition.

Just minutes ahead of the meeting, a BJP councillor confided in media, saying Jyoti had been an extreme failure in his one and a half year tenure. Thereafter, each councillor took turns to express the common grouse.

Minta Kochhar, who was given turn to speak after at least 20 requests, was the one who was the most vocal, “There is garbage all around. The roads are extremely bad. The sewer lines remained clogged. Streetlights are not properly lit up. What are we doing Mr Mayor? Why is the staff not being held accountable? The MC is bankrupt while the building branch staff is getting wealthier each day.”

Jalandhar, January 25
Thirtyfour-year-old Vivek Joshi has defied big oddities in his life to prove his mettle. Born with cerebral palsy, this young chap from Basant Hills Colony here has managed to overcome all his disabilities to attain dual professional degrees.

Confined to a wheel-chair, having extremely low visibility and able to move just one hand that, too, with much difficulty, Vivek is LLM and MBA and has recently appeared for the Punjab Civil Services examination.

Ask him how he managed this despite these disabilities, he hums lines from a poem he has composed himself, “Ye na samajhna mauhtaj hain hum, naye daur ke sartaj hain hum”. He added that he was hopeful that he would clear the PCS examination and would get printed a book of poems penned by him.

Even as spasm in his body keeps hindering his movements, Vivek says with confidence, “I have been specially designed by God. There were days when I used to think why it happened to me. When I would see others playing, I would become very low and would imagine myself playing with my friends."

"But now I am a different person. God has planned something for everyone and He has sent me to help others and to make others independent. That is exactly what I am doing.”Forgetting his problems, he has been giving free education to at least 45-50 needy people in an open air school functioning in a nearby park. “It is from them that I derive a lot of inspiration. Smiles on their face give me immense happiness."

Sukhvinder Kaur, who used to work as a domestic help, is his student. She says, "I left my studies 20 years ago when I was in class VII, but when I met Vivek Sir, he inspired me to study further and last year, I appeared in the class X examination."

Kaushalya Joshi, mother of Vivek, says, “Doctors tell her that they have never seen any patient of cerebral palsy doing so well in academics. Vivek went through eight surgeries for various corrections. Now he takes no medicine. It is these children who are his medicine.”Subhash Joshi, his father and a retired government employee, said, "My son is an angel especially sent by God on the earth to help others. He is doing the real work by helping society.”

Vivek is a state-level awardee. In 2011, he was given a state award by former Punjab minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla. Besides, he is a state-level chess player. Sharing his future plans, he said, “I want to do a PhD in disability law.”

Jalandhar, January 25
The ceremonial distribution of voter cards to new voters (as enrolled until January 6 in the district) began here today. The event, held to mark the National Voters’ Day, began at a ceremony held at Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya, Jalandhar, where Deputy Commissioner Varun Roojam distributed voter identity cards to 116 young voters.

Similar ceremonies took place across the 1,804 booths in the district wherein booth-level officers distributed voter ID cards among youths who have been newly enrolled as voters.

Returning officers presided over as special guests at functions held at educational institutions.

At the Government Sports College, voter ID cards were distributed among 150 students. PCS officer Sarojini Gautam Sharda presided over the function.

So far, a total of 15,13,660 voters have been enrolled across the nine constituencies of the district, of which 7, 89, 488 are male voters and 7, 24,180 are females.

Following the publication of the draft rolls of the voters on September 6, 2013, applications (claims and objections) had been invited for the enrolment of new voters. On January 6, 2014, the intensive summary revision of the revised voters' list was published by the district administration in which an addition of 72, 468 voters was made, taking the total voters enrolled in the district to 15,13,660.

Since September 6 until now, as many as 38,435 male voters and 34,033 female voters have been added to the district rolls.

With the Election Commission's special emphasis on the enrolment of young voters (between 18 to 21 years of age) across the nation (taking a cue from its SVEEP plan) and the target of enrolling 100 per cent young voters, the district administration has also been working on it.

While the total young voters in the district enrolled until September 6, 2013 were about 65,000, about 34,000 new young voters (between 18 to 21 years) have been enrolled since then.

Officials say while nearly 70 per cent of the youngsters who were aged 18 on January 2014 have been enrolled, the booth level officers will continue to spread awareness on the issue and enrol voters in the coming months as well.

Deputy Commissioner Varun Roojam said, "These new I-cards have been distributed across the nation as part of a drive to involve more voters and spread awareness on the issue on National Voters’ Day. The current voters tally of the district is as per the list published on January 6. More voters shall be involved as per the instructions of the Election Commission. Our target is to make as many youngsters aware about the issue as possible."

Meanwhile, at the function held at HMV College, HS Dhaliwal, SDM, Shahkot, was honoured with a cash prize of Rs 2,000 for enrolling the maximum number of young voters in the district. Voter I-cards were distribute among 116 youngsters on the occasion.

Election registration officers who had been doing good work were also honoured on the occasion.

Jalandhar, January 25
Deputy Commissioner Varun Roojam has approved the longest list of awardees so far who would be honoured during the Republic Day function.

The administration, however, has failed to send a formal invite to any of them to receive the much coveted honour. Around 67 persons, including 45 special children, will be felicitated by the district administration for their contribution in the field of sports, arts and culture. However, since the list was finalised at the last minute, many of the special children could not be intimated by the administration and hence, may not be able to reach the venue to receive their award. For others, it was not much of a problem as they themselves were in touch with the DC office for the approval of their names.

"The list of these children was forwarded to us by an NGO. It was their duty to pursue the case and to inform the children. We had given invitation cards of all the children to the NGO concerned well on time. My office staff cannot go personally to each and every awardee's house to invite them for the function," said Varun Roojam, Deputy Commissioner, Jalandhar.

However, the NGO, Chaanan Association of Mentally Disabled Children, revealed the other side of the story. "First of all, we were informed and given invitation cards only around 3 pm on Saturday before which all the schools get closed. Due to this, many schools expressed their inability to inform the parents. Despite our efforts, we have been able to reach only a few children so far. Let's hope that they all reach the venue on time to receive their first award," said Anand, president of the NGO.

However, after the DC was informed about the issue late in the evening, he immediately called the NGO and offered assistance in ensuring the presence of the “special” invitees at the Republic Day function.

Jalandhar, January 25
The district-level function for the 65th Republic Day will be held at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium on Sunday. Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Minister for Jails, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, will be the chief guest and unfurl the national flag at 9:48 am.

Under trainee PCS officer Richa Agnihotri will lead the colourful parade leading a contingent of the Punjab Police, BSF, CRPF, Home Guards, NCC, NSS and scouts and guides. Over 2,000 students from various schools will take part in the PT show and cultural programme. The major attraction of the programme would be choreography on Shaheed Bhagat Singh by KMV College.

Award recipients

Paramjit Singh, Basti Mitthu (Bravery); Varun Sharma, District Election Officer, Vinod Kumar Fakira, PA to Joint Commissioner, MC; Keemti Lal, Numberdaar; Sandeep Kaur (GSSS, Bajwa Kalan); Simranjeet Kaur (GSSS, Bajwa Kalan); Surjit Lal (District Assistant Guide Councillor); Ashu Dhawan (Army Public School); Resham Kaur (Lecturer, physical education and sports, GSSS, Gandhi Camp); Balraj Kaur, Principal (GSSS, Bajwa Kalan); Inspector Vinod Kumar, Incharge Security, Devi Talab Mandir); Onkaar Singh, Steno to Police Commissioner; Inspector Jaspal Singh, Chief Clerk, Police Commissioner; Sandeep Kumar, reader to DC; Kuldeep Singh, assistant to Assistant Commissioner (General); Karan Hans, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Laadowaali Road; Sandhya, Government Girls Senior Secondary School, laadowaali Road; Nishaat, GGSSS, Nehru Garden School; Neelam, GGSSS, Nehru Garden School; Komal, Government High School, Dhaaliwal

Dr Hargobind Khurana Scholarship Scheme

Tejinder Singh, Raajdeep Kaur Virk

Special children

Army Vajra Aasha School: Gurpreet Kaur, Kritika Singh, Shiv Kumar, Aanith Kumar, Tipu, Harsimranjeet;

St Joseph’s Convent School: Amardeep, Saahil Aggarwal, Manohar Bhushan, Saagar Kaalia, Saahil, Gaurav, Shivam, Arjun, Simmi, Daman, Inderbir, Abhishek, Guntash;

Udaan School: Jaspreet Singh, Ishwinder Singh, Vivek Aggarwal, Rohtash Arora, Navjot Singh, Aakashdeep Singh, Pauly, Akhil Pandey, Navjot Oberoi, Nitin Kalsi, Vaasu, Jasmeet Singh, Harpreet Kaur, Manpreet Kaur, Harish, Roshni, Kiran Tiwari, Prableen Kaur, Pawan Singh; Prayas School: Ajay, Ved Mukesh, Varinder, Chandan, Preet, Sandeep — TNS

Jalandhar January 25
The city police have failed to nab a thief who had escaped from police custody yesterday in the morning.

The ASI, division number 1, said the police had laid several nakas at strategic places and even raided suspected hideouts but failed to nab the accused.

The Commissioner of Police had suspended two police officials following the escape of the thief. The police had arrested two thieves in connection with a theft at a jewellery shop in the Ashok Vihar locality.

It was at 6 am yesterday that one of the arrested persons, Sukhdev alias Beeru, of Jamalke village in Fazilka, requested the police officials to take him to the washroom from where he managed to escape. Head Constable Harjinder and Munshi Jaspal were suspended. — TNS

The condition of roads in Jalandhar is pathetic. It has become worse in the recent months. The roads near the Silver Residency Apartments on Nakodar Road are in bad condition. The state government has failed to provide basic amenities. The condition of roads has become even worse due to rains in the last two months. The MC has not even bothered to fill the large pits which may become fatal for commuters at night. It seems that the authorities are busy in generating slogans of development rather than focus on real development.