District Health Officers’ powers transferred
Amritsar, August 7
The Health Department has entrusted the powers of overseeing the work of birth and death registration to the Assistant Civil Surgeon, Dr Balwinder Kakkar. The power to oversee the work of tobacco control programme has been entrusted to the district epidemiologist, Dr Raju Chuhan.

Deceased’s kin stage protest
Amritsar, August 7
The family members of the three men, who died of electrocution at Kotla Gujra village yesterday, along with farmers today staged a dharna against the PSPCL and the state government on the Amritsar-Sangatpura road.

Amritsar, August 7
The abduction of a five-year-child in the Ranjit Avenue area yesterday has brought to the fore the negligent approach of the school transport staff in dropping him off at his home.

The incident underlined the slack approach of the school transport staff while picking up and dropping off pre-primary and primary class students.

Rajni Mehra of the Rani Ka Bagh area said there had always been a demand from her family from the school transport staff to drop off children at the main entrance of the house. She said her two children, one in kindergarten and another in the primary class, were studying at a school on the city outskirts.

She said many a time, the bus staff slipped away after dropping off the children in the lane. Whenever the problem was brought to the notice of the school authorities, they shrugged it off as a trivial occurrence.

Another working mother, Surleen Kaur, said it was easy to make the children board the bus in the morning safely, since everybody was at home. However, at noon all members of her family were out of the house, since they were working. They had to seek the help of neighbours to ensure that the children were dropped off home safely. She added that yesterday’s incident served as a wake-up call for them to be more vigilant.

She said the school transport staff were often in a hurry and sped away after dropping off the child outside the house.

When contacted, DTO Lovejeet Kalsi said so far as dropping off children at their homes from the school was concerned, there was a specific rule that the children must be dropped at the main entrance of their house. She added the school managements must ensure complete implementation of these instructions. She said in this specific case of the abduction of a five-year-old student, she would speak to the school management, but after confirming whether the bus staff faulted in not dropping the child at his home.

Amritsar, August 7
Though the city residents waited for about seven years for the launch of the city bus service, the project seems to have run into rough weather within seven months of its start because of half-hearted attempts by the authorities, claim passengers.

A daily passenger, Gurmeet Singh, a resident of GT road, said the local bus service brought relief to persons like him who travelled about 25 km up and down daily from his home to his shop at Court Chowk. He said low frequency of buses was the biggest drawback of the service, as the passengers had to wait for as long as half an hour for the bus.

He said ideally a bus service must be available every 10 minutes. The problem of passengers were compounded as they had to wait all this while under the scorching sun, he said, adding that the corporation failed to deliver on its promise of providing bus queue shelters in the city.

Another passenger, Harpreet Kaur, said she got on her bus at the SSSS chowk after commuting from her street on Batala road. She said the prominent route of the local bus was between Doburji to Khasa and back, commonly known as GT road. However, on both these roads, there were many link roads, having densely populated localities and enough wide roads. She said these localities were actually feeding customers to the local bus service. She stressed that the local bus service must operate buses on these roads to link them with main GT road.

A majority of the passengers complained of inadequate number of buses, lack of bus shelters and low frequency of buses as major reasons for the failure of the service.

A fleet of 20 buses of the second phase of this first public transport in the holy city could not be made operational on Fatehgarh Churian and Majitha road.

A total of 150 low-floor AC, non-AC, mid- and mini-buses were proposed to be introduced in Amritsar under the JNNURM scheme, as the first public transport system for the holy city. However, at present, only 40 buses are being operated.

Meanwhile, a Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP), got prepared by the Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company (PMIDC) from an expert private agency last year, brought out a disturbing trend signalling towards the urgent need to introduce a mass transport service here. The state government got prepared the CMP as it was mandatory before availing the grant from the Union Government under the category.

The overall vision of the CMP for Amritsar is to plan, develop, operate and manage an integrated multi-model transport system (IMMTS) for the LPA. The final report of the CMP has been forwarded to the Union Government, envisaging its infrastructure need up to 2032.

A survey reveals that the expenditure on transport of families is higher than the expenditure either on housing or education or health in Amritsar. It is next only to expenditure on food, which is a cause for concern. Probable expenditure on transport is about Rs 2,090 per household. Its reason was given as absence of adequate public transport service.

All categories of vehicles, except the buses, mini-buses have shown a considerable increase in their numbers during 2005 to 2010. There is considerable growth in the number of two-wheelers and three-wheelers in the city since 2005.

Amritsar, August 7
The Health Department has entrusted the powers of overseeing the work of birth and death registration to the Assistant Civil Surgeon, Dr Balwinder Kakkar. The power to oversee the work of tobacco control programme has been entrusted to the district epidemiologist, Dr Raju Chuhan.

Earlier both the functions were under the control of the District Health Officers, but a decision was taken recently to free them of these responsibilities except ensuring the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act.

Sources in the department said that the DHOs were relieved of these powers because under the Food Safety and Standards Act, it is required to appoint a whole-timer and a permanent designated officer for the work.

An RTI activist had challenged the government’s decision to make the DHOs in charge of the Food Safety and Standards Act. In an affidavit filed recently with the high court, the government had decided to make the DHOs solely responsible for the implementation of the Act.

The local health authorities stated that the decision to shift the powers to other officials had been taken after receiving instructions from the senior Health Department officials.

The Civil Surgeon, Dr Rajiv Bhalla, said that the Assistant Civil Surgeon, Dr Kakkar, had been made in charge of the birth and death registration wing while Dr Raju Chohan would implement the ban on smoking at public places. 

Amritsar, August 7
The family members of the three men, who died of electrocution at Kotla Gujra village yesterday, along with farmers today staged a dharna against the PSPCL and the state government on the Amritsar-Sangatpura road.

Addressing the protesters, farmer leader Harcharan Singh Medhipur demanded that a case be registered against PSPCL officials for their “negligence” and the next of the kin of the deceased be given compensation of Rs 10 lakh each besides a debt-waiver and government jobs to their family members.

The situation in the village turned tense when the family members of the deceased stopped the ambulance in an attempt to place the bodies at the protest venue.

This led to a heated argument between the protesters and the police personnel present there.

The police officials finally pacified the protesters, who later raised slogans against the PSPCL and the state government. The deceased were subsequently cremated at the village. 

Amritsar, August 7
As an artist he has managed to turn the most neglected spots into colourful canvases. His ‘green art’ on social issues has been appreciated and celebrated in the city. But this time, George Emanual has managed to turn one of his inspirations as his muse, playing with Vincent Van Gogh and his figments of imagination.

Coming up with a series of colourful graphic art, George has played with the idea of a live comic strip displyed in 30 frames of canvas. “It’s hard to define it, but I call it ‘tradigital’ art. It’s a combination of sketching, drawing and caricatures, with loud colours and a fantasy theme,” says the popular graphic artist from the city. His series has been invited by the Alliance Francaise in Chandigarh for an exhibition.

Just like his love for colours let loose, George’s hero in the series is his inspiration, legendary artist Vincent Van Gogh. “The series has Van Gogh as the central character. I have always wished to go back in time and rescue the great artist from ending his life. In my work, I have attempted to depict the story of Van Gogh with myself as a side character, trying hard to convince him to not commit suicide,” he rxplains.

Artists have always been liberal in their ideas and their implementation. George, too, wants to re-define a few concepts with his work. “Caricatures or cartoons have always been limited to comic or satirical art genres. But my work is not just one particular genre or form of art. It’s traditional with use of drawings, sketches and cartoons and contemprory in bringing them all together with use of loud colours and concept.”

His Chandigarh exhibition will present the series for the first time, but he plans to bring his kind of art to Amritsar as well. “The city needs to open up to traditional art forms besides appreciating contemprory forms. It will take some time for Amritsar to accept and understand the concept. Till then, I am happy to spread the word around,” he says. 

Amritsar, August 7
Two youngsters entered into scuffle with security guards deployed outside the girls hostel at Guru Nanak Dev University last night. University officials said the two youngsters were outsiders and one of them was a student of a college affiliated with the university.

The duo and security guards entered into fight when the later questioned them about their purpose of visit to the campus. Both were reportedly roaming around the girls hostel.

Security personnel said the students had come to the hostel to handover a book to a girl. Later, as the matter was reported to senior officials of the university, they talked to the girl to confirm her statement.

As the girl agreed that one of the youngsters was his brother, university officials avoided any action after issuing a warning to the youngsters. 

Amritsar, August 7
A team from the Municipal Corporation removed illegal rehris stationed along roadsides, near Dharam Singh Market, on way to the Golden Temple, here today.

The MC had recently started the drive to remove illegal rehris in the city. In today’s drive, at least half a dozen rehris were impounded by the Municipal Corporation.

The team issued strict warning to rehri owners against occupying roadsides in future. As the MC team visited the area, shopkeepers were seen removing goods, which they had stacked on the road outside their shops.

The area near the Golden Temple faces frequent traffic jams due to narrow roads. Shopkeepers and rehriwalas have occupied footpaths and even portions of the road forcing people moving on foot to walk on the road, which further narrows the space for vehicles. 

Amritsar, August 7
The Municipal Corporation is all set to go for re-tendering of the proposed solid waste management plant to recycle garbage at Bhagatawala. The project has been hanging fire ever since its announcement due to various reasons.

Officials of the department said the project had also got environmental clearance from the Union government. Even the Punjab Pollution Control Board and the Airport Authority of India had cleared the project.

Officials said the MC was expected to decide about the re-tendering process in a meeting on August 9. Earlier tenders, invited last year, were rejected after it was felt that the rates quoted by the interested firms were too high.

Among the various hurdles, which arose in way of the project, include an objection by the residents of localities near Bhagatawala to the proposed plant. An NGO had approached the high court for seeking directions for shifting the site of the plant from Bhagatawala to some other place.

Recently the High Court had directed the MC to execute the project within six months. In the earlier tendering process, the lowest quoted rate was Rs 1,800 per metric tonne. Going by the lowest quoted rate, the financial burden was much more than the expectations of the cash-strapped MC.

The decision to go for fresh tendering was taken earlier so as to work out an economical formula. Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora said the MC was committed to set up the plant as soon as possible. He said tenders for the project would be floated soon. 

Amritsar, August 7
The District Legal Services Authority organised a sensitisation programme on Wednesday to make Station House Officers (SHOs) of different police stations aware about the Victim Compensation Scheme, framed by the Punjab Government under Section 357-A of the CrPC.

Arun Kumar Aggarwal, secretary, District Legal Services Authority, said, “Under Section 357-A of the Criminal Procedure Code (inserted vide Criminal Procedure Amendment Act, 2008) it is mandatory for every state government to prepare a scheme in co-ordination with the Central government for providing funds for the purpose of compensation to the victim or his dependents, who have suffered loss or injury as a result of crime and who require rehabilitation.”

He said as per the notification dated 8.12.2011, the Government of Punjab, Department of Home Affairs and Justice, had framed the Punjab Victim or their Dependents Compensation Scheme, 2011, under which it allocated separate funds every year, which should be transferred to State Legal Services Authority, which in turn would distribute the amount among District Legal Services Authorities.

He said under the scheme, victims of crime or their dependents could get compensation from the District Legal Services Authority. “The maximum limit of compensation in case of rape is Rs 3 Lakh while for murder with rape is Rs 4 Lakh. For victim of human trafficking, child abuse and kidnapping the compensation is fixed at Rs 50,000. In case of simple loss or injury to child victim it is Rs 10,000, for rehabilitation of women and children it is Rs 20,000. The acid attack victim is liable for compensation up to Rs 3 Lakh. In case of disfigurement of face or other injury the compensation can go up by Rs 50,000,” added Aggarwal.

SHOs were also explained about the procedure for getting compensation and in this regard the victim or their dependents could file an application in the office of the District Legal Services Authority at District Court Complex, Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre. SHOs were asked to guide victims or their dependents in this regard, so that they could avail the benefit under the scheme. 

Amritsar, August 7
Accredited social health activist (ASHA) workers and facilitators staged a protest outside the local Civil Surgeon’s office here today. They were demanding an increase in their remuneration.

The protesting employees said the government must pay a monthly salary of Rs 10,000 to ASHA workers and Rs 15,000 to ASHA facilitators. Employees also demanded that the state government should implement its announcement of paying Rs 1,000 honorarium to these workers.

The protesters also sought proper uniforms for all the workers from the state government. The association leaders said ASHA workers and facilitators were not paid any salary at present. They said workers had to depend on various incentives given on the basis of targets achieved by them.

Association leader Kulwinder Kaur said ASHA workers were the backbone of the Health Department in rural areas as they reached each and every family to help members avail various health schemes. 

Amritsar, August 7
The young hold the power to challenge and change. Evidently, the country’s youngsters are being prepared to be actively involved in social, political and economical issues.

A team of 10 students has been shortlisted and invited to attend the Indian International Model United Nations (IMUN) to be held in Mumbai from August 14 to 17. The three-day annual summit that gives students across the country a simulation of the organisational and functional insights of United Nations, has become one of Asia’s largest education youth conferences. Kirandeep Kaur, Principal of academics, Miri Piri Academy and Dalbir Kaur Madaan, owner, One Up Library and Learning Centre, will be leading the team from Amritsar.

“It’s like opening a platform for young minds to evolve to think like global leaders. It gives them an insight into diplomacy and brain-storming to resolve global issues,” says Kirandeep.

Donning the cap of diplomatic delegates from their assigned country, Afghanistan, Anshul Mahajan, Siddhant Arora, Arjun Singh, Sabhya Kapoor, Manraj Singh, Harasis Singh, Manasvi Khanna, Saumya Khanna, Amrita Beri and Vedansh Kapoor will be a part of the six committees, including disarmament and international security committee (DISEC), economic and financial council, social, humanitarian and cultural committee (SOCHUM), special political and decolonisation committee, legal committee. Each one of them fittingly assumes their diplomatic roles, the research process to know their assigned country and its issues took two months. “We attended workshop to know everything there is to know about Afghanistan and its socio-political status. It meant detailed web search, checking information sources and even writing papers,” said Sabhya Kapoor, member of the legal committee. Even parents were made a part of the selection process by voting for the final ten students out of the 20 shortlisted for the event.

Excited and confident about their representation, the team has covered basics. Each delegation will have a separate agenda of its own, dealing with issues like Syrian crisis, rights of women in Arab countries, establishing and protecting territorial integrity in Middle East, protection of emerging markets through foreign investment and international air law. “The entire exercise is to encourage empathetic attitude towards troubled states and adopt resolutions towards a possible solution,” explains Siddhant Arora, a member of the SOCHUM.

“Like the issues of crime against women in Arab nations can be attributed to the economic and social instability and lack of political will. The number of crimes against women has increased in war-torn nations,” he adds.

Their opinion on socio-economic issues reflects the amount of hard work put in research. “Afghanistan has lots of untapped mineral and natural resources. The troubled state has lagged behind in economic development for years. But with India and China already showing interest in investing in the field of oil and mineral resources, one can look towards increased GDP and creating economic stability in the country,” says Manasvi Khanna, member of the economic and financial council.

The students are also critical of the current international conflicts and issues that made headlines. “There has to be a set international law to ensure air safety, citing the recent shooting down of Malaysian airliner over Ukraine–Russian border. The war fare, conflicts in Ukraine, Israel-Gaza and troubled borders need to be addressed with international allegiance and empathy,” says Manraj Singh, another delegate from the legal committee.

Geared up for global experience, the group is already at their diplomatic best when sharing that, “IIMUN is also about socialising and building blocks with friends and foes, to add to friendly countries and know the hostile ones.” 

Amritsar, August 7
Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS), Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, inaugurated a tree-plantation fortnight in the city by planting saplings at Mohkampura area here today.

Saplings were planted on the stretch from Domuhi wala Shivala to Mohkampura locality. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Navjot said a total of one lakh tree saplings would be planted in the next fortnight.

The tree-plantation fortnight would be observed from August 7 to 22. Dr Navjot said trees had been cut in the city at an alarming rate in the past few months. To compensate the loss of trees, new saplings should be planted, she added.

She said the government, NGOs and residents must come forward to save the green cover in the city. Apart from tree plantation drives organised by the state government, residents must also plant saplings in their homes, she added.

Municipal Corporation Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora, Councillor Damandeep Singh, Ashok Sehgal, Girish Sharma, Gaurav Bhandari, Ajay Goenka and many other residents were present on the occasion. 

Amritsar, August 7
The city police have nabbed six persons for allegedly possessing narcotic substances and liquor.

Ankush of Raje di Haveli was arrested with 100gm intoxicant powder while Chandan Gosai of Haripura and Sarabjit Singh of Dhabai Kot Khalsa village was held with 100gm heroin and 100 intoxicant capsules, respectively. Badal Mantu of Godam Mohalla and Parminder Singh of Prem Nagar were arrested for allegedly possessing 100gm narcotic powder and 200 intoxicant capsules, respectively. Similarly, Gate Hakima police nabbed Jatinder Singh of Mullechak village with nine bottles of illicit liquor. 

Amritsar, August 7
The city police have booked four persons, including a notorious gangster, on the charges of criminal trespass and allegedly beating up the manager of a private hotel belonging to a police official.

Besides Ranjit Singh, alias Sonu Mota of Kot Baba Deep Singh, among others who were booked include Rahul of Chowk Manna Singh, Ricky Mahasa and an unidentified person.

Krishan Kumar Sharma, the manager of the hotel, alleged that the accused forcibly entered the hotel premises and thrashed him. He alleged that the accused threatened to kill him and created a ruckus and damaged things in the hotel. The whole incident was recorded on the CCTV footage.

Kanwaljit Singh, investigating officer, said a case under Sections 452, 506, 323, 427 and 34, IPC, had been registered while raids were being conducted to arrest the culprits.