R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
TEACHERS’ PROTEST: Teachers of 90 private colleges affiliated to Guru Nanak Dev University would boycott classes and burn copies of the modified pension scheme on Friday, Mr V.K. Sharma, secretary, PCCTU, stated in a press note. He said the scheme was against the Pension and Gratuity Act passed by state government in April, 1999. He condemned the government for downsizing grant-in-aid to private colleges.

BARNALA
DECORATED: Dr Ketan Desai, President, Indian Medical Association (IMA), decorated Dr R.C. Garg, Punjab IMA chief, for community services at the 77th all-India medical conference at Thiruvanathapuram, Dr Garg said here on Thursday. He said Dr Surinder Singla, Punjab IMA Secretary, was decorated with the RK Menda Award and Dr Gursharan Avasthi of the DMC, Ludhiana, with the Ranbaxy Oration award.

BATALA
ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local Lions Club (Smile): president — Mr Sat Pal Sehdev; vice presidents — Mr R.S. Hanspal and Dr H.S. Sandhu; secretary — Mr Charanjit Singh; and treasurer — Mr Subash Mahajan.

DERA BASSI
HONOURED: Members of the Dera Bassi Property Dealers Association honoured Mr Krishan Pal Sharma, a social worker for his contribution towards the society for past 25 years at a function here on Wednesday. In addition to the members of the association, various political leaders and members of various social organisations also attended the function. Mr Suresh Chand Gupta, president of the association, honoured Mr Sharma with a shawl, memento and Rs 11,000 in cash.

GURDASPUR
WARNING: Mr K.A.P. Sinha, Deputy Commissioner, on Wednesday warned against the use of the red light on vehicles by unauthorised persons. He directed the District Transport Officer to look into the matter.

HOSHIARPUR
ARRESTED: The Mahilpur police has arrested Chander Mohan, alias Sangha, a travel agent of Khera village under Sections 420 and 406 of the IPC for duping Ranjit Singh of Dhada Khurd of Rs 12.5 lakh by promising to send him to Canada. He had neither sent Ranjit Singh to Canada nor returned his money.

SENTENCED: Mr A.S. Narula, Additional District and Sessions Judge, Hoshiarpur, has sentenced Jagjit Singh, Dharamjit and Balkar Singh of Khurla Khurd village to 10 years’ imprisonment for raping a 15-year-old girl of the same village on January 30, 2001. A fine of Rs 2000 each was imposed on them.

LUDHIANA
JOR MELA: The sixth annual Jor Mela was held at Guru Hari Rai Nagar with fervour and enthusiasm on Wednesday under the supervision of Sai Ramte Shah Jogi. The mela was inaugurated by Mr K.K. Bawa, president, DCC.

FOUNDING DAY: A function was held at Terapanth Bhavan in Bagh wali Gali on Wednesday in connection with the celebration of the 243rd founding day of the Tera Panth Dharam Sangh. Muni Vinay Kumarji Alok paid tributes to Acharya Bhikshu who lived a life of a meditating mendicant and inspired millions towards meditation.

SEMINAR: The Professional Management Consultants will organise a seminar on Immigration to Canada and New Zealand on Sunday at Hotel Marriot. Mr William Mackintosh, an attorney from Canada, and Ms Anuradha Sharma, ex-visa officer, New Zealand High Commission, will deliver talks on job prospects and enhancement of required skills.

AWARD: Dr Dinesh Badyal, lecturer of pharmacology, CMC, presented his research work at the 14th World Congress of Pharmacology in San Francisco, USA. Dr Badyal was invited by the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. His paper on antiepileptic drugs was highly appreciated by participants. As many as 3000 participants from 63 countries attended the conference.

DHARNA: To protest against the cut in various allowances by the state government, the Punjab Subordinate Services Federation will hold a dharna outside the Mini Secretariat on Wednesday. According to Mr Vijay Kumar Joshi, general secretary of the federation, the dharna would be supported by employees of the Punjab Roadways Transport Corporation, the Punjab Roadways, the Punjab State Electricity Board, the Punjab Urban Development Authority, the Tourism Department and the Public Health Department. He said that Dr Subhash Sharma, president, and Mr Piara Singh Dhillon, general secretary of the Indian National Trade Union Congress, would express their views and plan of action.

INAUGURATED: The Indian Overseas Bank inaugurated its 45th branch in the state at Christian Medical College and Hospital on Thursday. The branch was inaugurated by Dr T.M. Jaison, Acting Director of the CMC. Dr Basant Pawar, Deputy Director of the CMC, Mr S. Raghunandana, Additional General Manager of the bank and the faculty and staff of the CMC attended the function.

WATER TABLE: Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang, Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development, Punjab, has warned the people of the state against misusing underground water. He said the water table-level had been receding at an alarming rate. Mr Kang said this after inaugurating a rural water supply scheme under the Prime Minister’s Gramin Yojna at Bhagowal village, near Kurali, on Wednesday.

HARYANA

AMBALA
CONCERN EXPRESSED: Members of the Citizens Council have expressed concern over traffic congestion on Jagadhari road, especially from Capital Chowk to Industrial Area. The council has demanded the deployment of traffic personnel to coordinate the traffic. They have also demanded the widening of the road.

APPOINTED: Mr Lalit has been appointed president of the Shahbad block of the National Students Union of India.

CAMP HELD: The district police on Thursday organised a camp against the abuse of drugs at Mohra village. The camp was held as per the directions of the Superintendent of Police, Mr Manoj Yadava. Among others, DSP, Raj Gopal, Inspector Welfare and SI Brij Mohan were present at the camp. Dr K.S. Rana explained the ill-effects of drugs to the youth present at the camp.

DECREASE IN GRANT: The Haryana College Teachers Union (HCTU) on Wednesday expressed concern over the decrease in grant to government-aided colleges. Mr Naveen Gulati, secretary, Kurukshetra University zone of the HCTU, said the policy of the Haryana Government to reduce the grant to government-aided colleges by 20 per cent would adversely affect the colleges. The HCTU stated that 70 per cent of the students in the state were studying in these colleges and requested the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to provide relief to the colleges. It was pointed out that the vacant posts of teacher in private colleges should immediately be filled. 

PROGRAMME: A programme was organised by the NSS and NCC units at MDSD Girls College under “Operation Social Security”, here on Wednesday. The college Principal, Dr Kiran Angra, said the objective of the operation was to make women aware of their rights. Head Constable Subhash Chander gave students useful information about traffic rules and rights of women. Dr Angra, while appreciating the effort of the state police, stressed the rights of women and importance of character building. 

HIMACHAL PRADESH

HAMIRPUR
PROTEST DHARNA: Private vehicle operators of the district have decided to observe a day-long dharna on Monday in protest against the failure of the state government to accept their demands which include reduction in various types of road taxes and sanctioning of more days off. The information was given here on Thursday by Mr Naresh Kumar Darji, president of the district Private Bus and Taxi Operators Sangh.

KANGRA
MANHANDLED: A patwari of Nethi Patwar Circle in Rait Block in this subdivision was allegedly manhandled and his office ransacked by Up Pradhan of the Rait panchayat, the police said on Wednesday.

NURPUR
CRITICISED: The Himachal Pradesh Government Teachers Union, Kangra district, has flayed the appointment of teachers on an ad hoc, contract and temporary basis in government schools in the state. Mr Onkar Rana, district president of the union, in a statement here on Thursday, said this practice had affected the standard of teaching.