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Four of family killed in mishap
Elderly couple seeks tribunal’s help for cancellation of deed
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Dist to achieve 100% computerisation of land records
MCI team inspects medical college
Voice of Amritsar sends relief material for J&K
GNDU zonal youth fest to be held from Sept 23-25
House burgled
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Four of family killed in mishap
Amritsar, September 22 The deceased were identified as Ajit Singh (47), his wife Balwinder Kaur (45), son Vijay Singh (17) and nephew Karandeep Singh (11). Their daughter Navjyot Kaur escaped narrowly and suffered serious injuries in the accident. All the victims belonged to Quadian in
Gurdaspur district. Ajit Singh, a junk dealer, along with other members of the family had come to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple after Vijay, a X+I student, did well in his exams. After performing sewa (community service) they started their return journey at around 3.30 am. While returning, their car collided with a road side tree leading to their instant death. SHO of Mattewal police station, Harjit Singh, said Ajit Singh, who was driving the car, might have felt drowsy, which led to the accident. Their car collided with a road side tree. The people from nearby gurdwara immediately rushed to the spot and called emergency 108-Ambulance, which shifted them to a local hospital, where doctors declared the four persons brought dead. Navjyot Kaur was admitted to the hospital with serious injuries. The SHO said the police have initiated action under the criminal procedure code following the statement of the girl. A relative of the deceased said Ajit’s ancestral village was located on the Amritsar-Mehta road. While returning they decided to visit their ancestral Phoolke village and therefore took that road. He said Sikander Singh, elder son of the Ajit, studied in Toronto (Canada) while his another sister was preparing for the PMT exams in Chandigarh.
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Elderly couple seeks tribunal’s help for cancellation of deed
Amritsar, September 22 In a complaint submitted to the district magistrate and chairperson of the tribunal, Ravi Bhagat, they alleged that their son had failed to pay maintenance awarded by the tribunal. They said he had further sold the ground floor of the house to politically connected persons, who were now harassing them to sell the remaining portion of the house and vacate the whole property. “After Partition, my family came from Pakistan and I spent my whole life to earn a good living and bought a showroom of electronic goods, besides constructing a house. But look at my condition now. The shop has been taken over by my son while at this age I have become dependent on my daughter for bread and maintenance,” said Gurdit Singh, a resident of Roop Nagar, Gate Hakima. “Where should we go, my wife Surinder Kaur is bed ridden for past couple of years. All the earnings of my daughter are spent on her medicines. I have been forced to run from pillar to post and seek court’s help for getting justice and my own property,” he said with tears rolling down his cheeks. Gurdit Singh said, “My wife registered the lower portion of the house in my son’s name when I started living in an old-age home after getting fed up of daily quarrels in the family in 2008. He emotionally blackmailed and pressurised my wife to transfer the portion in his name.” He said when my son continued to harass us we filed a complaint before the then SDM for awarding the maintenance to Taranjit. In March this year, the SDM directed him to pay Rs 6,000 as maintenance allowance to the couple. However, till date he has not given any penny to his parents. On the other hand he transferred the lower portion of the house to politically connected people. The couple has now filed an application before the Appellate Tribunal to cancel the registry in the name of their son and do justice. SDM Ravi Bhagat said if their son had sold the property then it becomes a civil court matter and tribunal could do nothing in this. But if he had sold the said disputed property then the tribunal could even cancel the ‘inteqal’ (mutation deed). He said, “As far as the awarding of maintenance is concerned, we will take stringent measures in implementing the maintenance awarded by
the tribunal.”
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Dist to achieve 100% computerisation of land records
Amritsar, September 22 To enhance the public utility services, the district administration is working to bring transparency and efficiency when it comes to keeping land records. People in the district can now get computerised copies of the ‘fards’ with ease and at affordable rates from the nine Fard Kendras being run in the Amritsar district. Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat said as of now the computerisation of the 95 per cent of the land records had been accomplished. “I must say that the district administration aims to achieve the target of cent percent computerisation of land records very soon. The state government has put in great efforts to start this project so as to provide computerised copies of the fards through Fard Kendras to the residents, in general, and farmers, in particular,” said the Deputy Commissioner. By providing the services to the people the Fard Kendras were replicating the vision of the state government in an effective manner, added the Deputy Commissioner. He said in August this year as many as 12,188 computerised copies of the fards had been issued to the applicants through the kendras being run at Amritsar-1, Amritsar-2, Ajnala, Baba Bakala, Majitha, Lopoke, Ramdas, Attari and Tarsikka. “For any complaints regarding Fard Kendras, residents can lodge their complaints at phone number 0183-2226162,” added the Deputy Commissioner.
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Special programmes to make special kids self-reliant
Amritsar, September 22 “Personality development in special children is otherwise gradual, and so it’s quite important to pick and choose where their interest lies,” says Shilpi Ganguly from Ibadat, a school for special children. Running individual training and education programmes at their school, Ibadat is currently associated with four projects, each focusing on the individual personality development of Tehri students. “We have four programmes — two seasonal and two creative. Sahyog, our Diwali special, teaches children to make festive diyas and candles. Another one with a tagline ‘Don’t give us mercy, give us hope’ helps them learn to make natural Holi colours using flowers. Since both the programmes are seasonal and also help them in becoming self-reliant, children, who are good with painting and creativity attend these programmes,” said Shilpi. “Other projects like “Udaan”, which teaches them to sing and dance, helps them overcome social phobias and gain confidance. Confidence building is important as even after being talented, they do not open up quite easily with others,” she says. “We have experts, choreographers and artistes to help them learn the basics. Sometimes each child is
targeted individually to help him/her learn better,” adds Shilpi. A functional checklist and assessment provides basis to where every special child lacks or excels and this forms the basis for the personality development education. Pingalwara Charitable Society too designs creative programmes to help develop the extra-curricular skills of special children. The society also organises seminars and exhibitions to encourage childrens’ talent. Working with support groups, professional filmakers and artistes too come up with innovative ways to bridge the gap between their intellect and their imagination. Sahil Arora, a musician from city, designed a programme “Saaz” for special children, which teaches them classical, fusion and gurmat sangeet. Converting their music lessons into musical productions, the artiste has done several musical shows.
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MCI team inspects medical college
Amritsar, September 22 The college at present is allowed by the MCI to admit around 150 students in the MBBS course. However, the state government had earlier asked for the permission to increase the number of seats to 200. The government had also sent a similar proposal for the Government Medical College, Patiala. Considering the fact that college is short of adequate infrastructure and faculty, the approval from the MCI would not come so handy, stated senior faculty members of the college. On various previous occasions, the MCI had not approved the demand for increase in seats. The MCI had conducted an inspection at the college during the previous season too, but had expressed dissatisfaction so as to increase the number of seats. With the MCI team coming for inspection this year, the medical and dental teachers association have already started building pressure to get the retirement age of faculty members increased to 65 years. The association reasoned that enhancement of retirement age could solve the problem of shortage of faculty for the next few years as would be required for increase in student intake. The MCI team visited various facilities at the college today to assess their condition.
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Art of Living holds sessions for jail inmates
Amritsar, September 22 An 11-day session of ‘dhayan’ and soft recital of ‘mool mantra’ with jail patients was conducted in which yoga teachers helped inmates getting de-stressed. The patients were taught the method of doing ‘pranayam’, its benefits in day to day life and its role in providing inner peace. After receiving good results of the programme, it has been decided that a second workshop will be held from October 11 for patients at the de-addiction rehabilitation centre. As a daily morning practice, a slogan “Saanu kuch nai hoeya ji” is recited loudly by all the participants and even witty jokes are cracked as well. Jail Superintendent RK Sharma said the inmates were motivated to forget the past and stay in the present and be prepared for the future. “A feeling of guilt is very common amongst substance abusers. Apart from that, they harbour a grudge against society or the authorities concerned. We give them special attention. Slowly and gradually, they are made to feel that there is nothing wrong with them and that ‘zindagi hi nasha hai’. By doing such activities, a childhood innocence is ignited in them and they feel encouraged,” he added. On stress management, emotional and psychological treatment, Ahinsa stated that a six to seven day workshop was conducted in normal settings, but for such de-addiction patients, the duration of the programme would be 11 days, including three ‘Sudarshan Kriyas’ instead of two in the normal course. The jail’s medical officer, Dr Amrit Pal Singh, the brainchild behind the move, said Ahinsa, the co-ordinator of de-addiction activities of Art of Living family in border areas of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Pathankot, was assisted by the local chapter to organise session in the jail. Urmil from New Delhi and Sukhdev from Moga were the yoga teachers, who helped the inmates fight their stress and injected positive energy in their minds and hearts. The activities in this programme were modified according to the needs of patients of the de-addiction centre. “During the withdrawal symptoms, it is the body pain, which is a consistent problem faced by patients. That’s why the exercises have been designed in such a manner that it may help recovering from the body aches,” said Dr Amrit Pal. Due to these exercises the demand for medicines like pain killers and sedatives had reduced considerably, he claimed. “Before this programme they used to request for more and more medicines at all times. But after undergoing these sessions, this habit of more and more medication has reduced among majority of the patients. They have vowed to stay away from drugs and adopt a creative and productive lifestyle,” said Dr Amrit Pal.
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Better
amritsar: dangling high-tension wires—Ii Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service
Amritsar, September 22 It would not be an exaggeration to say that the electricians spend more time on identifying which wire supplies power to which electricity meter than rectifying the problem. Failure of the government to prevent setting up of illegal colonies and hastiness of people in raising houses had put the lives of residents at risk. As high tension wires are running over the residential buildings, people are living under constant fear. These loose dangling wires had been fatal and caused accidents. In the walled city areas with its narrow streets, electricity supply wires can be seen running parallel to the windows on the first floor. Overhaul supply
We are living under constant threat as power cables are running close to the rooftops of our houses. Besides, low lying cables are passing parallel to shops and entrance of houses. We never allow family members to open windows on the first floor. Neither do we allow anybody to touch electricity poles, especially, during rainy days. It would be better if things change and this issue is solved. The family members have been strictly told not to go over the rooftop in any circumstances. The overhauling of supply system in these areas would also improve the looks of the city. The mesh of loose open wires hanging on the road must be put into a duct. Deepak Kumar Authorities indifferent
The problem with the owners of houses under the high tension wires is that nobody is ready to buy these houses. The residents have often requested the government to remove the wires but each time it failed to elicit any positive response from the Power Corporation. People residing in these and surrounding areas have made temporary arrangement to place power cables at an elevation so that it may not cause any harm to passersby and closely situated houses. At many places, bamboo poles and plastic pipes have been installed with power cables hoisted over these. Rakesh Kumar Unplanned growth
A number of colonies sprung up on the road after the local airport was made an international airport. In the frenzy to own a dream house on the Airport Road, people and colonisers did not take care to ensure basic civic amenities. Instead of setting up of beautiful and modern colonies, the road ends up in having localities with narrow roads over which power cables are loosely dangling. Kuljeet Singh Underground power cables
The newly developed posh localities like New Amritsar and Ranjit Avenue, too, have hundreds of electricity wires running over the streets. The government and its agencies must infuse dynamism in its functioning to set up underground power cables. A big damage to the city topography by setting up of over 400 illegal localities have been done and now an attempt to streamline these by putting them underground. HS Dawar
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Burning of paddy residue begins, administration needs to wake up
Amritsar, September 22 Farmers who cultivate potato or other vegetables as the third crop after the harvesting of paddy and before the sowing of wheat have already started burning the crop residue. “If we do not burn the residue, we would not be able to take the third crop. The procedure of mixing the residue in soil takes time,” said a farmer. Even as the farmers are opting for burning the residue, its adverse effects on the health of the people besides the environment are well known. The smoke emanating from the burning of the crop residue is troublesome for patients of asthma. The local administration too had been issuing advisories to the farmers in the past but things do not seem to have changed. Residents of the city stated that the government must take strict action against farmers who are breaking the law with impunity. “It would be better if action is taken as soon as stubble burning is reported. It would prove to be a deterrent for others,” said Kultar Singh, a senior citizen. In Amritsar, the district administration had earlier introduced baler machines imported from the US which recycle the paddy residue into fuel generating source and generate animal feed as well. Even as the district administration had made arrangements with the firm to provide this machinery at the subsidised rate of Rs 85,000, there were not many takers as the farmers termed it a costly alternative. Even the ‘crop shredding machines’ available in the market, which can shred the stubble and crop straw into small pieces and spread it back into the fields, had no takers as burning seems to be much easier and a quick way to get rid of stubble for many farmers.
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Sanjha Morcha to hold protest on Sept 29 against Property Bill
Amritsar, September 22 Around 40 farmers and labour unions have come on a common platform under the banner of Kala Kanoon Virodhi Sanjha Morcha. Prominent leaders of these organisations announced they would hold a massive rally to lodge their protest against the said law which would be held at Company Bagh here on September 29. Dr Satnam Singh Ajnala, president, Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, Punjab, said activists of various organisations from the Majha region would attend the rally. He said similar rallies of activists from Doaba and Malwa regions would be held at Jalandhar and Barnala on September 30 and October 1, respectively. Addressing the media, these farmer leaders pointed out that the Bill is unconstitutional and is being enacted to curb the voice of the common man, who is reeling under the “anti-people policies” of the government. He said various unions and organisations are holding protests against these policies and SAD-BJP government was finding it difficult to check them. Datar Singh of the Kirti Kisan Union pointed out that the Bill would affect the farmers and labours the most. He said under the law, leaders of organisations holding protest would also be made responsible for the agitation irrespective of whether that leader is present on the spot or not. Rattan Singh Randhawa, another farmer leader, said the history of Punjab reveals that the land here has proved to be fertile for various revolutions. At present, the people, including farmers, labourers, teachers and the youth, are all fed up with the anti-people policies of the government and are constantly holding protests. He said when there is no such Bill in any other state, then why was the Punjab government bringing this law. Satnam Singh Pannu of Kisan Sangharsh Committee said the agitation would be intensified if the government failed to take necessary action for withdrawing the Bill in near future.
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School for special children sans basic facilities
Amritsar, September 22 It has been reliably learnt that the District Education Officer (Elementary) has dispatched a communiqué regarding the non-cooperation on the part of the secondary school and the denial of rooms allotted to the Director General School Education (DGSE), Chandigarh. Officials in the department said they were forced to take this step after meetings failed to elicit a positive response from the secondary school. It has been mentioned in the letter that the Pehal School was allotted two halls and only one room against its entitlement of eight rooms. In this scenario, teachers of Inclusive Education for the Disabled were holding multiple classes in the halls resulting in lack of concentration and focused teaching for the special students. It also stated that there has been non-cooperation among the staff and the students of the special schools in providing access to potable water and toilets on the campus. This situation defeats the very purpose of opening Pehal school, which commenced in 2013. It was opened with the objective of bringing the special children, who had regained physical control and intelligence, into the mainstream. Eventually, these children would be admitted to the general schools. The Pehal School was opened here as a pilot project by the Education Department and it was to be gradually replicated in the rest of the state. For the holistic development of the neurotically challenged children, general education, vocational training, physical activities and treatment were included in their syllabi. The school has a total strength of 90 day scholars and 60 boarders. The transportation cost of day scholars, uniform, books and mid-day meal was being borne by the government. Stay in residential home and thrice-a-day meal would be provided free of cost. Vocational courses and sports would be the other areas for focus. Students who are mentally, visually and hearing impaired and suffer from cerebral palsy and autism, are admitted to the school. Apart from imparting education, a special school needs to have regular physiotherapy sessions, occupational therapy and speech therapy. Initially, a bridge course, ranging from three-month to a year in duration, depending on their age and mental level, would be provided. DEO (Secondary) Satinderbir Singh said the problem has been brought to his notice. He said he was looking into the matter and it would be resolved at the earliest.
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Voice of Amritsar sends relief material for J&K
Amritsar, September 22 He told the media that the truck carrying relief material will be received in Jammu and Kashmir by workers from his NGO. It will then be distributed directly to the flood affected people where no relief has reached till now. “We also made sure that the material sent is exactly what is required in J&K like mineral water, medicines, including IV fluids, sanitary pads, blankets and shawls, some eatables including rice packs and biscuits along with other articles of daily use,” he said. The Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar, who was the chief guest on the occasion, flagged off the truck after the ardas performed by the gurdwara granthi. “We had organised a five-day camp at the same place to gather the articles and then packed them individually to be ferried to far-flung areas,” said Ankush Wadhwa of the VOA. “The people of Amritsar have been generous in donating, both in cash and kind, and have sent their good wishes to their Kashmiri brethren and prayed to God for granting them an early recovery from this unending agony,” he added.
— TNS
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GNDU zonal youth fest to be held from Sept 23-25
Amritsar, September 22 Dr Anish Dua from the zoology department and the professor in-charge, will be the guest of honour. The festival will start with group shabad/bhajan followed by group song, folk song, geet/ghazal and other events related to fine arts. On September 24, competitions related to costume exhibition, skit, mimicry, elocution, poetic symposium, rangoli and phulkari will be organised. On the last day, i.e. on September 25, competitions in quiz, gidha and debate, followed by a prize distribution function, will be held.
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House burgled
Amritsar, September 22 Ranjit Singh, owner of the house, said they have been renovating their house and the family was sleeping in the courtyard of the house. He said thieves entered in the house by breaking open the window. They opened the almirah with the help of a screw driver and decamped with the cash and jewellery.
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