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Cong up in arms against mayor
district government schools |
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Grit personified: 60-year-old man delivers 250 newspapers, rides 22 km every day
Security guard found dead in factory
Snatcher held, mobile recovered
Man run over by vehicle
crime briefs
SC Commission chairman meets kin of kidnapped girl
Number of universities in state rises to 23
BUSINESS NEWS
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Cong up in arms against mayor
Jalandhar, August 24
Accusing the Mayor of completely ignoring the civic issues, the Congress leaders have threatened to resort to agitation in case the meeting was not called at the earliest. The special budget meeting of the MC house was held on March 24 this year and the general house meeting was held on January 24. Since, the special budget meeting is only for discussion on the MC budget, it has been seven months since the last general house meeting was held. “It is really surprising and shocking that even after the poll drubbing of the SAD-BJP alliance in the recent parliamentary elections, the ruling alliance in the Municipal Corporation house is least bothered to resolve the problems of people of the 60 municipal wards. Since the general house is the only platform where the councillors can freely take up the civic issues pertaining to the commoners, by not calling the meeting, the mayor is ignoring the problems of the general public,” said Jagdish Raja, leader of the Congress councillors in the MC House. Speaking to Jalandhar Tribune, District Congress Committee (Urban) president Rajinder Beri strongly condemned the Mayor, saying due to the “dictatorial approach” of Jyoti, people were suffering. He said, “The condition of the roads in the city is pathetic. The recently carpeted roads have developed big potholes. Councillors of the Congress want to ask questions in this regard but the Mayor is not calling the general house meeting.” Congress leaders also said that as per the Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, convening monthly general house meeting was must. Mayor Sunil Jyoti said he would soon convene the general house meeting. Refuting the allegations of the Congress leaders, he said, “We are concerned about the people and always address civic problems on a priority basis. During the Congress tenure from year 2002-07, just 20 general house meetings were held. I assure you that the SAD-BJP house would convene more meetings than the Congress.”
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Food, water quality, hygiene a matter of concern
Rachna Khaira Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, August 24
Due to the lackadaisical attitude of the district administration, most of these schools have failed the potable water quality tests and are running illegal canteens inside their premises that everyday serve stale and unhygienic fast. However, neither the district administration nor the parents of these students have ever raised any concern over the plight of these children who are forced to consume deadly poison every day. Till date, no case has ever been filed against any of the erring department or school authorities for endangering the lives of lakhs of kids who come to these schools to make their lives better. “Since most of the children studying in these schools belong to poor families, no one seems to be concerned about their health. Despite repeated complaints of the unsafe quality of potable water and even the mid-day meal, the administration has not summoned the Municipal Corporation staff to rectify the fault. Nor has it summoned the Health Department for not regularising and checking the food at the illegal canteens running in these schools,” said Sanjay Sehgal, a social activist. While the Education Department has banned the delivery of junk food inside and outside the state government school premises, most of the schools in the district, while openly flouting norms, are running illegal canteens that do not find any place on the school records. In the absence of any check by the school authorities and the Health Department, most of them were found to be selling junk and stale food to the children. Though there is no provision of canteens in the government schools, many of them have allowed these canteens to run on the school premises, posing a serious threat to the health of thousands of children studying there. As the canteens do not exist in the official records of the Education Department, they are dodging the checks by the Health Department as well. Harinder Pal Singh, district education officer, said the department was making continuous efforts to improve the standard of government schools in the district. “We are aware of the alarming situation and will soon take stringent action to improve the quality of food and water being served inside the schools,” said Singh.
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Gagandeep Singh Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, August 24 Being an NRI hub, the city is one of the favourite places for the beggars. They roam freely at all prominent places, including the bus stand, railway station, Model Town, Jyoti Chowk, PAP Chowk, BMC Chowk, Malls, religious places like the Geeta Mandir and Sodal Mandir. Even places like the District Administrative Complex and the Judicial Court Complex have not been spared by them. Beggars keep annoying residents until they give them money or move on. Possibly some organised gangs are working behind the scene, as the beggers seem well-trained and skilled. A majority of the beggars in the city hail from Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Orissa. Strategies used
by beggars
Card distribution: When a bus stops at the PAP trafficlights, a group of teenage girls board the bus and start distributing the cards, saying, “These children are orphan. Their parents have died and they have no money. Please help them by donating Rs 10, 20 or 50.” As soon as the bus starts moving after the green signal, the group start collecting the cards and ask for money. Asking money for
undue favours
This method is adopted at traffic signals, particularly by children. As cars stop at traffic signals, a child beggar pops up and start cleaning the windshield without having the consent of the owner, and later demand money. In the name of the Almighty
An individual or a group adopt this tactic. They show photographs or symbols of certain religion and then ask for money. Beggers belonging to this category can be seen at every public place. In the name of children
This tactic is used by women,. carrying a bare child at bus stand or railway station. They ask for money to save their starving child. Disability
Such beggars pose as a visually-impaired and deaf and dump person to win the sympathy of the public. Hereditary
There are certain communities, who assume begging as profession. They don’t consider begging as wrong. They do it because their ancestors did it. Drug addiction
Many drug addicts, who have been abandoned by their families, friends and relatives, just rely on begging. These well-dressed drug addicts can be noticed at the bus stand or railway station. Such beggars deceive people saying they have lost their wallets and they have no money to afford a bus or train ride home. NGOs seek strict laws
NGOs like Child Helpline and Pehal have been working for the child labour and child begging in the city. Representatives of these NGOs said organised gangs had been working behind child begging in the city. Children are being trafficked from Bihar, UP and Orissa to Punjab and other places. Sometimes minors are given on rent by their parents to beggars on a meagre amount of Rs 10 to Rs 20. Surinder Saini of Child Helpline said he had
written to the Child Commission in New Delhi several times on the issue, but to no avail “I have rescued children from begging many times. But in the absence of rehabilitation programme, they are again forced to do it again. Some beggers are five to six-year-old. This nexus cannot be dealt without stern laws”, said Saini. Prof Lakhbir Singh of Pehal said like well-organised gangs, beggars have demarcated their areas. “I have been a part of some police raids rescuing children involved in begging. Because of no rehabilitation programme they were left with no other choice but begging,” added Lakhbir. District Social Security Officer’s charge
No one has taken the charge of District Social Security Officer after the retirement of Avinash Chander. Talking to Jalandhar Tribune, Avinash Chander said no beggar was rehabilitated in his tenure. They planned to constitute a Child Protection Committee. The department may initiate the process to protect child beggars after the formation of the committee. |
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4,500 take test for two BSF posts in city
Jalandhar, August 24 Sources said the test for the posts of Assistant Sub-Inspector, Radio Operator and Head Constable, Communication, was conducted at the all-India level. As many as 1,604 candidates appeared for the post of Radio Operator, while for the post of Head Constable, Communication, 2,823 candidates took the test. The Traffic police put a barricade to ease the flow of traffic outside the BSF headquarters. BSF personnel were also seen helping the traffic police. “Candidates from Punjab and Himachal Paresh take the test After passing the test, the candidate will have to appear for an interview for the final selection. Selected candidates can be posted anywhere in the country.” said BSF officials.
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Grit personified: 60-year-old man delivers 250 newspapers, rides 22 km every day
Jalandhar, August 24 “It has been 15 years that I am into this business since 1999. Although a tailor by trade, I am forced to do this job as a part-time work just to earn some extra bucks to support my family. I stitch some clothes during the day time and deliver an evening newspaper in the evening,” said the confident old man. He said first he buys 250 copies of the newspaper everyday and later delivers these to his subscribers at a profit of around 75 paisa per copy. “Although I have to pay the full amount to the newspaper publisher everyday at the time of getting the newspapers, my subscribers pay me the money only at the end of each month,” said Jarnail Singh. The old man delivers newspapers on the Ladowaali road, Old courts, bus-stand area, Guru Nanak Mission, Nakodar Road, Bhargo Camp, Ravidas Road, Model House, Bubrin Chowk and the Vijay Nagar area. He starts his journey at around 4 pm everyday and it is only around 10 pm that he delivers the last copy. Although it seems to be health at the first instance, he occassionaly complaints of high blood pressure. Unfortunately unlike him, his family comprising his wife, two daughters and a son has a long list of medical emergencies. “My wife till date had four major operations. My son although an Air conditioned mechanic went to Dubai but returned back immediately after complaining some serious medical complication and had to be treated in a hospital that charged approximately 1 lakh for his treatment,” said Singh. Now worried about the marriage of his children, he is now relying on his lone insurance policy that would fetch him around Rs 30,000 to at least get one of his daughters married decently. “I am not worried about one daughter, as I will get around Rs 30,000 for her marriage from my insurance policy that would mature next year, but I am a little worried about the other two children,” he said. Although the poor man seems determined and confident to work till his last breath, the agony and pain of his life-long sufferings could well be felt by listening to his favourite Bollywood song “Zindagi ka safar hai yeh kaisa safar… koi samjha nahi…koi jaana nahi….. that he most of the time listens on his mobile.”
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Security guard found dead in factory
Jalandhar, August 24 Radha Krishan hailed from Darbanga in Bihar and was living in Bachint Nagar here. Sources said the incident came to notice in the morning when another security guard came to join duty. He found the factory door open and the guard hanging on the factory premises. Seeing this, he immediately informed the factory owner. Jagtar Singh, assistant sub-inspector, Maqsudan police station, said the police was informed by the factory owner Sunil that the security guard had hanged himself to death on the factory premises. When we reached the spot, the body was found hanging from iron rods in the factory. No suicide note was recovered from the spot, Singh said, adding that suspecting no foul play in the incident, inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC were initiated. The police said the man was survived by his wife and three children, who had no idea about the reason behind his death. We were told by some residents that the victim was having some domestic issues and he used to have quarrels with his wife. He might have taken the extreme step due to that, the police added.
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Snatcher held, mobile recovered
Jalandhar, August 24 The accused was identified as Sunny, alias Khuda, a resident of Railway Colony. One of his accomplices, Bal Kishan, alias Balu, was apprehended by the police a few days ago. The police said the accused had robbed a migrant labourer Matadin of the Bashirpura locality on August 10 and taken away his silver chain, a mobile phone and Rs 500. Today, acting on a tip-off, the accused was nabbed by the police near the Sant Nagar locality. A mobile phone and Rs 500 were recovered from him. The police said the accused was sent to judicial custody. He could be brought on production warrants to inquire his involvement n past incidents of snatchings, the police added.
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Man run over by vehicle
Jalandhar, August 24 The incident occurred early this morning when the vendor, selling toys, while walking towards Birring village, was run over by a speeding vehicle. The police said they were informed by a passerby that a pedestrian was crushed death by a speeding vehicle. He sustained serious head injuries and died on the spot, an eye-witness told the police. However, the eye-witness failed to note the registration number of the vehicle. The police said the person seemed to be aged around 50. We did not recover any identity proof from the body, which was had been kept at the mortuary in Civil Hospital, the police said. A case of negligent driving had been registered. |
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Earrings snatched
Phagwara: Two unidentified armed motorcyclists snatched gold earrings from Asha Rani, a resident of Bhagatpura, here on Sunday. The incident happened when the victim was on her way to the Shiva Temple. Constable injured
Rashpal Singh, a constable working with the Punjab Police, sustained injuries when a vehicle hit his two wheeler near Sahni village on Sunday. He was returning from Jalandhar to his residence in Panchhat village after his duty. — OC |
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SC Commission chairman meets kin of kidnapped girl
Jalandhar, August 24 He also held a separate meeting with the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dev Dutt Sharma and the Station House Officer (SHO), New Baradari police station, Palwinder Singh. Victim’s family told Bagha that the police had been adopting lax attitude in taking action against the accused involved in the crime. Satnam Ram, father of the girl, alleged that his daughter was kidnapped by a boy working in a saloon on July 28 . Victim’s father had alleged that despite repeated complaints at New Baradari police station, no case was registered against the suspect. “When after twelve days, a kidnapping case was registered by the police, the suspect was not named in the FIR. Despite repeated requests, the SHO refused to name the suspect in the FIR” said victim’s father. He alleged the police of being hand in glove with the accused. Annoyed with the police, Satnam Ram had filed a complaint with the SC Commission, Punjab. Bagha asked the police to arrest the accused and hand over the girl to the family in five days. He said, he had a talk with the Police Commissioner and would also apprise the Director General of Police (DGP) of the case. “A special team has been formed to crack the case. If the role of the boy, working in the saloon, confirmed in the crime, he will not be spared,” said ACP DD Sharma.
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Number of universities in state rises to 23
Jalandhar, August 24 There are already eight state universities, one Central University, three deemed universities and eight private universities in the state. The state government has now given its nod to Maharaja Ranjit Singh State Technical University at Bathinda and two private universities - Rayat Bahra University Kharar and GNA University Phagwara. The Punjab Technical University, too,had hired a company on Rs 40 crore contract for filling of seats in 15 private affiliated colleges. Each of the student that the company managed to bring in, had been asked to pay Rs 40,000 more which would go to the company is confirmed the university’s PR department. While Jalandhar Central MLA Manoranjan Kalia, too, had reportedly opposed the move in the Vidhan Sabha to allow more private players in the field of education, former Vice- Chancellor of Punjabi University Dr Joginder Singh Puar, too, is disappointed with the way the things are going on. “The government should first set up a regulatory body that keeps an eye on the functioning of the private universities. The private universities are not giving proper grades to the universities. All research work that happens is on cut, copy and paste basis. The only activity they are doing is giving advertisements on all popular channels. Even the state is not doing the needful.” said Puar. “The gross enrolment ratio in the country in the higher education currently stands at 14 to 16 per cent, which for a developing country should be 30 per cent. There still is a lot of gap which can be filled only if there are more universities.” said Aman Mittal, Director, Public Relations, LPU. List of universities
State universities Central universities Deemed universities Private universities |
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BUSINESS NEWS
Vimanika Comics along with Krome Stores today launched a new range of roundneck T-shirts with some interesting graphics in the state. The T-shirts will be available at all 11 leading Krome Stores across North India.The chain of Krome Stores are having showrooms at Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Dharamshala. Safe-I certification Virk Hospital in the city claimed to have become the first IVF centre in the country to get the Safe-I certification for the complete protection of Infection Control by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH). The certification programme is a marker of ‘quality’ in terms of compliance with infection control practices and protocols in various health care set ups operating in the country
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With Mayor Sunil Jyoti not convening the general house meeting of the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation (MC), the Congress councillors are up in arms against the Mayor.
Jalandhar, August 24
Jalandhar, August 24
