 |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Issewal farmers fear crop loss
Ludhiana, July 5 A total of 15 transformers, cables and an 11-KV mainline were damaged disrupting power supply in Issewal village. After filing a complaint with the area SDO, the villagers waited for help from the PSEB for two days, but to their disappointment, nothing was done to restore the power supply. “Thereafter, we decided to take the initiative and erect the transformers and poles ourselves,” said Baljinder Singh, the village lambardar. He, however, agreed to the risk factor involved in the process as villagers were fixing electric equipments without safety gadgets. “But farmers were desperate to save their crop,” he said. Another resident, Harinder Singh said villagers had to barge into the PSEB storeroom to get the poles as nobody from the board showed keenness to restore the power supply. “It was with the help of private electricians in the village that we could manage to repair six transformers to restore power to the lines catering to almost 50 per cent of the fields,” Harinder said. Though a large number of farmers are dependent on generators, but people with small land holdings cannot afford them to supply water to their fields as it amounts to an additional expense of over Rs 2,000 per day. Deputy Chief Engineer, PSEB, Ludhiana (Central), H.S. Randhawa said 250 poles were uprooted in Adda Dakha division and 100 have already been fixed. “It will take another week to make the remaining transformers functional as the board is short of manpower. However, we can take up the cases pertaining to water scarcity in paddy fields on priority and the people are free to approach for the same," he added.
|
|
|
Passengers drugged in train
Ludhiana, July 5 According to the RPF Commandant Gurjasveer, the duo was travelling in the 3307 Kissan Express train. They were drugged near Murabad today morning. One passenger died on way to the hospital while another was admitted in an unconscious state. The victims were spotted by RPF cops during their routine check at around 7.30 am at platform No. 2. Both passengers hail from Yamunagar. The deceased has been identified as Chintu (38), while other identified as Sanjay (23) is stated to be out of danger. According to the GRP authorities, the gang members took away Rs 30,000 from the victims. Gurjasveer Singh said as per Sanjay’s statement both passengers boarded the train from Dhanbad yesterday night. On reaching Murabad they were offered cookies laced with sedatives by those travelling along with them. “After having cookies they fell unconscious. Among the two, Sanjay took fewer pieces of cookies laced with sedatives due to which he survived. While, Chintu, who ate the major share died. The RPF Commandant said the families of both passengers had been informed. The bodies have been sent to the Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examination. |
|
MC’s income down, outlay up
Senior functionaries in the local bodies department revealed that due to the abolition of octroi, almost all municipal corporations in Punjab have suffered with Ludhiana MC being the worst hit. Adding to the fund-starved MC's woes were sangat darshans by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal as he kept on accepting demands without thinking much about the funds.” They added that before the Lok Sabha polls, the civic body officials were directed to initiate development works and today most of these are incomplete. Besides, still half of the payments of the works are yet to be made to contractors. “Though the revenue of the MC has increased in the last five years, the expenditure is more than the earnings," said senior officials of the MC. Even the properties to be auctioned are not finding any takers and there is no money for the development of city, they added. “Transport Nagar and Focal Point are its examples. Municipal councillors have been complaining that no work is being carried out in their wards in the absence of funds," said senior officials, adding that only the state government can bail out the civic body from the financial crisis. Interestingly, the Punjab government has not given a single penny to the MC except for the Rs 40-crore loan, and a substantial amount from it was either given as donations to religious institutions or for development of unauthorised colonies. |
|
5-yr-old girl killed in car-truck collision
Machhiwara, July 5 All the family members got unconscious and the five-year-old girl died on the spot. Area residents and police officials from the nearby police station reached the spot and took out the injured from the car. The injured have been identified as Punjab Singh, Satpal Singh, and Bhupinder Kaur. Two other women in the car could not be identified. They were rushed to a hospital in Ludhiana. The police said the truck had been impounded. |
|
MC Meeting
Ludhiana, July 5 According to information, these include possession of the encroached upon land in ward No. 59 so that revenue could be generated for the cash-starved corporation. Apart from it the allotment of land to three persons whose shops were demolished during the construction of the Dhandari railway bridge. Another agenda of recruiting persons on compassionate ground has been added. The last topic of discussion which may be of little public use is the issuance of no objection certificates to the residents in the wake of master plan. The proposal has been forwarded via councillors Gurdeep Singh Neetu, Parminder Mehta and others. The councillors were of the opinion that the public was harassed by the PSEB for taking small commercial activity like beauty parlour and karyana store in residential areas. With the NOC from the civic body, the residents could be easily benefited. |
|
Local bodies dept errs
Ludhiana, July 5 The official letter no. 1/116/04-2SS1 (a copy of which is with The Tribune) states that seven employees of the department, including four of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, have been chargesheeted through a “letter issued on July 18, 2009”. The communication has been issued from the office of the Local Bodies Department Chief Secretary D.S. Bains and has been forwarded to various officials with signatures of the Joint Secretary of the department. The officials seem to have been either overburdened or have started pre-planning their work so much so that they failed to check the contents of the letter. According to the documents, seven officers have been chargesheeted following irregularities in construction of a park that was under construction in 2004 near Vishwanath Mandir in Focal Point, Ludhiana. The letter was issued on June 3 from the Joint Secretary's office. Those chargesheeted include chief engineer Manmohan Singh and two retired officers - Ashok Kumar and Kashmira Singh - who worked in the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation when the irregularities were found. Besides, three junior engineers - Satish Goel, Jaswant Singh and Surinder Chaudhary - have also been issued notice through letter numbers 1/116/04-2SS1/5836, 1/116/04-2SS1/5837 and 1/116/04-2SS1/5838, respectively. Interestingly, the copies of the letter have been also circulated to various other officials, including the Chief Vigilance Officer and the Commissioner, Ludhiana Municipal Corporation. The letter has been sent along with the replies to the investigation officer MM Oberoi, who has been directed to complete the probe within two months and submit a report to the government. Besides, the superintendent has also been asked to coordinate with the investigating officer and the chargesheeted employees. |
Assembly bypoll
Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 5 Expressing solidarity with the state body of the Arhtiya Union, office-bearers of various units of the organisation from Payal, Malaudh, Sihar, Kanganwal, Maholi, Kilaraipur, Latala, Raekot and Ghaloti decided to continue their struggle till the “anti-trader” and the “anti-farmer” decision was not withdrawn. According to Surinder Kumar and Khet Pal, president and patron of the local unit of the Arhtiya Union, a large number of activists and office-bearers of various unions of the localities falling under the jurisdiction of Ludhiana and Sangrur districts, had announced their support to the state body at a state-level meeting held at Jagraon today afternoon. Talking to the Ludhiana Tribune after attending the meeting, Surinder Kumar claimed that a majority of activists had announced to oppose the SAD and the BJP in the ensuing assembly by-election. “When Sukhbir Singh Badal and Parkash Singh Badal can break their promise, why should we support them? Though we can not interfere in the decisions of the government, but nobody can stop us from supporting candidates launched by the other political parties,” said Surinder Kumar, adding that they would express their anger by opposing Badals. With barely any produce arriving in the market, the commission agents mediated no purchase or sale during past five days. What to talk of lending money to farmers, they (commission agents) did not even received repayments from them.
|
|
Growing club culture a boon for hospitality sector
Ludhiana, July 5 Monthly meetings and functions of clubs are held in leading hotels of the city. This provides good business to the hospitality sector as besides providing the party venue, hotels get catering orders. The business of over 20 medium and big hotels in the city depends on these celebrations. Each club spends huge amounts annually for organising such parties. Hoteliers hail the emergence of new culture, as it also provides them with an opportunity to develop business contacts with club members, who are mostly from business families. General manager of a five star hotel said club meetings and kitty parties were a regular feature at our hotel. “The added benefit is that the members visit our hotel apart from their parties with their families,” he added. They dance, gossip and shop. And to cash in on this, hotels in association with retailers hold sale-cum-exhibition of designer clothes, jewellery and other products for club members. Clubs claim that they serve as a meeting place for women where they can grow as persons. There was a time when Ludhiana had only a couple of ladies’ clubs in the city, but the city now has over 100 small and big clubs and each has members anywhere from 100 to 2,500. Many women view these clubs as a platform to display their hidden talent. Every festival is celebrated with gaiety. Rohini, member of Gayatri Ladies Club, is a doctor by profession but takes out time for clubbing from her busy schedule. “Visiting club and enjoying with friends help beat stress. Outing once a month with friends uplifts my mood and also gives me the opportunity to explore new hotels and restaurants in the city, which I later visit along with my family,” she adds.
|
|
Stray Animal Menace
Jagraon, July 5 Though the entire town, especially the national highway, is hounded by stray animals, including dogs and cattle, the main chowk near the bus stand and the courts complex are the worst affected. Thousands of commuters take this road as it links Ludhiana with Moga, Ferozepur, Faridkot, Muktsar, etc. People also prefer this route to visit Amritsar. After construction of the bridge over the Satluj, this town has been witnessing motorists heading to Jalandhar. However, dozens of stray animals dot the road, posing a serious threat to the lives and vehicles. Many fatalities have occurred in accidents due to the menace. Two oxen charged at each other on the road a few days ago, disrupting traffic for more than half an hour. The policemen at the police picket remained mute spectators to the incident. A few pedestrians had to take shelter in a police picket. The town has three cattle pounds - Sri Krishana Gaushala housing about 900 cattle head, Sri Sanatan Dharam Gobind Gaushala housing about 150 head of cattle and an upcoming cattle pound housing about 30 animals. Yet, the municipal committee is neither maintaining any cattle shed nor paying grant for the upkeep of cattle. Sri Sanatan Dharam Gobind Gaushala president Shubhash Khanna said stray animals were becoming a menace due to the lack of awareness among people. Moreover, he said, the town had a popular animal mandi and farmers often abandoned weak animals as they were no longer of any use. He added that the indifferent attitude of the government agencies that were responsible for upkeep of the stray animals added to the problem. He said so far they had not got a single penny as grant from any government agency.
|
|
Property Registration
Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 5 Fearing cancellation of title deeds executed on fake stamp papers, the real estate investers and property advisers have urged the state and Union governments to eliminate stamp papers in the registration of land property titles to end the circulation of fake stamps by modernising land records as suggested by the National Advisory Council of the previous government. The compilation and upgradation of land records, beside checking circulation of fake stamp papers and curbing corruption in revenue department, would instill a sense of security in the farming community and encourage investments for higher land productivity, claimed the real estate advisers and investers. A group of investers and advisers, led by Vijay Thapar and Jagjit Singh Jajjie, said the Punjab government, like many other state governments, had been suffering huge losses with the unchecked circulation of fake stamp papers for many years. Though the then chairperson of UPA’s National Advisory Council (NAC), Sonia Gandhi, had urged the Union government to modernise land records and eliminate stamp papers in the registration of land property titles to end the fake stamps in circulation in August 2005, her efforts bore no fruit. Had the NAC recommendations been followed in letter and spirit, the use of stamp papers should have been eliminated, as a result of which huge annual losses caused to the state governments would have been avoided, claimed Thapar and Jajjie.
|
|
PAU needs Rs 178 cr in 2009-10
Ludhiana, July 5 These include an additional sum of Rs 78 crore to implement the new pay scales of the teachers according to the Central Pay Commission and for the non-teaching employees, who would be paid according to the pay scales of the fifth Pay Commission of the Punjab government. AC Rana, controller of the PAU, today said a sum of Rs 41.79 crore would be needed to meet an additional cost of new scales to the non-teaching employees and Rs 13.25 crore for the teachers as the state government had to meet 20 per cent of the total expenditure of the new scales of the teaching faculty. Meanwhile, Dr Manjit Singh Kang, vice-chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, has written to the Punjab Finance Minister, Manpreet Singh Badal, requesting for the enhancement of the present grant of Rs 100 crore per year as the present grant was not even sufficient to meet the committed liability salary and 25 per cent state share for the All-India Coordinated Research Projects, sanctioned by the ICAR on a cost sharing basis. Salary bill of teachers and employees increases every year according to normal increase. The university has to incur unavoidable expenditure on travel allowances of scientists or employees and extension workers, wages of labour engaged in farm operations and working contingency for chemicals, electricity bills, stationery, maintenance and other administrative expenses. It is impossible to meet these expenditures from the existing block grant of Rs 100 crore. The financial position of the university will become more critical due to the recent revision of pay scales of the employees. Dr Kang said, “The university has taken all the possible austerity measures to reduce expenditures such as reduction of staff, pooling of vehicles, disposal of old and inefficient vehicles, prudent use of electricity, rational use of conditioners etc. It does not seem possible to reduce the expenditures any further. Along with the other state agencies, PAU has a major role in improving the economy of the Punjab state by enhancing the income levels of farmers through the provision of improved crop varieties and latest farm technologies. For the grant-in-aid provided to PAU, state was more than compensated by way of indirect benefits.” The vice-chancellor has called for a review of the existing funding formula relative to PAU and sought adequate financial support so that the research,
|
|
|
Employment Guarantee Act
Ludhiana, July 5 Addressing officials of the district administration, with regard to 100 days job assurance under the NREGA, Sandhu said: “All the eligible unemployed in the district will be given a card under the scheme. Anyone who does not get a job within 15 days, will be eligible for a card.” Giving details, Deputy Commissioner Vikas Garg said: “Under the scheme, the money does not lapse so the entire amount will be carried forward. We are asking villages to work out new schemes which have potential for greater employment for the local population.” The DC added: “Even if the youth thought the amount of Rs 123 as the minimum salary under the scheme was lesser than the existing market rates, it must be remembered that the unskilled labour does continuously. When the youth fail to get a proper job, they can earn money under the NREGA." Another senior official in the district administration said: “After working out the preliminary possibility of jobs in the villages, we will be meeting the sarpanches of the villages also. We will also ask them for possible areas of employment in the villages. Certain possibilities include roads, construction of community property, including schools, panchayat houses or community halls and upgrading sports grounds.” A total of 1.83 lakh persons have benefited under the scheme in Ludhiana district. Out of the total, 82 per cent were Scheduled Caste. Women formed only 6 per cent of the workforce that benefited under the scheme. Out of the 73 works sanctioned in district under the scheme, only three have been completed and the rest all are under development.
|
|
|
Policemen breathe easy as CM stays away from city
Ludhiana, July 5 Chief Minister Parkash singh Badal, who had been to the city around 200 times after taking over the reins, has avoided visiting the city after the incident. And, this has brought a smile to the faces of police officials. “We used to be on our toes from dawn to dusk till the time Chief Minister remained in the city. However, thanks to the controversy involving attack on Bains, it has been over 20 days that the Chief Minister has visited the city,” said a policeman deputed at the Fountain Chowk. The city police, which is already overburdened with increasing crime, is pushed to its limits each time the Chief Minister visits the city, resulting in a lot of complainants going unattended. A senior police official, on the condition of anonymity, said “Many cases remained unattended during the recent election, as top politicians frequented the city during that time. We have feared that the attack on the tehsildar will snowball into a political row but nothing like that has happened. Even the Chief Minister has preferred to stay away from the matter and has not visited the city since then.” Sources in the SAD said the top leadership of the party was also feeling the heat and trying to impress upon Benipal and Bains to resolve the matter soon.
|
|
|
Sewer work on road creates problems
Ludhiana, July 5 The BSNL subscribers are facing a tough time as the cables have been disrupted and their telephones are not working. Not only this, the residents are facing problem in taking their vehicles inside their houses. "The road has been dug exactly from the front of our houses and we are unable to take our vehicles inside our houses," said a resident. Amarjeet Singh, another resident, said their telephones were lying dead from the last one week. "Proper co-ordination is required between all the departments. If sewer department had alerted the telecom department, things would not have gone worse," he said. Further, he said though they complained a number of times, but nothing had been done so far. "Though it is the developmental work that is being undertaken, but the inconvenience we are facing is very huge," he added.
|
|
|
Promotional SMSes
Ludhiana, July 5 If, sometimes, a service gets activated by mistake, getting it de-activated becomes difficult for these illiterate people. There are a few services, which get activated by just clicking once. The migrants are, thus, forced to part with a huge chunk of money. Hari Ram, who lives in the Chaura Bazaar area, added that he had a pre-paid mobile connection and was astonished to find that he had just Rs 35 balance.” I used my mobile for just answering calls. When I enquired about this from an employees he said that I had got a health pack activated unknowingly. Thus, Rs 50 used to be deducted every month for this service,” he added. Many promotional messages and calls keep coming at my mobile. I usually don’t understand these as most of them are in English, added Hari Ram. Another subscriber, Shambu Kumar, said: “Many a times promotional messages are sent on his number and the services get automatically activated with the click of a button. “I faced a lot of difficulty and it was only after my manager talked to a customer care executive that the services were de-activated. I don’t understand how to dial the customer care number and above this fail to understand the customer care executive’s point,” he adds. Another subscriber, Shiv Ram, said: “After seeing an advertisement on the television I thought of assigning a caller tune to my number but at the end of the call I was charged Rs 160 and the amount was deducted from his balance. “I never knew the call will cost this much otherwise I would not have subscribed to it. In addition to this Rs 30 are also being deducted monthly,” he said. The problem Shiv Ram now facing is that he does not know how to deactivate the hello tune service so that he can save Rs 30, which are going for the service. “I will have to ask someone to do it for me as I hardly understand the options they ask me to follow,” he rues.
|
|
Gurdwara priests demand removal of piggery
Machhiwara, July 5 The piggery has allegedly been creating panic among people due to swine flu. “Due to the recent Swine Flu cases, we demand the removal of the piggery from the area. It is a nuisance due to the terrible stench in the pig farm,” said Baba Jarnail Singh Karsewa Wale in the
gurdwara. Despite writing numerous letters to a large number of senior officials, including SDM and MC president, no action has been initiated in this connection. “We may even help the owner of the pig farm in relocating, but it should immediately be shifted from the place,” said residents. They said the foul stench created nausea among the devotees and it was quite disturbing during the rainy season. Even one could not enter in the gurdwara without covering nose. The recent cases of Swine Flu have created more panic among the people, who, despite their wish, failed to reach at the gurdwara. Even those, who came did not sit for long time and left after offering prayers. The number of children coming to the gurdwara had been reduced as their parents did not allow them even to enter in the religious premises or its adjoining area due to the piggery. Many local religious bodies said the city was a historical town and the administration should not neglect the religious places, where a large number of devotees visited from the city and far off places. They said the priests had to cover their nostrils during the rainy season. As the situation had gone out of control, so we had to use perfumes to avoid the smell.
|
|
Kisan club favours direct payment to farmers
Ludhiana, July 5 Pavitar Pal Singh Pangli, president of the club, said: “It will save the farmers from arhtiyas who exploit them by delaying the payments or making huge cuts in the same.” PAU to honour farmers
Punjab Agricultural University, will honour four progressive farmers of the state at the PAU Kisan Mela to be organised in September. Dr DS Dhillon, director of extension education, PAU, said the four awards namely Dalip Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award, Pravsi Bharti Award, Ujjagar Singh Memorial Award and Surjit Singh Dhillon Award would be given to farmers, who had excelled in diversification of the agriculture. He said Dalip Singh Dhaliwal Award with a cash prize of Rs 5,000, a citation and memento would be given to a farmer who had excelled in cultivating crops, other than paddy and wheat. Parvasi Bharti Award, with a cash prize of Rs 8,000, along with a citation and memento, would be given to a farmer who had diversification of the agriculture. Similarly, Ujjagar Singh Dhaliwal Award with a cash prize of Rs 3,100, a citation and memento, would be given to most successful vegetable grower of the state. Surjit Singh Dhillon Award would be given to a small farmer with less than 5 acre holding and had excelled in diversification of agriculture. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 8,000, a citation and memento. He urged the progressive farmers of the state to deposit their application forms and bio-data for these awards at the earliest. The application forms were available with Krishi Vigyan Kendras, district extension specialists or deputy directors, horticulture, in all districts of the state. Application forms can directly be submitted to the directorate of extension education, Punjab Agricultural University. The last date of submission of application forms and bio data is July 15.
|
|
10 pc cess on VAT unjustified: Industrialists
Ludhiana, July 5 Senior vice-president, Laghu Bharti Udyog, Dinesh Lakra said udyog members had condemned the move. He said the government should concentrate on finalising the GST instead of creating confusion among public and industry. Avtar Singh, general secretary, Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings, said the industry in general felt scared about the detrimental future taxation policy of the state government. “The recent proposal of the state government to impose 10 per cent cess on VAT during the financial year 2009-10 has given a rude shock to the auto-parts manufacturing industry, which is already passing through a crisis,” he said. Auto Parts Manufacturers’ Association (India) also condemned the move, which “would severely hit its economy”. Gurpragat Singh Kahlon and Surinder Singh, president and general secretary of the association, respectively, said: “The industry has already been rendered helpless due to high VAT rate. Now, the government is mulling imposition of 10 per cent cess on VAT. This will adversely affect the auto spares industry in the state. Once imposed, one will have to pay 13.75 per cent VAT on sale, which will destroy the sector.”
|
|
Scribes flay govt on unkept promises
Ludhiana, July 5 A press release said the ruling alliance in Punjab had failed to fulfil the promises made to the media during the last assembly elections. The accreditation policy of the Punjab government needed to be amended in view of the changing scenario in the sphere of media in Punjab. They urged that every staffer, regular or otherwise, should be given accreditation by the state government. The government should announce pension, insurance and social security schemes for mediapersons across Punjab. IMC national organising secretary Ashok Singh said they would be taking up all these issues with the Punjab Chief Minister. IMC, Punjab chapter, senior vice-president Dr Harjinder Singh Lall said the state government was not taking any interest in resolving long-pending issues of the media. Speaking on the occasion, Pramod Batish said a journalist should know about his rights besides performing his duties.
|
|
Attacks on govt officials decried
Ludhiana, July 5 On many occasions, while ensuring the protection of government revenue, a section of officials have to face the ire of incensed members of the public. Recent assaults on ETO H.S. Sidhu at Abohar and tehsildar G.S. Benipal at Ludhiana while on duty are among such incidents. The matter was discussed today during the Income Tax Gazetted Officers Association meet in Ludhiana in which national president Shanthy Kumar and secretary Rajesh D. Menon were also present. "Many a time we are attacked or abused during search operations, recoveries or surveys.Though we are provided with police security during search operations and recoveries, it is not adequate. A proper security mechanism should be in place to avoid such harassment to government officials," said Ravi Bajaj, general secretary. D.S. Garcha, convener of the joint action committee of the Confederation of Excise and Taxation Department, said it was not the first time that an ETO was attacked by tax evaders. "In the past also, many officials have faced this kind of humiliation. We have decided that no field checking or inspections will be conducted till we are provided with police protection along with government vehicles," said Garcha.
|
|
|
Marriages of poor girls solemnised
Mandi Gobindgarh, July 5 IG Paramjit Singh Sarao was the chief guest. Society chief Karamjit Singh Bittoo said earlier the society had organised 96 marriages at various occasions. Press secretary Ashok Chopra said the society had been organising blood donation camps on various occasions. To provide from training to the rural girls, the society has been running four sewing centres at Sirhind, Fatehpur Araian, Mandi Gobindgarh and Manupur village. Among others, chairman Amarjit Singh, vice-chairman Ajit Singh and secretary Som Dutt Sharma also spoke on the occasion.
|
|
|
Sadhar College students excel in PU exams
Mullanpur Dakha, July 5 In B.Sc. final, the college pass percentage was 99 per cent and Anuj Shukla stood first in the college. In BA final, the college pass percentage was 93 per cent and Parminder Kaur stood first in the college. In B.Sc.-I, the college pass percentage remained at 97 per cent with Amanpal Kaur Sandhu standing first in the college with 82 per cent and Aparjot Kaur stood second with 81 per cent. In B.Com-III, the college pass percentage was hundred per cent. College principal Dr S.S. Deol and president S. Manjit Singh Gill congratulated the students on their brilliant performance and praised the faculty for their dedication and hard work.
|
|
|
Sacred Heart, DAV reopen today
Ludhiana, July 5 Shruti, a Class X student, said: “Now again, we have to fall back to the old routine of classes and tuitions. Coaching classes after school is tough for the already overburdened students. My parents want me to prepare for the entrance examination to medical colleges, immediately”. Anuradha Pandit, a mother said:” We had apprehensions of hot weather, a few days ago. We heard the Chandigarh Administration had postponed the opening of schools by a week because of heat. With the monsoon here, I think schools can open normally”.
|
|
Montessori opens two more pre-schools
Ludhiana, July 5 The schools were inaugurated by American Alliance counterpart of ABC Montessori, Ann Balasuriya, director, Montessori Teacher Training Institute (MTTI), California, along with Gurmeet Singh Arora, chairman, ABC Montessori. The pre-school concept allows children to do anything that interests them. Here, children of different ages are allowed to work in the same room, thus encouraging them to interact, collaborate and help each other. Ann Balasuriya, director, Montessori Teacher Training Institute LB, California, and executive director of IAPM, USA, said: “The focus of pre-school learning programme is to treat each child as a unique individual for allowing him or her to learn at their own pace thus inculcating a sense of independence, self-esteem and love for each other.” Gurmeet Singh Arora, chairman, said: “We have received a good response for our first pre-school. This has provided us a platform to inaugurate two more schools in the city.” With more than 20 schools in Punjab, ABC Montessori is spreading its reach to smaller towns in the region. The admissions start from one-and-a-half of age up to six years for pre-nursery, nursery, LKG and UKG levels.
|
|
|
GNIMT students bring laurels
Ludhiana, July 5 Students of Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology, Gujarkhan campus (GNIMT), Ludhiana,
have shown good results, with 100 per cent students passing with first division. Bansal has stood first with 96.3 per cent marks and Priyanka Chugh has stood second with 96 per cent marks.
|
|
Youth needs help for treatment
Ludhiana, July 5 The youth’s father, Zora Singh, is not ready to give in as he is hoping against the hope to save his son from the clutches of death, for which he is spending Rs 20,000 per month. As Zora Singh has sold everything to give life to his ailing son by taking him for Hemodialysis twice a week, now he is left with no alternative but to seek help from good samaritans. The boy can undergo kidney transplant three months from now as his mother has volunteered to donate her kidney, which has also matched his kidney specifications. But the family needs money for the same as the authorities at Deep Hospital, Model Town, have done everything to accomodate the patient. Volunteers can pay by cheque/ demand draft in favour of Deep Kidney Care Centre, Model Town, Ludhiana (Phone 0161- 5092675; mobile 98145-08192).
|
|
Gay Rights
Ludhiana, July 5 Speaking on behalf of the association members, president GS Middha said homosexuality was against the law of nature and the Indian social system. The association members condemned the decision to give equal rights to every citizen irrespective of their sexuality. “Giving freedom to homosexuals will create nuisance,” the association members added.
|
|
|
Illegal clinics pose big danger
In the Khanna-Fatehgarh belt, there are a number of operation centres being run by homeopaths, ayurveds and nurses in violation of the guidelines of the MCI (Medical Council of India). These clinics are being run due to the lack of awareness prevalent in the region, but the health authorities are least bothered. Recently (on June 20), an expectant mother and her child died following a major operation at a piles “bawasir” hospital on the GT Road, Khanna. The operation centre is being run by an ayurvedic practioner without any round-the-clock surgeon. The decision of operation was taken by the ayurved himself, grossly violating the rule book. Due to public’s outcry, post-morten was performed on the patient, who died due to quackery. Shutters and windows of the illegal hospital were broken by an angry mob. Still the health authorities have not sealed it! The proprietors of such centres falsely put the name of some fictitious doctor on board in their clinic to dodge the checking authorities, which also don’t bother to take statement of such doctors. The result is a dangerous surgical quackery, resulting in butchery. Illegal abortions and female foeticide are also performed in these centres. In fact, these centres thrive only on illegal work. An ayurved, homeopath or a nurse is not competent to decide if a person needs operation (as happened at “bawasir” hospital, Khanna). Neither are they competent to deal with post-operation complications. Will the authorities wake up? Ajit Singh Readers are invited to mail letters (not more than 200 words) at "ludhiana@tribunemail.com" or post the same to The Tribune, 1, 2 Improvement Trust Building, Badaur House, Clock Tower, Ludhiana.
|
Explosives recovery: one more held
Jagraon, July 5 The accused, Sukhwinder Singh, is a granthi at Gurudwara Panjuana Sahib, Lamme Jatpura, where Baba Balbir Singh was the chief sewadar. Sukhwinder is said to be a close associate of Baba Balbir Singh, the main accused in the case. According to sources, following intensive interrogation by the Intelligence Bureau and the Punjab Police, it has been revealed that Baba Balbir Singh was a conduit for the objectionable material being supplied by certain Khalisat supporters. The investigating agencies are worried over the influence of Baba among his followers and are apprehensive that he might have exploited other youths to execute his anti-national activities. Baba Balbir Singh, with his sewadars Bhag Singh and Kuljit Singh alias Kanta, who was a Granthi at a gurdwara at Jawahar Nagar Camp in Ludhiana, are allegedly associated with the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF). The police had recovered 32 gelatine sticks and six detonators from the accused weighting about 4 kg. The explosives were allegedly supplied by Harminder Singh Mintoo, who had brought them from Nagpur in Maharashtra. The investigating agencies said the recovered explosive was the remaining part of the consignment of the 59-kg explosives recovered last year.
|
|
Bank safe too strong for
burglars
Mandi Gobindgarh, July 5 Bank employees came to know of this in the morning and informed the police.According to them, the burglars entered the bank premises through the iron web of the roof, but failed to break open the strongroom of the bank. In another incident, two motorcycle-borne unidentified persons snatched a bag containing Rs 10 lakh. Meanwhile, the Amloh MLA has urged the government to restore law and order in the state. 
|
|
1 held with 2.3-kg charas
Ludhiana, July 5 The accused, Lalbabu Singh, of Ramnagar in Bihar was arrested from the bus stand. A case has been registered under various section of the
IPC.
|
Fidda, Dyal patrons of kabaddi body
Ludhiana, July 5 Association president Sikander Singh Maluka said the body had been reconstituted, in which representation had been given to all districts. The office-bearers include chairman-Kewal Singh; senior vice-presidents- Paramjit Singh Dala, Pehalwan Gurmail Singh and Sukhdarshan Singh; secretary- Gurdeep Singh Malhi; vice-presidents- Harbant Singh (Mansa), Tejinder Singh Midha, Devinder Singh (Kapurthala), Satwinder Pal Singh (Hoshiarpur), Dr Amarjit (Ropar), Chanchal Kaur Randhawa and Malwinver Singh (Canada); treasurer- Bhupinder Singh (Ferozepur), secretary- BD Sharma; joint secretaries- Kirpal Singh (Amritsar), Balbir Singh (Nawanshahr), Dharam Singh (Fatehgarh Sahib) and Ranjit Singh (Khanna); legal adviser- Balwant Singh Gill; convener-Sadhu Singh Brar (Moga); chairman of refree board; Gurnam Singh, chairman of jury appeal- Jalaur Singh (Muktsar); office secretary- Mukesh Inder Singh; chairman of election committee- Roop Singh Sekhon.
— OC
|
|||
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Ludhiana, July 5