Education board prohibits sale of junk food in school canteens
Amritsar, August 11
The State Education Board’s circular to the schools prohibiting the sale of junk food in the school canteens as also in the shops around it has sent the managements of private and public schools being run by societies in a tizzy.

Amritsar, August 11
To lodge their protest against molestation of a university hostel inmate, students of the GNDU today held a demonstration outside the university campus. Later, the Guru Nanak Dev University Teachers Association (GNDUTA), too, showed its solidarity with the agitating students.

GNDU students block the main gate of the university in protest against the security lapse; and (right) the students in talks with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof AS Brar, demanding enhancement of security on the university campus in Amritsar on Monday. PHOTOs: RK Soni

The students blocked the GT road opposite the main gate of the university for more than three hours in protest, causing inconvenience to the commuters. The matter was resolved only when the Vice-Chancellor, Prof AS Brar, assured the students in writing about enhancing the security measures, especially in and around the girls’ hostels in a time-barred manner. The students were panicky after back-to-back three instances of intruders sneaking in the girls’ hostels had occurred in the past one week. The last incident occurred on August 8, when an unidentified person entered the Girls’ Hostel No.1 (D-Block) at around 10 pm and allegedly tried to rape a girl student. When the girl resisted, he beat her up badly. It was only when the victim’s friends spotted him and raised the alarm that the accused managed to flee.

Meanwhile, the university authorities refrained from lodging an FIR on the insistence of the victim’s parents.However, her college mates took to roads and demanded that the accused should be identified. They compelled the university authorities, including the VC, Dean, Students’ Welfare, and other officials to come out to hold negotiations with the protesting students.

The girls alleged that a day earlier, an unknown person had entered the hostel during night and knocked at their doors. They alleged that even the university security guards were tipsy during the late evening hours and they felt insecure on the campus. They also alleged that on many occasions, plumbers and electricians, sans any identity card or uniform, roamed about in their rooms on the pretext of rectifying faults. Later, the VC had a closed-door meeting with the students. While condemning such incidents, the VC, Prof AS Brar, assured the students that the boundary wall of the girls’ hostels would be raised to 12 feet, work on which had already been started and would be finished at the earliest; female security guards would be deployed to monitor security within the hostel premises; floodlights and CCTV cameras would be installed at vulnerable points on the campus; and plumbing or electrical staff would be provided with uniforms for their identification. The police officials present during the meeting assured the students of continuous patrolling and stationing of PCR jeeps along the roads adjacent to the girls’ hostels.

The VC said that the Dean, Students’ Welfare, and the security officer would visit the hostels every day till these security measures are in place and are fully functional. Dr Amarjit Singh Sidhu, the Dean, Students Welfare, gave a written assurance to the students regarding these measures.

Professor Brar said, “We will be cooperating in the investigation, wherever required. The case was not registered directly with the police on the request of the victim’s parents. But a complaint was filed with the police by the victim and independent inquiry is being conducted./” Meanwhile, the GNDU teachers, who were there to deliberate with the VC over their pending demands, have been called for August 22. Certain issues related to their promotion policy, pick-and-choose policy while giving extension to retiring teachers, allowance for rural/border area regional college teachers and exemption from PhD entrance test to regular teachers, etc will be discussed at the next meeting. 

Amritsar, August 11
As protests gained momentum against the recent incident of security breach at GNDU’s girls’ hostel and molestation of a girl student by an unidentified person, students took to the streets to voice concerns about girls’ safety inside the campus.

Attempts by the university authorities for taking prompt action not going down well with the students, the girl students gathered outside the VC’s residence to demand immediate beefing up of security. As the festive weekend stretched itself into a strike and commotion on the campus, most girl’s hostel inmates chose to stay at their homes. Earlier, too, safety concerns about girl students on campus were raised following eve- teasing incidents. Most girls’ preferred hostel accommodation to PG accommodation as it meant secured environs. But this comfort zone, too, has been breached.

“It’s scary as hostel accommodation is considered safer by parents as well as girls. Even after campus security is taken for granted, eve-teasing happens and most girls ignore the situation. But one cannot ignore the fact that it might turn ugly, like this time,” says Manpreet Kaur Kochar, a second-year student at GNDU. The agitated girls voiced concerns about lack of enough security measures to ensure that no such incident took place.

“Security breaches have taken place earlier, too, only these were not reported often. Even during the day, one feels scared to walk from the department back to the hostel alone fearing eve-teasing. So, most of us prefer to move around in groups,” says a third-year science student, who is a hostel inmate. “There have been incidents where some guys tried to pull a girl inside a moving car, in which the girl injured her arm. When you report them, the authorities show ignorance and all complaints fall on deaf ears,” she said on condition of anonymity.

While the authorities have promised beefed-up security with installation of CCTV cameras and increasing the height of the boundary wall near the hostel, most students believe it might not help. “In most cases of harassment, girls are made scapegoats by the staff and the authorities by being held responsible for the act. The area where hostel accommodation is located is quite remote and is vulnerable. Sometimes the staff, too, is involved in such crimes. Authorities should not only ensure better security, but also check the background of the staff,” suggests Avneet Kaur, a student of Computer Science. 

Amritsar, August 11
The girls alleged that some boys made indecent gestures while standing on the road adjacent to the boundary wall of the hostel, adding that the authorities were taking it leniently. On the other hand, the university authorities maintained that the certainty of the happening could not be established, as no student could recognise the suspected persons, who were arrested by the university security staff. Col Harbans Singh, security in charge of GNDU campus, said the incident occurred at around 4.30 pm when the girls complained about it.

“Our team, with assistance from the police, had managed to catch hold of three teenage boys present on the road then, but they were let off after the girls failed to say that they were the ones who passed bad remarks or made indecent gestures,” he said. Till the filing of the report, the girls were continuing their stir. 

Amritsar, August 11
Beggers are seen almost everywhere in the city in the absence of strict implementation of Prevention of Begging Act. City residents have stressed on rehabilitating them by providing vocational training and free education to the children involved in the practice.

They have also advocated implementation of anti-begging law in letter and spirit, besides taking strict action against those who indulge in it for easy money, rather than any economic compulsion.

Many police officials, on the other hand, have expressed their helplessness in view of the extra burden they face due to VIP visits and other duties, besides maintaining law and order and investigation of crime.

They said in view of other important commitments, they hardly find time to look into the problem.

The district administration has opened a shelter home ‘Raain Basera’ for beggars but it has failed to fulfill its purpose as they still roam in the city.

Amritsar, August 11
The State Education Board’s circular to the schools prohibiting the sale of junk food in the school canteens as also in the shops around it has sent the managements of private and public schools being run by societies in a tizzy.

The trend of opening canteens in the city-based privately run and educational societies-administered schools has caught up fast in recent years.

DEO (Secondary) Satinderbir Singh said his office had received the communication regarding the decision. He said soon the communication would be forwarded to heads of government and government-aided schools for implementation. He added that though it was not mandatory for private public schools, it would be forwarded to these schools as well.

The board has made it clear that the school principals will be held responsible if the sale of junk food is noticed in and around their institutions.

Interestingly, the notification is mandatory for government and aided schools where only about 10 per cent of these schools have canteens on their premises.

On the other hand, a majority of private public schools are operating canteens from their premises. A majority of these schools have missed out on registering these eating joints with the Health Department under the Food and Safety Act.

The Act makes it mandatory for the employees of these canteens to submit their medical examination reports. Besides, the Health Department is required to check the personal hygiene of cooks and other staff involved in food preparation. Personal hygiene like nails must be clipped properly and the head should be covered while preparing food. Fast food must be discouraged, while it favours the sale of quality, packed food, so that ingredients and expiry of these foods could be determined conveniently.

A retired government school principal Kulwant Singh Ankhi opined that where was the need to open canteens in schools? Instead, the school administrations must encourage students to bring along freshly cooked food from their homes. He stressed that the schools must ensure that the students consume food from their lunch boxes.

The school administrations could not use the ruse of canteens for faculty and other staff as traditionally they also bring their lunch boxes to the school, which sets a good precedent for the students to follow.

Senior BJP leader Laxmi Kanta Chawla, who was an educationist at the beginning of her career, appreciated the education department’s move. She said since the government had no control over the private schools, a majority of these schools were no different from shops. “They do not let go of any opportunity to maximise their profit. These institutes, which are supposed to be education models, are selling school bags, stationery and even dresses for commission. If any tendering is held, it is a mere eyewash.” Now, a new fashion of opening canteens, dishing out even fast food has picked up.

She said, on the contrary, outlets in schools must offer books, stationery and other items at subsidised rates. 

Amritsar, August 11
The state government has selected a private firm to furnish the interiors of the ambitious Heritage Village project but it would take one more year to complete the project.

Talking to Amritsar Tribune, Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board chief general manager, Brig (retd) Charanjit Singh, said a Ghaziabad-based firm was selected today to administer and furnish interiors of the Heritage Village.

He informed that the firm would annually pay Rs 1.94 crore for running the project.

However, people associated with hospitality industry rue that it would take one more year to complete the project. The project has continuously been delayed despite the tall claims of the Tourism Department regarding expediting its work.

The work on the project is on for the last two-three years. Situated at Guru Nanak Dev University, the Heritage Village will showcase Punjabi life, culture, attires and food. It will work on the private public partnership (PPP) mode.

The selected firm will be responsible for project development, operations, maintenance and management of the heritage village for a predetermined concession period and will also collect charges from the users as per the provisions laid down.

In order to qualify for the bidding process, technical capabilities had been laid down by the PIDB. The eligibility criteria had at least one heritage theme project spread over a minimum area of five acres, a minimum annual turnover of at least Rs 3 crore or at least one operational hotel project (3 star and above) in heritage category with 25-room capacity or at least one entertainment park/amusement park, leisure park project spread over a minimum site area of 10 acre 
and with a minimum annual turnover of at least Rs 3 crore.

Majority of the civil work at the heritage village has been finished. Soon, a sewerage treatment plant (STP) and an entrance gate will be set up at the site.

The successful bidder will then get some time to furnish interiors.

Hotelier APS Chatha said the then Punjab Tourism Minister SS Phillaur, during his visit to the holy city last year, had promised to open it to the public by January, 2013. He said the holy city ranked 12th among the major tourist destinations in the country and undue delay in opening the project was hitting the business here.

He said the location of the village on the road to the Attari-Wagah joint check-post would come in handy for thousands of tourists heading to witness the Retreat Ceremony as they can comfortably stay for a few hours or even a night at the village.

The state government wishes to revive the old charm of Punjab villages. The heritage village will include shops of potter, blacksmith and carpenter, a dhaba, an akhara and a traditional wrestling place.

A block has been reserved for holding melas, which used to be an integral part of the Punjabi life. Interested tourists can also stay there, as nearly 20 rooms are being constructed for staying purpose.

Amritsar, August 11
Amid protest from the Opposition, the MC House today gave its nod to its amended ‘one-time settlement policy’ regarding regularisation of illegal commercial units in and around Golden Temple galliara in the walled city area. However, the green signal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court is still awaited. The next date of hearing has been fixed for August 23.

The other issue discussed during the House meeting was permitting chop off of around 368 fully grown trees and 30 small trees for widening the Mcleod road (from Aerodrome road to GT road), which was also passed.

The regularisation of illegal commercial units in and around the Golden Temple assumes significance, as the Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat had asked the municipal authorities to intiate action against 15 such commercial units at the earliest. Bhagat was part of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) having Principal Secretary Rahul Tiwari and the Chief Administrator, Amritsar Development Authority, Sandeep Rishi, as other members. The SIT had mentioned in its investigation about 21 such commercial units, which seldom complied with the Punjab Municipal Corporation Building Bylaws 1997 and the revised bylaws formulated in 2010 and hence should be demolished. However, six among them had obtained stay orders from the high court.

Earlier, the MC House, during its general meeting on July 11, had passed a resolution regularising as many as 125 hotels, guest houses and inns, according to the Municipal Building Bylaws, 1976, by putting them under the ambit of compoundable offence and had proposed to authorise them to operate after imposing a penalty. The proposal was sent to the government for finalising it, but it was returned for want of some ‘legal language hurdle’.

Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora said that the proposal of ‘one-time settlement’ policy was tabled in the House again to avoid any scope of a legal hurdle. “It is true that the final verdict will be of the high court only, but on our part, we have re-drafted the proposal, according to the directions of the government. The contents of the earlier proposal were the same but the only addition was that the government wanted to seek opinion of the Attorney-General before submitting it to the high court bench. This part needed to have approval of the MC’s general house, that’s why this meeting was called,” he said.

The Opposition leaders, including Congress councillors Gurinder Rishi and Raj Kanwal Preet Pal Singh Lucky, engaged in arguments with the ruling councillors. The Opposition leaders warned that no ‘proper homework’ was done before drafting this ‘one-time settlement’ proposal for regularising hotels and guest houses and that it would invite contempt of court.

They also objected to chopping off trees. However, despite their protest, both the resolutions were passed with the requisite amendment. 

Amritsar, August 11
The organisers of Hind-Pak Dosti Mela have announced to change the venue of the function to be held on Independence Day eve to Punjab Natshala, considering the security of the participants.

Addressing a press conference here today, Hind Pak Dosti Manch general secretary Satnam Manik said during the past few years, it was observed that a few bad elements looked for opportunities to disrupt the event.

He said the selected activists would go to Attari, after the cultural function, to light candles to give the message of friendship. A six member delegation from Pakistan will attend the function. Delegates will also come from Mumbai and Delhi.

Manik said supporters of cordial relationships between two the nations would also come to light candles near the border. The mela will commence with a seminar on India-Pak relations on August 14. — TNS

Amritsar, August 11
Nearly 4,000 teachers, working in 172 aided colleges in the state today ceased work for two hours on their college campuses.

Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union informed this through a press release today.

A rally was also held at DAV College. Union members alleged that their organisation was compelled to adopt the path of agitation as there had been an unwarranted delay in accepting the demands of teachers.

The agitation would be intensified by organising a rally at Talwandi Sabo on August 13, 2014, and by observing Teachers’ Day (September 5, 2014) as ‘black day’, they added.

A senior leader of the union, Prof HS Walia, said the government had not released the grant meant for the payment of salaries due for the past many months. As a result, the teachers and other employees of many colleges in the state had not been paid salaries from the last three to 12 months and about 50 per cent of the colleges were on the brink of closure, he added.

Besides, the government has shown callous attitude towards other demands of teachers, which include inter-alia, lifting of ban on recruitments, security of service for the teachers working against un-aided posts, relaxation from refresher courses, implementation of pension and gratuity scheme, enhancement of retirement age from 60 to 65 years, financial assistance to un-aided colleges and streamlining the office of DPI (Colleges), Punjab.— TNS

Amritsar, August 11
Around 150 girl students of a government school undertook training at a self-defence training programme organised by the Border Security Force (BSF).

BSF DIG (Amritsar sector) MF Farooqui said crime against women had increased and it had become necessary for girls to get training in self-defence. “This will help in boosting their morale and make them more confident,” he said.

He said the enthusiasm shown by the aspirants was overwhelming. “We have started this exclusive programme for girls to make them self-reliant and confident enough to tackle any untoward happening,” he said.

“Under the project, the girls will be undergoing 14-day physical training. Then they will be trained in unarmed combat and some tricks of martial arts for self-defence,” he said. 

Amritsar, August 11
A large number of people today staged a protest against the state government to oppose Prevention of Damage to Public and Private Property Bill. They said the government was trying to curb the public right to stage peaceful protests.

The call for protest was given by various political and human rights organisations. Addressing a gathering, Datar Singh of Kirti Kisan Union, said as the government had failed to address the genuine issues of the public, it had devised a plan to oppress their voice.

He said the proposed law would give the state the power to register cases against protesters. He termed the law ‘draconian’ and demanded scrapping of the bill.

Dr Satnam Singh Ajnala of Jamhoori Kisan Sabha said the provisions of the law are such that even the leaders who have not participated in an agitation can be penalised.

He said that the government was denying the basic right to stage peaceful protests.

“The protests are a way of telling the government that masses are not happy with their work. If they suppress this fundamental right, how will the people express their voice,” said Dr Ajnala.

Kisan Sangarsh Committee leader Satnam Singh Pannu said instead of devising plans to suppress people’s voice, the government should focus on setting things right.

Activists of Pendu Majdoor Union, CTU, Construction Workers’ Union, Punjab Students Union, Naujwan Sabha, Democratic Teachers’ Front and various other organizations joined the protest.