Saturday, December 25, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Saturday, December 25, 1999 |
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New sales tax slabs from
Jan LUDHIANA, Dec 24 — The government has decided to impose separate rates of sales tax on different categories of items following a consensus between various governments on the implementation of uniform sales tax from January 1, 2000. Bathinda judge granted interim bail CHANDIGARH, Dec 24 — Bathinda Civil Judge M.S. Walia was today granted interim bail by the UT Additional District and Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge for CBI cases, Mr. S.S. Lamba. |
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Cyclist couple on nationwide trip ABOHAR: Mr Ajay Kumar Rastogi, a member of Lions Club, Muzaffarnagar (Bihar), and his wife Maya, completed 29,500 km on cycles when they entered Punjab from the Rajasthan border recently. Tax barriers of
inconvenience Army
plan to clear Harike wetland We
are facing the music, says JEs Markfed
warns rice millers AG’s
order on reversion stayed Absenteeism
hits medicare Memories
of Sufi poet fading Patients
gasp without ventilators ‘Summon’
Baba Kashmira Singh Black
flag march by DIET students Gurpurb
on Jan 5: SGPC Revamp
Cong: Mahant Sewa Dass Pensioners’
pledge to fight corruption Ratti
is state BJP general secy Rs
3 lakh fraud by daily-paid worker ‘All-religion
prayers’ Official
with fake degree dismissed |
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New sales tax slabs from Jan LUDHIANA, Dec 24 — The government has decided to impose separate rates of sales tax on different categories of items following a consensus between various governments on the implementation of uniform sales tax from January 1, 2000. This was announced by the Punjab Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, while talking to mediapersons after inaugurating Punpex-99, a Punjab circle philatelic exhibition being held here from December 24 to 26. He said that while there would be no sales tax on essential items, 4 per cent tax would be implemented on general merchandise, 8 per cent on general goods and 12 per cent on luxury items. Two special categories had also been created — one for gold and silver ornaments with sales tax of 1 per cent and the other of petrol and petroleum products, barring diesel, with sales tax of 20 per cent. He clarified that sales tax of 20 per cent was already being charged on petrol and petroleum products in Punjab. The Finance Minister said that this rationalisation of floor rates of sales tax would be in favour of both the government and traders as it would help remove anomalies. Capt Kanwaljit Singh also informed that it had been decided to withdraw the tax exemption being given to new industries for seven years since their inception. Those already awaiting this benefit could avail of this tax exemption. Developmental works in the state because of a financial crunch, the Finance Minister said that tenders would soon be floated by Punjab Infrastructure Development Board for the execution of six major projects, which would cost Rs 3000 crore to Rs 4000 crore. These projects include the Chandigarh-Ludhiana-Moga road, Chandigarh-Phagwara road, Chandigarh-Patiala road, Dera Bassi overbridge and Rahon bridge over the Sutlej. For an average 8 per cent growth rate each year in the state, Rs 5,000 crore were required. He, however, reiterated that only more fiscal autonomy to the states was a definite and sure way of bringing about stability in the state’s economy. Earlier, while speaking at the function, he lauded the efforts made by the Postal Department in exhibiting the rich and vibrant culture of the state through the stamps displayed in the exhibition. Interestingly, in
alleged violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Act, 1960, the Postal Department had positioned a painted
elephant at the entrance of the venue, supposedly to
welcome the chief guest. The mahout of the elephant,
Banwarilal, said that he had been paid Rs 1,100 for the
job. Col Tilak Raj, Chief Postmaster-general, expressed
ignorance about this matter. |
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Bathinda judge granted interim
bail CHANDIGARH, Dec 24 — Bathinda Civil Judge M.S. Walia was today granted interim bail by the UT Additional District and Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge for CBI cases, Mr. S.S. Lamba. Seeking the grant of bail for a week starting from December 25, counsel for the applicant had earlier stated that the Civil Judge would be able to meet all the relatives at the marriage of his brother-in-law’s daughter. Opposing the plea, counsel for the CBI had claimed that the Civil Judge had ‘‘no valid ground’’ for the grant of bail. In a written reply submitted before the court, counsel had stated that the accused, ‘‘if enlarged’’ might influence the prosecution witnesses. Counsel had added that the accused might even abscond or ‘‘arrange for his admission in some hospital for avoiding judicial custody’’. The Civil Judge, counsel had further added, was not to perform the ‘kanyadan’ of his brother-in-law’s daughter. The Civil Judge, it may be recalled, was booked by the Chandigarh Police under the Prevention of Corruption Act on the complaint of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Registrar. It was alleged that the Civil Judge after opening a fixed deposit account, had ‘‘deposited Rs 50,000 in his own name, Rs 50,000 each in the name of his wife, son and daughters on November 18, 1996’’. It was added that the
judge, along with his family ‘‘had obtained six
banker cheques on account of encashment on six FDRs of Rs
50,000 each totalling Rs 3 lakh plus
interest’’. |
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No grant for varsity Chairs PATIALA, Dec 24 — The Badal government has not released grant for the setting up of a Chair in the name of Sant Harchand Singh Longowal, an Akali leader, in Punjabi University here, besides announcing and then forgetting to set up a Chair in the name of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The institutions of Chairs itself has become a farce. The other Chairs which are vacant at present include the Tamil Chair, the Bhagwan Mahavir Chair and the National Integration Chair besides a deemed chair in the name of Dr Ravinder Ravi, a martyred teacher of the university. Even though the Sant Longowal Chair was never set up, the university has not entirely given up the project. Every year funds needed for it are calculated but a footnote says the Chair would only come into being once 100 per cent grant for the same was released by the government. At present, the annual expenditure on the Chair has been calculated at Rs 3.71 lakh. The institution of the Chair was moved in 1986 and it was proposed that it would have two lecturers as supporting staff and would initially be for a period of five years. In the case of the Tamil Chair the budget calculated for this year is Rs 2.90 lakh, for the Bhagwan Mahavir Chair it is Rs 2.24 lakh and for the National Integration Chair Rs 3.50 lakh, in the case of the Ranjit Singh Chair, the government had proposed making a provision in the present budget but it could not be finalised. The deemed Chair in the name of Dr Ravi is vacant since last month with its incumbent Dr Raghbir Singh rejoining Panjab University after retirement age was increased to 62 years. Among the Chairs that are functioning are the Jawaharlal Nehru Chair of socialist thought, the Balmik Chair and the National Planning and Development Chair. The Balmik Chair is in dire financial straits with its staff also getting salary for August and September this year in October. The Chair head, Dr Manjula Sahdev, told TNS that the state government had given only Rs 10 lakh in 1996 for the Chair while the university had asked for an endowment fund of Rs 35 lakh. She said at present the university was giving salaries for staff members of the Chair. She said the Chair was even not in a position to recruit a junior research fellow after the previous one left around two years ago. The Head of the Economics Department, Dr Suchha Singh Gill, under whose department comes the Planning and Development Chair said even this Chair was facing financial problems despite being funded through interest accruing from an endowment fund given by the Planning Department. He said the Planning Department had been requested to increase the endowment fund by Rs 5 lakh. A university spokesperson said at least Rs 30 lakh were needed for starting a Chair. He said in some cases due to financial problems only deemed Chairs were created. He said there were also instances of one-time endowment being received from other state governments which were not renewed. He said this had happened in the case of the Tamil Chair. Sources said in case of other Chairs, the government had also started giving grants on yearly basis instead of creating a corpus by giving a substantial endowment fund. They said this created ad hocism and also disintegration in case of deemed Chairs with the teachers concerned reverting back to teaching in the parent departments once funds were consumed. University Vice-chancellor Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia when contacted said he would like to have the Longowal Chair and the Ranjit Singh Chair in his university. He, however, said both had only been planned and it had not been decided as to which university they would be instituted in. The Forum for
Educational Action and Research (FEAR) president, Mr
Amarjit Singh Dhillon, said the government should not
make a mockery of the university Chairs by making
announcements about instituting Chairs and not honouring
them. He said the matter should be put before the
Committee of Assurances of the Punjab Assembly to see
whether the commitments were kept or not. Calling upon
the Chancellor to take cognisance of the matter, he urged
the Vice-Chancellor to use his good offices with the
government to get funds released for the Chairs. |
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Cyclist couple on nationwide
trip ABOHAR: Mr Ajay Kumar Rastogi, a member of Lions Club, Muzaffarnagar (Bihar), and his wife Maya, completed 29,500 km on cycles when they entered Punjab from the Rajasthan border recently. The young couple joined the club immediately after their marriage in 1995. Ajay had read in Lions International magazine that young Leos had completed adventurous expeditions in the West. Deriving inspiration from this, Ajay thought of a round-the-world tour on cycle. None else in the 82-year history of the club had taken up such kind of expedition. He wanted Maya to join in this venture. Ajay Rastogi said at a joint meeting of the Lions Clubs here that he submitted an application to the Bihar Sports Department, and had little hope about its approval. He was told after a few days that the application along with the detailed plan had been forwarded to the Union Ministry of Human Resources. To his surprise Mr Murli Manohar Joshi, the minister concerned, not only approved the plan but was also instrumental in arranging visas for Bhutan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Hong Kong, Vietnam and some countries in North America. The problem was that hardly a fortnight was left for starting the expedition but his wife, Maya, did not know cycling. She was trained and the couple was given a send-off by the home club at Muzaffarnagar on April 10, 1998. As Ajay was youngest among the seven brothers and had lost his father and mother when he was a student, there was stiff resistance from the family. The couple had been married for just three years and it was risky to go on cycle to unknown places with wife. Maya Rastogi confessed it was definitely not her choice. She preferred to look after domestic affairs but it was equally intolerable to spend eight years without Ajay at home as the expedition was scheduled to be completed by 2006. She thus agreed to join the expedition. She liked to do peddling in track suit with a white cap bearing Lions International emblem on her head. The Rastogi couple had so far travelled through Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan. They entered Rajasthan from Abu Road and Punjab from Abohar. They had a homely atmosphere at both places, Maya said. They had to do non-stop cycling for 147 km as there was no Lions Club on the way. They addressed students in schools and colleges also besides meeting over 85,000 members in 3600 Lions Clubs. Speaking about the membership growth programme, they put emphasis on quality membership. There were 14,420 members in 185 countries making Lions International the largest voluntary organisation. Youth should be inspired to come to its fold so that spirit of service could be developed at the teenage stage. More activities should be centred to serve the down-trodden than making entertainment. Ajay wanted those doing farming or growing fruits to grow “sheesham trees”. Each one-teach one was a good slogan but each Lion must participate in tree plantation. Plantation should be preferably done at parks and at road sides frequented by pedestrians. Funds should be raised to provide tree guards for the safety of the plants. Those who take morning walks regularly must be motivated to irrigate these plants. As regards blood donation, the Rastogi couple suggested that Lions Club should organise blood grouping camp in each locality. A directory of the residents should be published. If anybody needed blood that should be preferably arranged from the locality to which the needy belonged. The expeditionists said in areas facing scarcity of water they had requested Lions Club to take up check dam projects so that people could get clean drinking water and use stored water for minor irrigation. The help of the state governments could be sought in the campaign. Grants were also available from Lions International for this purpose. They requested villagers to stop uprooting trees and do trimming only if so required. They were pained to see that no tree was visible in certain areas of Rajasthan for miles. Maya Rastogi inspired
women to stop throwing calendars which carried religious
pictures and refrain from purchasing packets of
aggarbatti and dhoop having pictures of deities because
its packets when empty were thrown in the streets or dust
bin which was an insult to them. She is in favour of
making organisational elections less expensive. |
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Tax barriers of
inconvenience DOOMBALI BARRIER (Bathinda), Dec 24 — Due to inadequate staff posted at the sales tax barriers set up by the Punjab Government, truck drivers have to wait for days together to get their documents checked. Though the three computers installed at this barriers are working round the clock they have failed to cater to the rush of vehicles transporting goods from other states to Punjab. Official sources said to reduce congestion at the barriers, Sales Tax department authorities had introduced the non-computer registers for making entries of documents so that checking of documents could be carried out in minimum time. Darshan Singh, a truck driver, who had brought the goods from Gujarat said “I am standing here for the past 36 hours to get my sales bills checked. The computers installed here are not working properly and giving trouble to the staff members causing delay in the checking and entries of documents in the record.” Lal Chand, another driver, said the long queue of trucks was due to the inadequate number of computers at the barrier. More computers were required to meet the rush. Mr. J.S. Parmar, Joint Director, Enforcement, Sales Tax department, Ferozepore, when contacted said one more computer was being installed. However, one of the
transporters said they had to pay extra money to truck
owners for unwanted detention at the barriers. |
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Army plan to clear Harike
wetland FEROZEPORE, Dec 24 — To bring Karike wetland, which is facing a threat from hyacinth, on a par with international bird sanctuaries, the Army authorities here have agreed to provide assistance to the state Wildlife and Forest Departments. At a meeting attended by senior defence and civil authorities here yesterday, the Golden Arrow division of the Army agreed to provide all technical assistance for the job. The aim is to expand the wetland area that is shrinking on account of hyacinth and massive siltation over the years. The proposed peace-time project of the Army may take eight months to clear the lake of hyacinth, spread over an area of four to five sq km, the project is expected to start early next year. The date for the commencement of the project is yet to be announced and a detailed action plan and the modalities discussed at the meeting are yet to be finalised. The Army authorities are expected to provide technical help, including fencing of the wetland and boats for clearing the lake. “The idea is to boost eco-tourism in Punjab”, a senior defence officer said. Besides Army infrastructure, civil labourers will be involved in the operation, that was earlier delayed on account of arrival of migratory birds. Since the wildlife authorities were not in favour of disturbing the bird movement, the proposed project was somewhat delayed. Briefing TNS about the meeting here this morning, the Divisional Forest Officer, Mr Dharminder Sharma, said the forest authorities had also decided to plant saplings around the wetland to attract more species of migratory birds. So far, about 35,000 saplings have been planted in the area in the past two years, he said. To increase the population of otters and crocodiles in the wetland, a wildlife blueprint is in the offing to improve the habitat in the lake, Mr Sharma added. Detailing the Army
proposal to clear the lake of hyacinth, Mr Sharma said a
team of 500 persons would be required for the job that
will take eight to 12 months to complete. |
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We are facing the music,
says JEs CHANDIGARH, Dec 24 — Two Junior Engineers — Mr Balraj Singh and Mr A.P. Punj — who had dared to expose a ‘‘scandal’’ in the Drainage department, alleged today that they were being made to ‘‘face the music’’ by powers that be for taking such an initiative. A month ago both engineers had submitted a detailed affidavit, mentioning the details of the ‘‘scandal’’ in Nawanshahr subdivision of the Drainage department to the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, in his office here. Mr Badal taking a prompt action had ordered an enquiry by the DIG of Jalandhar Range and also directed the officers concerned to cancel the transfer orders of Mr Balraj Singh. Mr Balraj Singh, who today met the CM’s Principal Secretary, Mr Ramesh Inder Singh, submitted another representation to him, drawing his attention that what was happening with both Junior Engineers for ‘‘exposing the scandal’’. Mr Balraj Singh said neither his transfer order had been cancelled so far though a month had elapsed when the Chief Minister had ordered the cancellation, nor had he got salary for the last month (November) so far. Why his salary had been withheld, he said he did not know. His salary for October was paid on November 18, nearly three weeks late. Mr Balraj Singh said Mr Punj had been put on duty at Nangal from Nawanshahr and he was also being ‘‘harassed’’. Both Junior Engineers had requested the Chief Minister to transfer the certain senior officers from the Nawanshahr drainage circle until the enquiry was completed, but no one had been transferred. Mr Balraj Singh alleged that certain witnesses had been intimidated by some senior officers and made to change their statements. If the enquiry continued to be held in such a manner nothing would come out of it and their entire effort would go waste, Mr Balraj Singh said. Seeking the cancellation of the transfer orders — Mr Balraj Singh and Mr Punj — in the representation submitted to the Chief Minister have stated that the evidence from the work sites should be collected in their presence as many technical matters were involved in the scandal. Mr Balraj Singh and Mr
Punj have also requested the Chief Minister to assure
some of the key witnesses that their job would be
protected and they should not fear none while deposing
before the enquiry officer. |
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Markfed warns rice millers CHANDIGARH, Dec 24 — The Markfed authorities have directed the defaulter rice millers to account for the old stock of paddy or face action. Interacting with a group of mediapersons, the Managing Director of Markfed said here today that the old stock worth Rs 10.52 crore of paddy was pending with rice millers. Millers had been told to clear up all the old stock up to December 31. Already 30,065 tonne of rice prepared from paddy had been recovered from the defaulter millers and the remaining 37,065 tonnes was expected anytime, he added. Mr Bains said he had also told the millers that no new stock of paddy would be given for milling till they cleared the old stock. Markfed, which is supposed to contribute 10.98 lakh tonnes of rice to the Central pool has already delivered 1.35 lakh tonnes to the Central Pool. Markfed is ahead of all government procurement agencies except the FCI as far as milling of paddy is concerned. Mr Bains claimed that Markfed had fixed a target to get all paddy milled by March 31, 2000. The Central government has agreed to pay Rs 120 crore against paddy which was sold at a low price than the minimum support price in 1994-95 as paddy was damaged in heavy rain during the harvesting season. However, the Punjab Government wanted that Rs 273 crore, including interest, was pending against the Central government in this connection and it should return the full amount. Mr Bains said out of the Rs 273 crore, Markfed's share was of Rs 83 crore. If the Central government returned the full amount, then Markfed would be in a position to account for the interest it had paid to the RBI on the money which it had got for procuring paddy in 1994-95. Markfed has urged the Punjab Government to insist on recovering the amount from the Centre with interest. The Centre has increased the quota of food specials from 250 to 750 a month. Mr Bains said due to slow movement of foodgrain from Punjab to other states, Markfed would have to bear an interest burden of Rs 250 crore. For reducing the burden, the Markfed authorities had requested the Punjab Chief Minister to continue to press the Centre for enhancing the number of food specials to gear up the movement of wheat and rice. Giving details Mr Bains said in December it expected to move 1.40 lakh tonnes of wheat. Markfed has 24 lakh tonnes of wheat and it hoped to move at least 12 lakh tonnes by March-end to make a profit of Rs 24 crore. Mr Bains said Markfed, which earned a record profit of Rs 72 crore some years ago, had been facing some problem in recent years, resulting in profit come down by a few lakhs. The Markfed MD added
that he was streamlining the working to avoid unnecessary
losses. |
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AG’s order on
reversion stayed CHANDIGARH, Dec 24 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed the operation of the Punjab Advocate-General’s order dated December 22 reverting Mr Devinder Kumar from the post of Senior Assistant to Junior scale Stenographer. Mr Justice R.S. Mongia and Mr Justice J.S. Narang, who handed down this order, issued notice to the respondents for January 31, 2000. In his petition, Mr Devinder Kumar stated that the Punjab Government had framed rules on April 11, 1984, that only those employees who would qualify the written test would be promoted to the post of Senior Assistants. On January 21, 1991, the government issued another notification saying that all those employees who had put in 18 years or more of service would be exempted from the written test for promotion to the post of Senior Assistant. Some of the employees who had qualified the written test had approached the high court praying that the notification dated January 21, 1991, be quashed. While one Bench upheld the notification, another Bench quashed the notification. Due to conflicting judgements issued by two separate Benches, the matter was referred to a larger Bench. The larger Bench upheld the notification. Some of the employees who had cleared the written test went in appeal to the Supreme Court against the judgement of the larger Bench of the high court. The apex court had stayed the operation of the high court judgement. The Supreme Court later ruled: "All vacancies on the post of Senior Assistant prior to January 21, 1991, are to be filled by those who qualified by passing the examination and those who have exempted would have no claim on such vacancies." The Supreme Court also laid down that." All vacancies after January 21, 1991, shall be filled in the ratio of 70 per cent and 30 per cent between these exempted and qualifiers in the examination, respectively, for each year in question till all the existing qualifiers are absorbed." Mr Devinder Kumar stated that there were seven vacancies of Senior Assistants in the office of the Punjab Advocate-General. All these vacancies were filled only by promoting those exempted. The petitioner stated
that this action of the Advocate-General was illegal and
was liable to be quashed. |
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Absenteeism hits medicare PATIALA, Dec 24 — Medical care in Government Rajindra Hospital here has been seriously hit as at least 70 nurses are absent from duty. Almost half of these nurses have gone abroad. While making a fast buck in foreign lands, they continue to retain their government jobs (sans salary) here in case of a rainy day. They come to work here once in a blue moon to avoid being punished for absenteeism. Comfort of these nurses means pain for others. While patients are obviously the prime sufferers, serving nurses also have to pay a price. Many have to put in more hours than required. Others, mainly senior sisters, have to look after two wards (about 30 patients). This is in violation of the norms set by the Indian Nursing Council which advocates one nurse for every five patients. Investigations reveal there are 317 sanctioned posts with those on 240 present. Out of the present ones, 60 remain off for a shift. Out of the number left, many avail of temporary leave. So at any given time, there are less than 150 nurses available. The bed strength of the hospital is 750 while the number of patients fluctuates between 700 and 1200. Further, several units have been opened in the hospital but without sanctioned posts of nurses. Duty in these units have put a further stress on the serving nurses. Due to shortage of nurses, nursing school students are put on duty. The not-so-trained students are required to work under the supervision of a senior nurse and at times without one. Mrs Jeewan Preet Kaur, president, Punjab Nursing Association, says the nurses have highlighted the problem several times but the authorities have failed to act. On the incidence of nurses gone abroad, she says trained nurses are in demand in foreign countries. They are paid around 30 dollars per hour, for night duty 45 dollars per hour and for duty in intensive care, 60 dollars per hour. Agreeing that the state government cannot pay likewise, she says the government can at least expedite the termination process so that the posts can be filled. She says it is an irony while so many trained nurses are unemployed, the government in spite of promising jobs for all, is not taking action against the “absentee” nurses and recruiting new ones. Mrs Jeewan Preet Kaur says while half of the absentee nurses are well-settled abroad, other are in the process of doing so. The termination of a
nurse like any government servant is a lengthy process,
says Mrs Raj Malhotra, Nursing Superintendent, Rajindra
Hospital. It requires one to be absent from duty for 10
years. Only then the paper work is initiated. |
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Memories of Sufi poet fading AMRITSAR, Dec 24 — Memories of famous Punjabi poet and founder of Gurmukhi Punjabi type Dhani Ram Chatrik are fading away due to the indifferent behaviour of not only the state government but also of the family members who have made no efforts to set up any monument in his memory or to preserve his belongings. Dhani Ram Chatrik, a contemporary of great Punjabi poet Bhai Vir Singh, was the last Punjabi Sufi poet. He is considered to be the most ignored Punjabi poet. Till date no effort has been made to set up any monument in his name or preserve his writings. His house which was the only rememberance of the great poet left, has not been preserved in the old shape but has changed to a great extent. Interestingly where once meetings of great poets like Amrita Pritam, Gurbax Singh Preetladi, Chatrik used to be held and great poems or books written now there stands a hospital, factory and a marriage palace. Very few people know that the great poet belonged to the Putligarh area of the holy city. Even the residents of Amritsar are not aware of fact and neither many people of his own locality know. One can hardly locate his house which is now surrounded by so many buildings like hospital and a marriage palace which actually was a garden where these poets used to sit. A white name plate of Chatrik is the only proof that he stayed here. The house which once was a hub of great poets and writers now is at peace, Dhani Ram Chatrik, who was born on October 4, 1875, at Lepoke, was a proof reader in the press of Bhai Vir Singh. Later, he took up writing, he was considered to be a born poet and was famous by the name Pitaji. None of his four children knew Punjabi and took up writing. Lalita, daughter-in-law of Chatrik said he was deeply hurt by the fact that no one in his family knew Punjabi and neither any of his children took up writing. He used to say that no one in his family would read his books. She said since the family got scattered as they were into business no one was able to do much to keep his name alive or asked the government to make any monument in his name. She said there was a big library in the house but after his death on December 18, 1954, they gave the books to Punjabi University as they were unable to take care of the books. Later the university published them. She said the family felt bad now since it made no effort to preserve his belongings to keep his name alive. Some time ago a school in his name was started in the house which continued for two years but it was later closed. Prem Kumar, his son, said he felt bad as he could not do much to keep his father’s name alive. Interestingly earlier the place was known as Chatrik Nagar. Later about 10 years ago it was changed to Putligarh. Recently on his death
anniversary on December 18, no function was organised to
remember him. The government and other literary
institutions have forgotten this great Sufi poet of
Punjab. |
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Patients gasp without ventilators PATIALA, Dec 24 — Resource crunch has hit Government Rajindra Hospital so hard that it has no money to repair ventilators, the life line of the intensive care unit. This belies promise made by the state government in May while hiking the hospitalisation and medical care charges. The government had said that most of the revenue earned from the hike would be used for upgrading facilities in the hospitals. The particular case of the four ventilators point to the opposite. Though more than two months have passed since they stopped working, yet no repair has been carried out. Enquiries revealed that there was no money for their repair. In the past too, due to financial crunch, proper servicing of the machinery could not be carried out. It was learnt that no company was willing to take up the repair work as the payments in the past had either been delayed or not made at all. Sources pointed out that due to the non working of ventilators, patients were being referred to DMC at Ludhiana or the PGI at Chandigarh. Enquiries from private hospitals in the city also revealed that there was a sudden increase in the number of patients requiring artificial respiration. Clinic owners said the ventilators they had were much smaller. Officiating Medical
Superintendent Dr Vijay Sharma, who is also the Head,
Anaesthesia Department, at first denied that the
ventilators were out of order. Later, however, when given
proof he said only two were out of order. He said order
had been placed for the repair of the ventilators but it
would take about 15 days to get them into working
condition. Dr Sharma declined to comment on the delay in
placing the order. |
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‘Summon’ Baba Kashmira
Singh AMRITSAR, Dec 24 — The bitterness over the issue of “Nanakshahi” calendar between the SGPC and a section of the pro-Badal Sant Samaj escalated today 24 SGPC members, including members of the executive, two Punjab ministers, MLAs and heads of Sikh organisations, today urged the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Puran Singh, to summon the chief of the “so-called” Sant Samaj, Baba Kashmira Singh, at Akal Takht for showing disrespect to Akal Takht and hurting Sikh sentiments at a meeting of representatives of Sikh organisations at Akal Takht yesterday on the calendar issue. The leaders including Punjab ministers Sewa Singh Sekhwan and Sucha Singh Langah, and Mr Manjit Singh Bhome, President All-India Sikh Students Federation, in a statement described the “rowdyism” indulged in by the “so-called” Sant and his supporters as “unfortunate” and said they had lowered the prestige of the supreme Sikh authority. The leaders asked Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to “contain these sants” as they had been indulging in anti-Panthic acts. Those who signed the
statement were Senior Vice-President of the SGPC, Mr
Kewal Singh Badal, General Secretary Hardalbir Singh
Shah, Mr Pritam Singh Bhatia, Mr Bhagwant Singh, Mr
Raghujit Singh, Mr Gurpal Singh, Mr Joga Singh, Mr
Joginder Singh, all members of the executive and Mr
Jarnail Singh, Director, Punjab Mandikaran Board. |
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Black flag march by DIET
students ROPAR, Dec 24 — Students of the local District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) and ETT today held a black flag march in the town against the registration of cases and arrest of 79 students by the local police on December 18 after a lathi charge. The protesters held a dharna in front of the residence of Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, for about 30 minutes. Mr Mittal was not in town today. Besides withdrawal of cases and unconditional release of the arrested, the students demanded scrapping of the ‘Sikhi karmi’ scheme in the state and filling of vacant posts of ETT teachers in government primary schools. Girls outnumbered boys at today’s protest. A large number of policemen carrying lathis followed the protesters they were led by the SHO of the local city police station. The students handed over a memorandum to the local Tehsildar to be submitted to the Governor. The Tehsildar said he would submit it to the Deputy Commissioner who would forward to the same to the Governor. The students earlier staged a dharna in front of the DIET building here and held a rally there. The rally was addressed, among others, by Mr Avineet Chadha, state general secretary of the unemployed ETT Teachers Union, Mr Raman Mittal, president of the Old Students Club of DIET, Ropar, Mr Dildar Singh Kherri Salabatpur, Mr Vijendra Pandit and Mr Karam Singh. The speakers demanded
unconditional release of the arrested students and
condemned the police action on December 18. Gurpurb on Jan 5: SGPC AMRITSAR, Dec 24 — The SGPC had decided to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh on January 5. In a press note today, the SGPC said a decision to this effect was taken at the executive meeting yesterday. The Sikh calendar issued
by the SGPC earlier showed January 14 as gurpurb. |
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Revamp Cong: Mahant Sewa Dass BATHINDA, Dec 24 — Mahant Sewa Dass, President, Shaheed Pherumen Akali Dal, has urged the AIDC President, Ms Sonia Gandhi to review the composition of the Punjab Congress. Talking to TNS here on Wednesday, he pointed out that the state unit of the Congress was under the control of those who had deserted the party when terrorism was at its peak in the state. He said had these persons not deserted the party at that time, Operation Bluestar could have been averted. Mahant Sewa Dass, who
was a key witness in the Jain Commission probing the
killing of the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi said that
though the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal was
secular in outlook yet he did not show much interest in
raising voice against militancy in Punjab. |
||
Pensioners’ pledge to fight
corruption LUDHIANA, Dec 24 — Various pensioners’ associations yesterday pledged to fight corruption and make sustained efforts to promote national integration at a function organised by the Atma Raksha Sangh, an organisation of the Vishva Kalyan Parishad. The pensioners, owing allegiance to various organisations like the Railway Pensioners Association and the Punjab State Pensioners Confederation, held discussions on adequate representation being given to pensioners for better governance. Gen P.N. Hoon, chief
national coordinator of the sangh, and Swami Madhawanand
Saraswati, founder of the Vishva Kalyan Parishad, said
political leaders of the present day lacked moral
character and the need of the hour was to have dedicated
ex-servicemen as watchdogs. |
||
Ratti is state BJP general
secy PHILLAUR, Dec 24 — The Punjab BJP chief, Mr Daya Singh Sodhi, has appointed Kapurthala district BJP chief Narotam Dev Ratti as state general secretary with immediate effect. This was disclosed by Mr
Sodhi while talking to newsmen here yesterday. The post
had been lying vacant following the death of Jugal
Mahajan. |
||
Rs 3 lakh fraud by
daily-paid worker LUDHIANA, Dec 24 — A fraud of Rs 3,38,275 has come to light with the arrest of a clerk of the Public Health Department here today. According to Mr Utpal Joshi, Superintendent of Police (Detective), the accused, Sohan Singh, who was employed as a daily-paid worker since 1995, was required to collect water charges from people in villages at the rate of Rs 20 per month. He however, collected the charges at a much higher rate, thus amassing Rs 1,14055. He would however, make an entry of Rs 20 only on the copy of the receipt book to be submitted to the department. Sohan Singh also
collected Rs 2,24,220 from people promising them water
connections. |
||
‘All-religion prayers’ JALANDHAR, Dec 24 — Aimed at the welfare of the humanity and world peace an “all-religion prayer” was organised by Punjab National Bank at its Goraya branch today. Religious heads of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians participated. Speaking on the
occasion, Chief Manager of the branch P.S. Bedi said the
branch had been given the ISO 9002 certificate by ABS, an
American company, for providing quality customer service
and maintaining international banking standards. |
||
Official with fake degree
dismissed TARN TARAN, Dec 24 — The Director, Social Security and Women and Child Development Department, Punjab, has terminated the services of Ms Daljit Kaur, Supervisor, office of the Child Development Project Officer (CDPO), Naushehra Pannuan, with immediate effect. The department had received a complaint against Ms Daljit Kaur, who had submitted a fake B.A. certificate to get the job. The matter was
investigated by the Vigilance Department which confirmed
the fraud. A show-cause notice was served on Ms Daljit
Kaur on September 21, 1999. The CDPO, Naushahra Pannuan,
said here today that Ms Daljit Kaur had been relieved
from her services. |
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