Jalandhar, July 31
The $154 million World Bank project to improve and sustain the water supply and sanitation network in rural areas seems to have been stuck in a deep well, as around 257 contractual employees have threatened to leave the project if the government failed to regularise their jobs after August 21.

The employees are working with the state programme management cell (SPMC) of the Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Department since the project was implemented in 2008.

The employees, while slamming the state government for not being able to formulate any concrete policy for its contractual employees even after six years, had called a strike on June 24, but later called it off on Monday after being assured by Rural Development Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra to make them regular after August 21, the day assembly byelections are over in the state.

“We have been assured by the minister himself to get our jobs regularised within a month. This time, we have called off the strike on his assurance but will stop working permanently if the government failed to announce anything by July 21. It is making us work on almost half the salary compared to our counterparts working in various state departments. Last year, it had also curtailed all our gazetted holidays,” said Amandeep Singh Brar, president of the Contractual Employees Association of Punjab. He further added that recently the state government had told them to work for six days a week, but later after employees agitated, it revoked its decision instantly. He also informed that while the state government had regularised contractual employees working with the Sarva Siksha Abhiyana and the National Health Mission, only employees working on this World Bank project were left to be inducted into the state government.

AK Soni, project director, said the employees were informed at the time of their recruitment that their services would be terminated after the completion of the project. “They were even informed about their salary package, leave and other personnel matters. Since the project is ending in December this year, they are raising the issue of their regularisation after fearing to lose their jobs,” said Soni. He also said that presently due to the Code of Conduct implemented in the state for the Assembly byelections in Talwandi Sabo and Patiala, the government will be able to take a decision only after the polls were over.

The International Development Association (IDA), under the World Bank, had approved a $154 million credit to the Government of India for the Punjab Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project on December 14, 2006. The purpose of the project was to assist the Government of Punjab in increasing the access of rural communities to improve and sustain rural water supply and sanitation (RWSS) services. The project became effective on March 26, 2007, and is to enter its second phase after December 2014. 

Jalandhar, July 31
Although the city has not witnessed much rain this monsoon, it has registered a lot of snake bite cases in the past few days. According to figures received from the Civil Hospital, every day it is receiving around three-four snake bite cases in its trauma centre. Shockingly, most of the government hospitals, including the Civil Hospital, dispensaries and Community Health centres in the district, have run out of anti-venom serum. As the government did not send the life-saving serum from the last few months, the district health officials are now running from pillar to post to source it from various government institutions from where the chances of snake bite cases are minimum or almost negligible.

“We have run out of anti-snake venom many times in the past few days. Sometimes, we had treated the victim temporarily with alternative therapy till the time the hospital authorities arranged the venom from somewhere else. As the venom is very costly, the government must send adequate stock of it to its hospitals and dispensaries where poor people could be saved from this life-threatening sitaution,” said a doctor from the Civil Hospital at Jalandhar. He also said that most of the time, the patients were forced to buy the life-saving serum that cost them around Rs 900 from outside.

Dr Kailash Kapoor, Medical Superintendent of the Civil Hospital, admitted the shortage and said that although the hospital had not received the government drugs supply for long, it is making all efforts that no one should die due to shortage of venom. “Yesterday, we fell short of the venom, but we quickly managed 173 shots from another government hospital which receives very less patients of snake bite cases,” said Kapoor. Also, sources at the Punjab Health Department have confirmed that the department’s warehouse at Verka also got the serum stock exhausted three months ago. It is this warehouse that supplies medicine stock to the Civil Hospital, Jalandhar.

Monsoon is the breeding season for snakes. Though the number of snakes found in the city has lessened because of rampant urbanisation and the presence of concrete, they are still found in mud houses, their favourite place.

According to Dr Tarsem Lal, medical specialist at Civil Hospital, Punjab, the three major species here are Russel’s viper, common krait and spectacled cobra. Most of the victims of snakebite are rural poor, labourers, farmers, women and children who mostly work in fields or venture out barefoot at night. “Snake bite is identified when a person appears to be drowsy with drooping eyelids. Ironically, in most of the snake bite cases, a person dies of fear and not of poison,” said Lal. He further added that most of time, he had received patients who, after being bitten by a non-poisonous snake, died due to heart attack. 

Phagwara, July 31
The Commerce Department of Mohan Lal Uppal DAV College, Phagwara, organised a seminar on "Career opportunities in commerce" today. The resource person was Puneet Duggal, noted chartered accountant of Phagwara.

Duggal conveyed that choosing a right career is the most vital decision in everybody's life and career assessment can help individuals identify and articulate better their unique interest, values and skills. He said in his address that commerce has always been an evergreen subject to study as far as career avenues are concerned.

The study of commerce and economics provides a springboard for work opportunities in a range of financial services like banking, business and industry, management and entrepreneurial venture, chartered accountancy, lawyer, MBA, company secretaryship, cost and works accountancy, insurance, stocks and investment. He discussed the challenges related to e-banking and MBA.

College principal Dr Suman Tandon highlighted the importance of commerce in today's competitive world. According to her, commerce provides opportunities which help make one's life professional.

In the end, Suman Tandon thanked those present and presented a memento to the resource person. She also congratulated Prof Kajal Kiran and other members of the commerce department for organising the seminar.

Also present on the occasion were Prof Kajal Kiran, Prof Kewal Krishan, Prof Dheeraj Giri and Prof Sandeep Dua. 

Jalandhar, July 31
Lieutenant General Narinder Pal Singh Hira took over the command of the elite Vajra Corps here today. He has also taken over as the Colonel of the Sikh Light Infantry Regiment from General Bikram Singh, the former Chief of Army Staff.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakvasala, Lt General Hira was commissioned in the Sikh Light Infantry Regiment in December 1978. He has a rich experience of conventional operations both in western and eastern theatres, and also of counter-insurgency, both in J&K and in the North East.

He has had a distinguished career spanning various command, staff and instructional appointments. He successfully commanded his infantry battalion in active counter-insurgency operations in Operation Rhino in Assam, a Defence press release stated. 

Jalandhar, July 31
As the day to celebrate the special relationship comes closer, everyone is humming the tune of “friendship”. The bonding and camaraderie have spread to every nook and cranny of the place. An opportunity to revive old memories and show your friends how much you care for them is at hand, this Sunday. Yes...it’s Friendship Day! The markets are decked with innovative gifts to be packed in sizzling style, people are ready to cross all barriers of distance and time to relive some cherished moments with their ‘buddies’.

“I had come all the way from Italy to attend the marriage of my friend’s daughter at Adampur. Although it was difficult to take leave during this season, I had to manage as my relationship with my friend is much more than just a friend. My presence and support in his most crucial time is my friendship gift to him,” said Gurdial Singh Cheema from Italy. He was happy to get a chance to celebrate Friendship Day with his buddy Jatinderpal Singh almost after 14 years.

The gift shops, malls, cinema halls and hotels are all decked up for the big day. Where the gift shops and malls have announced various offers on their products to encash the “Friendship Day mania” amongst youngsters, they have also introduced latest fashion in the city in terms of friendship bands, key chains, rings and other accessories.

Youngsters have been thronging gift shops for the last round of shopping to buy friendship bands, cards, chocolates and other gift items for their friends. Metallic friendship bands are the latest rage with quotes like ‘Friends Forever’ or ‘Best Friends’ written on them.

Mohinder Singh, owner of a gift shop at Model Town, said, “These bands are famous among both boys and girls because of their unisex look and they come for only Rs 50. Apart from that we have hand-woven bands, bands with pearls or elastic bands whose price ranges from Rs 20 to Rs 150.”

Apart from bands, assorted chocolates in gift packing are the most popular gift items. According to Sunny, a customer, “Chocolates are evergreen gifts to give to your friends and they are easily available in the market in different packings, ranging from Rs 250 to 500.”

As always, Friendship Day this year would also be observed a day before at various schools and colleges where students right from kindergarten to graduation were seen tying friendship bands to each other.

Sohni Grewal, a student of Apeejay College, said, “Friendship Day is celebrated on Sunday, but that is the only day which I can spend with my family, so we have decided to have a party on Saturday itself,” said Grewal.

She also said that this time, she and her friends had decided to celebrate the day at Naari Niketan. “Since the girls living there are of our age and need compassion and affection, we have decided to visit the home on Friendship Day. We will tie bands on their wrists,” said Ramandeep Kaur, Sohni’s friend. 

Jalandhar, July 31
A mother and her daughter have been reported missing for the last one week. Her kin have been suspecting foul play behind their mysterious disappearance.

Gurdeep, a tailor by profession and a resident of Randhawa Masanda, alleged that on July 24, he was away for work. When he returned home in the evening, he found his wife and daughter missing. "I was shocked that my wife Sukhwinder Kaur and two-year-old daughter Anju had mysteriously disappeared from home. I immediately inquired from my kin and relatives, but nobody was aware about their whereabouts," he said, adding that he had registered a report at Maqsudan police station a week ago, but the police had failed to trace them.

Gurdeep revealed that he was suspecting foul play behind their disappearance and had also urged the police to speed up the investigation to solve the mystery.

Gurdeep requested that anybody who came across them can inform on his mobile phone number 9878226946 or call the Maqsudan police station. 

Jalandhar, July 31
The cast and crew of the film 'Paisa Yaar and Panga', being made under the banner of Bharat Arora Productions, visited the city today. The cast of the film includes Mukul Dev, Gavie Chahal, Karan Sekhon and Nia.

Producer Bharat Arora said the film is about friendship, love, ambition, betrayal and revolt. He said it is a completely situational comedy with thrill, romance, suspense, drama and emotions.

The story revolves around three friends. The role of Fateh is played by Gavie Chahal of 'Ek Tha Tiger' and 'Pinky Moge Wali' fame while the role of Karan is played by Veer of 'Burraah' fame. A new Bollywood sensation, Karan Sekhon, and Khushboo Grewal of 'Carry on Jatta' and 'Munde UK De' fame, also make up for the star cast of the film.

The highlight of the film is the famous Bollywood actor Mukul Dev of 'Jai Ho', 'Son of Sardar' and 'Yamla Pagla Deewana' fame who plays a negative character.

The film stars interacted with the press and expressed confidence about the success of the film which is set for release on August 1.

"It will break all records of Punjabi cinema," said the entire team present at the venue. Various promotional activities are planned for the people of the region and the film will be an extension of joy after the long summer break, claimed the producer.

Those present on the occasion included Mukul Dev, Gavie Chahal, Karan Sekhon and Nia besides the producers Bharat Arora, Arvinder Singh Dimpy, Gurprit Singh Gujral, Vineet Puri, Sharad Kamra, Gursharanjit Singh, Sagar Puri, Avatar Singh, Sagar S Sharma and Sher. 

Jalandhar, July 31
The Jalandhar Commissionerate today nabbed a snatcher, allegedly involved in over 100 recent cases.

The accused has been identified as Ashok Kumar, a resident of Basti Bawa Khel.

The police said, acting on secret information, they apprehended him from a specific location. The accused is a professional criminal and he has a notorious past. He has committed over 100 snatchings in the past six months and over 200 snatchings in the last two years, the police said, adding that during preliminary interrogation, they had almost solved around 50 snatching cases.

Some purses and other valuables had also been recovered from the accused. During further interrogation, the police expected to recover more looted valuables.

Ashok also remained in jail for over six months in a recovery under the NDPS Act.

Fourteen cases of snatching were already registered against him at various police stations and he was also wanted in some old cases.

The accused revealed that although he committed a majority of the snatchings alone, he had a full-fledged gang of six miscreants. Some of his accomplices are already in jail.