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Providential escape for
3-year-old boy Ludhiana, December 13 The boy was all covered with slush when he was pulled out. He even lost consciousness and was rushed to a local doctor but later regained consciousness. After the incident, angry residents of the area staged a demonstration against the municipal corporation for about an hour and raised slogans. They said the manhole was not covered despite repeated complaints and requests by them. They added that they had complained to the area councillor also but to no avail, they added. Mother of the victim, who was in a state of shock after the incident, said she would have lost her son today had the people not helped her. “He was stinking like anything when he was pulled out. I am worried for him now as he must have ingested some dirty water during the accident and it can cause him any disease.” Narrating the sequence of events, Ms Sangeeta said Tinshu was in a playful mood and as there was not much traffic on the road my attention got diverted. After walking some steps, I heard his cries. He was nowhere to be seen but his hand was seen outside the manhole. I cried for help and people came running on the spot and helped him. The incident sends a shudder down my spine even now. Had he gone out to play alone and fallen I would have lost him today. Mr Rajiv Katna, councillor of area, said he had taken up the matter of uncovered manholes with the authorities a number of times but to no avail. He would take up the matter at the next House meeting also, he added.
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City businessman held in
fraud case Ludhiana, December 13 According to officials of the Delhi police, the accused business man had stolen a draft of Rs 1.38 crore sent by an NRI in the name of Jai Mal Dyeing & Finishing Mills and had opened a bogus bank account in the name of the drawee here in the city, from which an amount of Rs 1 crore was withdrawn. The accused had reportedly issued a number of cheques in favour of some local yarn traders. It was on the basis of information relating to these cheques that the yarn dealer, Mr Gandhi, was summoned to Delhi for questioning and subsequently arrested. Preliminary investigation conducted by the sleuths of Delhi police had led to startling disclosures about a number of loans obtained by the prime accused from different banks and financial institutions. In some of these instances, he had allegedly submitted fabricated documents of his existing and non-existing properties. It was also reported that during the last few years, the accused had been frequently shifting his place of residence in localities like Rupa Mistry Street, Gaushala Road, New
Madhopuri, Green Field and Samrala Chowk.
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Stamp vendors back at
mini-secretariat Ludhiana, December 13 The vacation of these vendors had evoked protests when they were forcibly removed from the mini-secretariat complex here. The vendors said they were suffering on account of the inaction of the administration, who had not provided them space in the new courts’ complex. Mr Ravinder Pal Singh Babbal, union leader, said they would meet the Deputy Commissioner on Monday. Another union leader, Gurinder Pal Singh Pappu said they were moving from pillar to post to get a place for themselves. He claimed that they had gone to the Punjab State Human Rights Commission also, which had directed the DC to find a solution. ‘‘Till now nothing has happened. We had been requesting the authorities again and again but to no avail. The shifting of district courts has meant loss of employment for us,’’ he added. Mr Karnail Singh, a deed writer, said he along with other vendors were depending on the courts to earn their livelihood. ‘‘I came here about 25 years ago. At that time we were allotted a place each. But this new building has created problems for everybody as the allotment has not been done sensibly,” he said. ‘‘What shall we do to sustain our families now? This is not our fault that they had shifted the courts. Why are we being made to suffer? If our demands are not met with immediately we would be forced to come out on the streets,” said a stamp vendor. |
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30 schools opened for slum kids Ludhiana, December 13 Under the Elementary Guarantee Scheme (EGS) of the department, children who are in the age group from six to 14, and have never been to school or are dropouts, will be given admission. The ‘schools’ will be started in any room available in a house, dharamshala or a religious place within the colony by a ‘teacher’ residing in the same colony who at least has passed Class XII. The scheme aims to first convince the parents to send their children to the school and then assuring that they come regularly. Once the children start picking up their lessons fast and pass in examination of their respective class conducted by the department, they would be then given admission in any nearby government school. The classes in the schools will be held in the evening so that all those children, who are working in the morning to support their families, do not have any reason for not joining the school. During the preliminary survey conducted by the department, it was found that many children were working as rag pickers or helpers in dhabas and small factories. Some of them were even assisting their parents by working in their tea stalls or ironing clothes. The department aims to bring all the illiterate children in the scheme for which the funds would be provided by the Sarv Sikhya Abhiyan. The training of teachers selected for the purpose is also being held at Government Inservice Training Centre so that they are able to achieve the target effectively. Such schools have come up in all blocks of the district. In Ludhiana block,
the schools have been set up in Barewal Awana, Maha Singh Nagar, Guru Gobind Singh Nagar and on the Daba road. In Mangat block, schools have been established in Haquiqat Nagar and Joshi Nagar. Besides, other schools
have come up in Bhattian, Dr Ambdekar Colony, Dhilwan, Rurka, Chhapar, Sherpur Colony, Malsihan, Bajan, Humbran, Salempur, Kaunke Khurd and
Shanti Nagar. Mr Surinder Pal, in charge of the scheme, said in some colonies the parents were happy with the scheme. Elsewhere, they were very reluctant and had to be convinced a lot. He said the volunteers had been selected as teachers in almost all colonies by the Block Primary Education Officers (BPEOs). He said most of
The in charge said most of the schools had 25 to 30 children. But there were also a few colonies like Dr Ambedkar Nagar where over 150 children had been admitted. In such schools, he said that four teachers had been appointed for the purpose. Ms Sunita, a volunteer working in Shimlapuri, said she was satisfied as she felt that she was doing some social service by educating kids of her area. She said she had arranged for the syllabi books of most of the subjects for all classes from the passout children in the adjacent area. To make for the rest, she said that she had bought some old books from the market. She, however, added that the government must take initiative to arrange for the books and stationery for all children. |
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Boy missing Ludhiana, December 13 Ram Dular looked for him in his relatives’ and friends’ houses but was found nowhere. According to him, Sachin had failed in the matriculation examination and was not keeping good mental health since then. They had shown him to a psychiatrist and he was on medication. As suggested by the doctor, he was not sent to school. But he had gone silent and was not talking to anybody. He used to leave
Ram Dular said he did not suspect anybody and there was no possibility of him being kidnapped. He might have gone on his own, he added. The Basti Jodhewal police has registered a DDR in the case. He said that he was wearing a brown striped shirt and was 5-6” tall. He was wearing slippers when he left the house. |
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Ludhiana at forefront
of Cong dissidence Ludhiana, December 13 Out of eight Congress legislators from the district, seven are said to be against the Chief Minister. There is only one exception that of Mr Surinder Dawer. Till now, he was sitting at the fence, but has of late been seen along with the Chief Minister. His proximity to the family of late Beant Singh, in whose name the dissidents have formed the group, is also well known. In fact, he was inducted into the Congress and appointed District Congress Committee president by Mr Beant Singh. The rebellion was initiated by senior Congress leader and the Minister for Higher Education, Mr Harnam Dass Johar, much earlier. While Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who is spearheading the rebellion against the Chief Minister right now, was not very pronounced and unambiguous in her criticism against the Chief Minister, Mr Johar had started the campaign for her much earlier. He had been regularly embarrassing the government quite frequently. Among the dissidents from Ludhiana include Mr Harnam Dass Johar, Minister for Higher Education and MLA from Ludhiana (West), Mr Tej Prakash, Minister for Transport and MLA (Payal), Mr Milkiat Singh Birmi, Minister of State for Urban Development and Jails and MLA from Ludhiana (Rural), Mr Rakesh Pandey, Minister of State for Printing and Stationery and MLA from Ludhiana (North), Mr Milkiat Singh Dakha, MLA from Dakha, Ms Harbans Kaur Dullo, MLA from Khanna and Mr Amrik Singh Dhillon, MLA from Samrala. There are divided opinions about Ms Dullo, who is learnt to be reluctant to support the dissident group, but is doing allegedly at the behest of her MP husband, Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, who is a staunch Bhattal loyalist. Although Mr Surinder Dawer, MLA from Ludhiana (East), was earlier considered to be a loyalist of the Chief Minister, he had started looking the other way. He had also attended Id dinner hosted by Ms Razia Sultana, Malerkotla MLA, from where dissidence spread out. But later on, Mr Dawer reportedly retracted after some personal assurance from the Chief Minister. His loyalty to the Chief Minister is still held in question. There are 12 Assembly segments in Ludhiana district, of which eight had gone to the Congress. The Shiromani Akali Dal had managed to win only four seats, including Kila Raipur, Koom Kalan, Jagraon and
Raikote. |
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Man awaits compensation for son’s death Mandi Ahmedgarh, December 13 We completed all formalities and submitted necessary documents at the Market Committee, Ahmedgarh, but no compensation has been paid yet, Bahadur Ali said. Alleging harassment at all levels, Bahadur Ali said he had been visiting various offices at Malaudh, Ahmedgarh, Malerkotla and Chandigarh but no one has helped him. Instead of helping him, they start asking questions as to why Sabar took up digging as his profession. He said he was expecting Rs 75,000 as compensation from the Punjab Mandi Board. Sources at the local Market Committee said his case had been forwarded to Chandigarh in July this year vide file number 840. It is pending for further action with the Market Committee, Punjab Mandi Board.
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Discrimination alleged in recarpeting of road Ludhiana, December 13 The work was allegedly carried out at the instance of the area councillor Ms Amrit Varsha only up to her residence, much to the annoyance and heart burning among other residents of the colony. Inquiries made by Ludhiana Tribune from MC officials in the civil wing revealed that no estimate or plan was sanctioned by the MC for partly recarpeting the said road and the contractor had gone ahead with the work in a hurried manner only as a favour to the area councillor. It was also learnt that the material used for the work was diverted from some other similar road work, allocated by the MC to this particular contractor. According to legal experts all roads and public streets in the city vest with the MC as per provisions of Section 224 of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, and are further to be maintained, controlled and regulated by the Commissioner in accordance with the byelaws made in this behalf. That unauthorised dealing with public roads or streets was unlawful has been provided in the Section 415 of the same act, which says that “no person shall, without authority in that behalf, remove earth, sand or other material or deposit any matter or make any encroachment from in, or any land vested in the corporation or in anyway obstruct the same.” It was further maintained that under Section 416 of the Act, dealing with liability of councillors, the elected representatives shall be liable for the loss, waste or misapplication of any money or other property belonging to the Municipal Corporation, if such loss, waste or misapplication is reported by the Examiner, Local Fund Account, Punjab, to be a direct consequence of his neglect or misconduct in the performance of his duties as a councillor, and he may after being given an opportunity, by notice served in the manner provided for the service of summons in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, to show cause by written or oral representation why he should not be required to make good the loss... and so forth. Several contractors working in the MC said that whatever civil or other works allotted to them by the MC had to be executed by them on behalf of the civic body strictly in accordance with the specifications laid down for the work and under the direct supervision of the engineers of the MC. However, as far as the said work in Sarabha Nagar Colony was concerned, it was not duly sanctioned by the civic body and for that very reason, it was not executed under the supervision of the municipal engineers, as required by the relevant laws. Residents of the area, who were sore that the portion of the public street only up to the residence of the councillor was recarpeted, termed it as an act of discrimination and misuse of official position. They urged the civic authorities to undertake the repair and recarpeting of the entire road and also to initiate suitable legal action against the councillor. |
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Christmas preparations pick up Ludhiana, December 13 Sister Halima, Principal of Sacred Heart Convent, says, "Advent Season means 'turning back'. We have to start preparations to remove all barriers from our hearts so that we can keep our hearts clean of all malice from our Lord.” The whole month of December is a special period of rejoicing as Lord was born. It is also time for spiritual introspection, to cleanse ourselves from within so that we can receive our master, she said. Ms Mohini Albert, another Christian woman says, from advent season, Christmas shopping for gifts for friends starts. We make lists of friends to whom gifts and cakes have to be given. Dry fruits comprising cashews, raisins, fruit peel and almonds are soaked in rum for a month. The vessel is sealed by placing wheat dough around it. It is shaken every day. After three weeks, we take it for baking and lovely aromatic smells come out. Then we are busy making doughnuts etc. Gaurav Sarna of Archies Gallery says," We have stacked the shop with X-mas greeting cards. They are selling like hot cakes. The other popular items are Santa Caps and Santa Clauses in different sizes. Christmas candles are in great demand. We have stocked gifts in crystals, Fengshui articles as they register a brisk sale. Christmas has become a universal festival and people from all castes come and buy gifts and send cards. " Daljit of Archie Gallery in Sarabha Nagar says," We have imported a lot of gifts, christmas trees, their decorations. We have begun to decorate our store on the lines of stores decorated in the West. This is the new concept that we are trying to bring and we know that our customers will like the change. We are getting a slice of decorations from abroad and getting ready to present Christmas in a totally different way. The cheerful green christmas trees, the multi-hued baubles displayed at showrooms attract the people whereas those who believe in real christmas spirit are getting ready to help the poor and spread good cheer. |
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Fired with imagination to do something different Ludhiana, December 13 Momi has got a special art. He is capable of making a picture on a single grain of rice. He rather plays with the grains of rice. He surprised people with his painting on grains of rice.He is also capable of making a portrait on a single piece of cardamom as Vijay Kumar Momi has been fired with a desire to create something different - something extraordinary. Hence he is writing names on grain, and doing other similar feats. He has made this art his life. In the present world, the younger generation is slowly advancing towards western culture , but youngsters like Momi always try to promote their own culture .For this reason Momi has excelled in Punjabi folk dances like Bhangra, Malwai-Gidha, Jhumar, Jindua, Vanjara and Mirza-Sahiban. Vijay Kumar Momi studied in Mohan Lal Uppal DAV College, Phagwara. Painting and his expertise in Bhangra made him popular not only in the district but also in the state. Momi had his schooling in Government Senior Secondary School, Phillaur, and with the blessings of the Principal of the school, Mr Prem Kumar, he has successfully completed many paintings on small
surfaces. Momi painted a picture of Maharaja Ranjit Singh on a green cardamom and presented it to DGP, Punjab, Guru Gobind Singh's picture to Prakash Singh Badal and picture of Mahatma Gandhi to SDM, Phillaur. Momi wrote the name of Mr Sajjan Singh Cheema, winner of Arjun Award on a grain of rice and presented it to him. He also painted a picture of Hans Raj Hans, a popular Punjabi singer and presented it to him. He made the picture of Debi Maqsoospuri, a well known writer. Momi was honoured with 'Husan Punjab Da' award in 8th Davinder Biba's Memorial Cultural Festival. He was honoured as a special personality by Finance Minister of Punjab, Mr Lal Singh, during Independence Day. Momi learned this art of painting from a well-known painter Yash Momi, who is his elder brother. Momi says that he is greatly indebted to Mr Harminder Dhillon and ADGP D.R. Bhatti , Punjab Police. |
Iron and steel industry in distress Ludhiana, December 13 The situation seems to be so bad that every industrial unit particularly in the small and medium sector has starred writing to the Prime Minister, Steel Minister and Steel Secretary. Almost all organisations of iron and steel-based industry have started a campaign urging the individual units to register individual protests with the authorities. About 1,000 letters have gone from Ludhiana alone, followed by about 500 letters from Jalandhar and other places on the very first day of this call. Industry is stressing upon the government to stop export of steel and reduce custom duty on its import. This crises happens to be quite severe in Punjab as there are other factors which are complicating the problem. The freight component is heavy and with increasing rates of diesel this is getting aggravated. According to Mr PD Sharma, president, Apex Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Kelkar Committee has recommended reduction in custom duty on diesel and petrol from 20 per cent to 10 per cent but government failed to implement this recommendation. After a long pass the Petroleum Ministry has recommended reduction of duty from 20 to 17 per cent which is only an eyewash. Apart from custom duty, Central excise and states sales tax are also very high ranging above 20 per cent. He said to add to the woes of Punjab’s industry, Central excise is also levied on freight. Any material coming from steel plant carries excise duty on materials and excise duty on the freight. This is totally unjustified on the face of it. |
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Non-ferrous metal godown for city Ludhiana, December 13 Disclosing this here today, Mr Avtar Singh, general secretary of the Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU), and other members, including Mr M.S Bhogal, Mr Ajit Singh Kular, Mr K.K Seth, Mr Upkar Singh and Mr Rajesh Gandhi, held a meeting with senior MMTC officials Mr M.P Gupta, Director, Mr R.S Balasubramanium, General Manager and Mr Kishen Singh Rawat, Senior Manager. The delegation apprised the officials of the problems being faced by the industry due to repeated hike in the prices of non-ferrous metals, which are used as the basic raw material by the bicycle, auto-parts , machine-tool and the engineering industries. Mr Gupta is learnt to have disclosed that the MMTC will also arrange the supply of such non-ferrous metals to reputed exporters on credit also. The interest rate for this will be 4 per cent per annum only. The indent for such credit purchases will have to be submitted in advance to the MMTC. |
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Motor parts manufacturers condemn hike in Ludhiana, December 13 The general secretary of the association, Mr Chanan Singh Kohli in a press statement yesterday said auto parts industry would be adversely affected with this hike as it was already passing through a crisis due to the continuous steep hike in steel prices which had made this sector uncompetitive at the national and global levels. Most of the auto parts units were on the verge of closure and with this power hike, if implemented, it would totally destroy the roots of this industry in Punjab. The hike in the power tariff for the small sector from Rs 3.15 to 3.50 per unit and for medium sector from Rs 3.57 to 3.75 per unit was too much and was unjustified and anti-industry. Mr Charan Singh further added that this step would prove as a deathblow for auto parts manufacturers. At present, it had become very difficult for auto parts manufacturers to survive and to maintain their existence. It appealed to the PSERC not to accept the proposals of the board and instruct them to improve its own deteriorating conditions to cover up its financial losses rather than put any unnecessary financial load on industrial sector. |
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