Wednesday, November 17, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Wednesday, November 17, 1999 |
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Show-cause
notice to Ravi Inder Singh |
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1.2 cr memorial to Kartar Singh Registration must for chit fund
firms Give share in power to youth,
Badal urged SGPC chief wants more Sikh judges Gang of vehicle thieves busted KCF plans to blow up petrol depots Postponement of poll SAD seeks EC
nod WB okays watershed project Women's education must: Governor Major towns to have master plans Move to erode panchayat power
flayed ‘Harassment’ of Muslims
flayed No viscera report even after 55
days ‘Humiliated’ trader
commits suicide Mann flays move to revive TADA Breakthrough in murder case MCPI flays hike in diesel, bus
fares Badal's assurance to Christians Charitable hospital opened at
Humbaran Balidan Jyoti taken to Delhi Kerosene racket uncovered |
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Show-cause notice to Ravi
Inder Singh CHANDIGARH, Nov 16 — SAD President Parkash Singh Badal today issued a show-cause notice to the party's political affairs committee (PAC) member and MLA, Mr Ravi Inder Singh, asking him to explain within 15 days why he should not be proceeded against for anti-party activities and open assault on the party and the government. The notice follows authorisation given to the SAD President by the PAC to take appropriate action against those who try to weaken the party or tarnish its image. The notice was served taking into account the recent utterances of Mr Ravi Inder Singh as reported in the newspapers of November 15. "The kind of allegations against the government made by you were not made even by hardcore Congressmen. You have spoken in the language of the Congress and of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra sitting in the lap of the Congress". The notice quotes Mr Ravi Inder Singh's remarks such as absence of "decentralisation" and "transparency" in the government or calling its taxation policies as "irrational" and that the government was being run on reports fed by the state "intelligence and CID outfits." The notice recounts the sacrifices of Akalis which have nourished and nurtured the SAD. It also refers to the occasions when individuals smitten by "ego" and "political greed" have stabbed the party in the back by conniving with anti-Panthic forces. The notice places Mr Ravi Inder Singh in the same category, alleging that he had been hobnobbing with the Congress and Mr Tohra's loyalists at a time when the need of the hour was the SAD's "unity and strength" in the wake of the Lok Sabha debacle. The notice takes
cognisance of the fact that for a long time he (Mr Ravi
Inder Singh) had not made any substantial contribution to
the party. Rather he has been directly and indirectly
harming the interests of the party's strength, unity and
traditions. The notice takes objection to the
"secret" meetings and "signature
campaigns" indulged in by Mr Ravi Inder Singh. |
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Interim bail for acting Director CHANDIGARH, Nov 16 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today granted ad interim bail to Dr Balkarn Singh, Punjab’s officiating Director of Agriculture, and Director of the Punjab Seed Certification Authority. Mrs Justice Bakshish Kaur, who handed down this order, also issued notice to the respondents for November 19. The petitioner was apprehending arrest in connection five FIRs registered against him at Chandigarh and Ludhiana. In his petition Dr Balkarn Singh alleged that the Punjab Chief Minister and the Punjab Agriculture Minister were against him because they wanted to reinstate Dr Mewa Singh Sonar, Director of Agriculture, who was suspended following an undertaking given to the court’s Division Bench. Mr Sonar is senior to him and was the Cane Commissioner (JDA). In view of the petitioner’s seniority, he was given the officiating charge of Director of Agriculture when Capt Avtar Singh Randhawa superannuated. The petitioner further
alleged that Agriculture Minister Gurdev Singh Badal, who
also belongs to Faridkot constituency (Panjgrain) and was
close to Dr Sonar, joined hands with the Chief Minister
to get Dr Sonar reinstated as Director of Agriculture,
irrespective of the fact that he (Dr Sonar) was involved
in the fertiliser scam and the matter was sub judice. |
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Cabinet expansion by month-end SARABHA ( District Ludhiana), Nov 16 — Punjab’s much awaited Cabinet expansion may take place by the end of this month. An indication to this effect was given here today by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, in a brief chat with TNS. Mr Badal was here to preside over an annual fair held to mark the martyrdom of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha. Asked if he had already begun the exercise to pick up his new ministerial colleagues, the Chief Minister remarked with a laugh: "It does not take long to complete the exercise.." The Chief Minister’s statement is expected to send ministerial aspirants into a fresh round of activity, lobbying with those who matter in the power structure and making visits to Badal’s office and residence at Chandigarh. Mr Badal had earlier stated that the ministry would be expanded immediately after the annual election of the office bearers of the SGPC which took place on November 10. With the election out of the way and Bibi Jagir Kaur firmly in the saddle as the SGPC chief for another term, political circles here are of the view that there is now no ostensible reason for the Chief Minister to delay the expansion. But with the Chief Minister showing little sign of any movement in the direction of expanding the Cabinet in the last one week, there was speculation in political circles that perhaps Mr Badal wanted to put off the enlargement until after the election of the panchayat and zila parishads slated for the close of next month. There was considerably uncertainty in the Akali Dal on this score during the past few days, with the Chief Minister keeping his cards close to his chest. Mr Badal’s remarks of today will set at rest speculation. Mr Badal’s ministry has at present seven "vacancies". Five ministers resigned last year to throw their lot with the SHSAD supremo, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra. These include Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Mr Inderjit Singh Zira, Mr Harmel Singh and Mr Surjit Singh Kohli. Another minister, Mr Sarup Singh, died while Bibi Jagir Kaur resigned to become president of the SGPC in place of Mr Tohra. The Chief Minister is on record as having indicated that he would like to have at least one more minister from the BJP, taking the party’s tally to eight. Meanwhile, Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, a local MLA, made it clear today that he was not in the race for a ministerial post. Mr Garcha, who represents Qila Raipur in the Punjab Assembly, said he was of the view that the Badal ministry was already sizeable and there was hardly any scope for its further enlargement. Ideally, the strength of the ministry should have been only 10 per cent of the 117-member state assembly. Ludhiana is among the districts not represented in the Badal ministry despite the fact that it is the most populous and the hub of industrial, commercial and political activity. Mr Maheshinder Singh Grewal MLA from Ludhiana, resigned last year. There is speculation
that Mr Badal might include either the Assembly Speaker,
Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal or Mr Satpal Gosain, a BJP MLA
in his ministry. |
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1.2 cr memorial to Kartar
Singh LUDHIANA, Nov 16 — Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, has announced that a befitting memorial on the pattern of Jallianwala Bagh would be constructed at a cost of Rs 1.25 crore on a 2-acre plot in memory of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha at his native Sarabha village and a grant of Rs 40 lakh had already been released for this. The ancestral house of the martyr would also be preserved as a national monument so that future generations could get inspiration from him, Mr Badal said while addressing a shaheedi conference organised on the 52nd martyrdom day of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha. Earlier, he paid floral tributes at the statue of the martyr. The Chief Minister said Shaheed Kartar Singh was the youngest martyr, who sacrificed his life at the age of 19 and inculcated the spirit of patriotism amongst the fellow revolutionaries. Following in his footsteps, other martyrs of Punjab, including Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Sukhdev Singh, Shaheed Udham Singh and Lala Lajpat Rai, made a contribution to the freedom movement. During the Kargil conflict too, the sons of Punjab had sacrificed their lives in large numbers. The martyrs were national heroes. The Chief Minister announced that an annual grant of Rs 1 lakh would be released for the Sports Club and an NOC for the dental college constructed in memory of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha would be issued immediately. The Chief Minister also inaugurated the link road from Sarabha to Leel village and distributed prizes to winners of a sports tournament. Mr Tota Singh, Education Minister, announced that a chapter on great martyrs and gurus would be introduced in school syllabi from the next academic session. It would also be made compulsory to apprise students regarding the patriotic deeds of each martyr. Among those who paid
tributes to the martyr were Jathedar Jagdev Singh
Talwandi, Mr Arun Goel, Deputy Commissioner, Mr P.S.
Sandhu, DIG, Ludhiana Range, Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, Mr
Mal Singh Ghuman, Mr Sadhu Singh Ghudani, all MLAs, Mr
Amrik Singh Aliwal, former MP, and Mr Sharanjit Singh
Dhillon. |
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Registration must for chit fund firms AMRITSAR, Nov 16 (UNI) — In order to protect the interests of the investors who put their money into private chit fund companies, the Punjab Government has directed all such companies functioning in the state to get it registered or they would be proceeded against. In a notification sent to all district headquarters the government had categorically stated that under the latest Chit Fund Act and rules framed by the government no chit fund could be commenced or conducted without obtaining previous sanction of the government. As per the notification the Additional Deputy Commissioners (Development) had been appointed as Joint Registrars of their respective districts and they would exercise all powers of a registrar or registering authority. The district ADC (Development), Mr Anurab Gupta, said here today that any company or individual desirous of running a chit fund had to furnish proper security to the Registrar so that the interests of the investors were safeguarded in case of any eventuality. No company would be allowed to function without getting itself registered with the Registrar that is the ADC (Development), he added. He said before starting a chit fund it would be mandatory to get a chit agreement registered. This agreement should contain all detailed information as prescribed in the Chit Fund Act, he added. He said all chit fund
companies were supposed to maintain detailed records
which could be inspected at any time by the Registrar or
the Reserve Bank of India. |
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Give share in power to youth,
Badal urged CHANDIGARH, Nov 16 — The AISSF headed by Dr Manjit Singh Bhoma has urged Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal to give due share to youth in political power. Expressing concern over what it described as non-representation of youth in the SAD-led government in Punjab, Dr Manjit Singh Bhoma in a statement issued here today said that the youth, especially, AISSF members, had made immense sacrifices in the Sikh agitations in the state and also played a crucial role in the historic win of the Shiromani Akali Dal in the last Vidhan Sabha elections. The AISSF leader said that Mr Badal should give due recognition to the role of the AISSF in Sikh agitations by giving a share in power to youth. The statement has been issued under the signatures of Mr Amarjit Singh Pathankot, general secretary of the federation. The AISSF said Mr Adesh Partap Singh and Mr Manpreet Singh Badal should be given berths in the Cabinet headed by Mr Badal during the next proposed expansion. Both Mr Manpreet Singh and Mr Adesh Partap Singh were highly educated MLAs. The federation leaders reminded Mr Badal that Mr Surjit Singh Barnala had given representation to Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra in his Cabinet by making him Minister for Cooperation. While all castes had been given due representation in the government, it would be in order to give representation to youth, the AISSF said. Mr Badal was also urged to get Mr Tirlochan Singh Tur inducted into the Central Cabinet where Punjab is not represented as yet. The AISSF also urged the
Chief Minister to set up a high-level commission to probe
the moveable and immovable property of top IAS, PCS and
IPS officers in the state. |
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Hike calamity fund, pleads
Punjab CHANDIGARH, Nov 16 — Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today presented the state’s case before the 11th National Finance Commission. He sought the creation of a minimum corpus of Rs 10,000 crore for providing relief to states, redefining of Centre-state relations through amendments to the Constitution and decentralisation of the planning process to the block level, according to a press note. Mr Badal said the Planning Commission should only draw a strategic plan for the country and demanded a lumpsum assistance for schemes to be prepared by the state government. He demanded a drastic change in the criteria for devolution of taxes to the state. He asked for increasing the calamity fund for Punjab from Rs 285 to Rs 600 crore and a special grant-in-aid. Dr A.M. Khusro, Chairman of the Finance Commission, appreciated the steps taken by the state government to restore financial discipline. He said the contribution of the secondary sector to the state economy had gone up from 18.48 per cent in 1980-81 to 27.39 per cent in 1996-97. Dr Khusro urged the Punjab Government to review the subsidies given to different sectors and also take steps to supplement the resources of panchayats and municipalities. Finance Minister
Kanwaljit Singh while elaborating the steps taken in this
direction by the government said sales tax on petrol,
diesel and other items had been hiked, tax administration
was being strengthened and concessions in bus travel to
certain sections of society had been slashed. |
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SGPC chief wants more Sikh
judges AMRITSAR, Nov 16 — In a communication to the President of India, the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice, the SGPC has urged due representation for the Sikhs in the Supreme Court and High Courts. Talking to TNS, Bibi Jagir Kaur, President, SGPC, said today that the representation of Sikhs in the judiciary had declined. This was a matter of concern. The SGPC had unanimously passed a resolution for due representation to the Sikhs in courts and the Law Department at its annual general house meeting on November 10. The resolution reads: "There is not a single Sikh in the Supreme Court at present. The strength of Sikh judges has declined. Earlier the Punjab and Haryana High Court had about 50 per cent Sikh judges. However, now there are only six Sikh judges out of a total of 29. What is worse, there is not a single Sikh Law Officer in the Legal Department of the Central Government." The resolution further reads that the Central Government should take appropriate measures to streamline the recruitment policy of judges in various courts for ensuring due representation to minorities. It says: "Though
there is one rule for appointing judicial and
constitutional officers in the country, yet there is
practice of unwritten agreements which ensure due
representation to all". |
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Growing permissiveness in
Ludhiana LUDHIANA: Scene 1 Location: A recreational joint near Fountain Chowk. Time: 6.30 p.m. onwards. A couple of girls clad in jeans and skimpy tops stand near the four odd pool and billiards tables, supposedly to assist the customers. For Rs 150 an hour, the customers — mostly young men — pay the highest price for playing pool in the city. And quite understandably, for they also have the added advantage of flirting around with the girls. Scene 2 Location: A daily needs shop-cum-cafe on Pakhowal Road. Time: 1 p.m. Rickety iron stairs lead one down the basement, which has around eight tables. Three of the tables in this dingy room are occupied by couples, indulging in varying degrees of physical intimacy. Ironically, a cardboard placard pasted on one of the walls reads-’Kissing is strictly prohibited.’ Scene 3 Location: A fast-food joint in Ghumar Mandi Time: 12 noon. Right in the epicentre of this uptown market, the basement of this fast-food joint is frequented by teenagers studying in the nearby colleges. Couples huddled close together on the various tables. Scene 4 Location: Nehru Rose Garden Time: 12.30 p.m. The landscaping of this garden, with tall bushes provides a safe retreat for those young ones wanting to share a private moment with their beloved and without having to pay for it. The denizens of this industrial megapolis are witnessing a gradual shift in the old value system, with permissiveness in the city’s residents fast gaining ground as greater sexual freedom brings the hitherto taboo subjects out from the closets. The growing permissive behaviour of the bold and the beautiful; young and not-so-young of Ludhiana in now out in the public parks, restaurants, social gatherings, besides the discotheques and the pubs. Says Mrs Sudarshan Sood, Chairperson of the Lakshmi Ladies Club and a known socialite, "What is alarming is that the permissive behaviour is now part of not just the elite classes, but has pervaded almost all socio-economic classes." Being one of the richest cities in Northern India with a high literacy rate, the city residents seem to have adopted the permissive culture of the West during their frequent travels abroad; the easy availability of foreign literature and exposure to the other forms of Western media — courtesy their high paying capacity. However, until a few years ago, the city residents believed and practised that discretion was the better part of valour, especially while exhibiting their sexual freedom. Key clubs — where partners were exchanged strictly for a ‘one night stand’ — have been a part of the city’s social circles for a long time but all behind the closed doors. But things seem to have reversed over the past couple of years, with even the standards of socially acceptable behaviour having undergone a sea-change. While even the holding of hands, or the slightest kind of physical intimacy, a few years ago,would have raised many a eye-brow, today a peck on the cheek is regarded as an acceptable form of greeting in the city’s social circles, laments a socialite, who does not wish to go on record. These days most parties in the city are considered incomplete without the nautch girls — as a result flesh and money both make an ugly appearance on these occasions. Interestingly, various caterers doing a brisk business in the city, owe their success to a certain extent to the waitresses they employ for serving alcohol. These waitresses are known to entertain the guests ‘as and how desired.’ Opines Dr Harnek Singh, a Sociologist in the Department of Economics and Sociology, Punjab Agricultural University: "Although the exposure to the Western culture and lifestyle through the mass media has played a significant role in bringing about permissiveness in society, it is the subsequent decline in the family system that is mainly to blame." Dr Singh explains that
the shift in our traditions and culture has been a result
of the family no longer having the desired common goals
for the young members as they are allowed the freedom of
thought and expression, without any sense of
responsibility. "Today very few families teach their
children our own culture and ethos. Reared on MTV and
Channel V, they succumb to and adopt the behavioural
patterns exhibited through these channels, thus bypassing
our own value systems." |
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Gang of vehicle thieves
busted JALANDHAR, Nov 16 — The police has busted a major gang of inter-district vehicle thieves and cheats with the arrest of three persons and recovery of seven vehicles, including four cars and three scooters. The SSP, Mr Gaurav Yadav, stated here today that following a tip-off that a gang involved in stealing vehicles and then preparing forged papers was active in the area, a case was registered and a special operation launched under the supervision of Mr Amar Singh Chahal, SP (city-II) and Mr Dharam Singh, DSP (city-II). Last evening, three persons were arrested by a police party headed by SI Harjinder Singh from near the bus stand. Those arrested are Amandip Singh, alias Tinku, Mohinder Pal Singh, alias Chaska, Karanpal Singh, alias Cheeku. A Maruti Zen car (PB-08U-4347), a Maruti car (PB-08G-0014), a Bajaj scooter (PB-08E-1505), an LML Vespa scooter, two mobile phones, one credit card of Standard Chartered Bank, fake registration certificates and driving licences were among the items recovered from the three. The SSP stated that all three arrested persons belonged to good families and have had a moderate educational background. Preliminary questioning revealed that the accused were inspired to take to stealing cars and preparing false documents by seeing several other students of REC, Jalandhar. Amandip Singh was the
alleged kingpin of the group. Raids are being conducted
for rounding up other persons involved in these
activities. |
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KCF plans to blow up petrol
depots BATHINDA, Nov 16 — Various oil companies having LPG bottling plants, storage depots of petrol and diesel, gas agencies and oil installations in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are worried over the reported latest plan of militants to cause damage to such installations. Official sources said after receiving informations regarding the dangerous design of militants, the managements of these companies had taken up the matter with the police of their respective areas to take necessary steps to prevent any untoward incident. Sources said oil companies had received intelligence input from their Delhi-based headquarter that pro-Pak militants were planning sabotage in some of the vital installations. According to the input, the Pakistani-based chief of the Khalistan Commando Force (Panjwar group) is reported to have asked his men to carry out explosion in a number of vital installations, including major gas agencies, oil installations, storage depots, LPG bottling plants and gas-based fertiliser units in Punjab, Haryana and western UP. The report said the modus operandi of the KCF activists would be that they might steal or hijack light motor vehicles, pack them with explosives and park them adjacent to the oil and other vital installations to cause damage. They could also use grenades and rockets against oil installations and storage depots. Sources said the police had been put on maximum alert after the bomb blast in a train near Jammu. Senior police officials of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab had also held a meeting to evolve the strategy to thwart the militants’ plan before they could strike any where. The police authorities,
sources said, had beefed up the security around vital
installations, including the Kandla-Bathinda pipeline in
this region. |
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Postponement of poll SAD seeks EC nod CHANDIGARH, Nov 16 — The SAD has made a submission to the Election Commission of India for postponing its organisational elections till February next year. The SAD’s organisational elections are scheduled to be held on December 24. In a representation to the Election Commission of India, the SAD has stated that in December the Zila Parishad elections will be held. It will be an extensive exercise as almost all eligible voters in the countryside would be involved in this exercise. The organisational elections, also an extensive exercise, would not be possible in December due to the Zila Parishad elections, Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar, Secretary of the party, told TNS that the Election Commission had been requested to accept the party’s submission and allow it to hold the organisational elections in February. In fact, the party’s organisational elections were due to be held in June-July this year. But the SAD made a request to the Election Commission for postponing the organisational elections keeping in view the Lok Sabha elections. The Election Commission had accepted the SAD’s plea then. Meanwhile, Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar said the membership enrolment exercise had been completed. It came to an end on October 31. Two committees had been set up by Mr Parkash Singh Badal to dispose of complaints with regard to enrolment. While one committee will
scrutinise and dispose of complaints pertaining to Ropar,
Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa, Bathinda,
Ferozepore, Faridkot, Moga, Muktsar districts and the
Chandigarh unit of the party, the other will deal with
Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Kapurthala
and Gurdaspur districts. Mr Badungar said Punjab had been
divided into two zones for this purpose. |
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WB okays watershed project CHANDIGARH, Nov 16 — The World Bank has approved the second phase of the integrated watershed development project (hills) for five states with an outlay of $ 193 million (1999-2005). Punjab’s Financial Commissioner, Development, Mr Y.S. Ratra, told TNS here today that an interface in the form of a two-day "launch workshop" would be held here from tomorrow in which representatives from five states would meet the World Bank team led by Dr Hamdy Eisa. The participating states were Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal, Haryana and UP. In the first phase of the project UP, was not covered. That project was implemented between 1990 and 1999. In fact, the second-phase implementation had already begun. Mr Ratra said independent evaluation studies in Punjab had shown positive achievements and a substantial contribution towards resource conservation (soil erosion and checking run-off water) and economic development the rural economy had improved so did environment and health of forests. People’s involvement was an added advantage the crop and milk yields increased manifold women found economically beneficial vocations. In Punjab, the project would cover 17 sub-watershed areas covering a gross area of about 94,000 hectares and a population of over lakh in 270 villages. This project was essentially for the "kandi" belt or the area in the Shivalik foot-hills. The project was so designed that there was contiguity of this area in all five states. Mr Ratra said about one-tenth of the state, as a submountainous region, was such an island of underdevelopment in an ocean of prosperity that it demanded watershed development as a major strategy which the World Bank assistance would would provide. In fact, after the kandi watershed and area development project (1980-88) the World Bank launched the IWDP (I) and now IWDP (II). The outlay for IWDP (I) was Rs 912.54 million. There was a proposal to set up a common state-level empowered committee for all watershed development projects. The second phase would lay special emphasis on building the capacity of communities to take responsibility for maintaining assets created under the project. The range of activities would encompass upgradation and improvement of 250-km rural roads, attention to five focal points, water harvesting for minor irrigation and domestic, livestock improvement. The World Bank would be approached for assistance to construct a multi-storeyed office complex for the directorates of soil conservation and agriculture in Mohali a similar assistance was given to Haryana for raising "kandi bhavan" in Panchkula. The Project Director and Special Secretary to the government, Mr R.N. Dogra, said independent evaluation studies, both by Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, and by the Institute for Development and Communication, Chandigarh. While appreciating the
work done under the IWDP (I) also pointed to the soft
areas requiring more attention. But it was highlighted in
the evaluation reports that "women have made a
substantial contribution to the rural economy." As
many as 80 per cent women were today engaged in tending
livestock; 70 per cent in fuelwood collection; 58 per
cent in fodder collection; and 48 per cent in crop
production. Another 34 per cent were employed in rope
making and 21 per cent in "bhabbar grass harvesting? |
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Women's education must: Governor JALANDHAR, Nov 16 — Ms V.S. Rama Devi, Governor of Himachal Pradesh, today stressed the need for women's education, underlining its importance as an effective instrument of bringing about socio-economic transformation. Speedy development and progress could only be achieved by educating women, who constitute about half the population, she said. The Governor was speaking at the annual convocation of Kanya Mahavidyalaya here. Ms Rama Devi said that educated women could not only improve the family but enrich the nation as well with their capability and contribution. She lauded the Arya Shiksha Mandal and Kanya Mahavidyalaya for their contribution to women's education. Educating children and even older people was a massive task which required huge resources. She called upon private and voluntary organisations to come forward in supplementing the government's efforts in providing qualitative education. She called for a self-supporting education system, wherein the resources would be mobilised through remunerative work done by the students. She laid emphasis on industrial and vocational training in educational institutions to prepare the youths to start self-employment ventures. More attention needed to be given to inculcating a sense of discipline and dedication amongst the students besides character building and upholding moral views. She asked girl students to come forward for eliminating social evils from society. She also called upon them to strengthen the family structure as it provided the economic and moral security and support to its members. Girls should translate their education and experience for improving their families and the nation in their day-to-day life. Mr Chander Mohan, Editor, Vir Pratap, who is also the President of the Arya Shiksha Mandal, while welcoming the chief guest, detailed the services and contribution of Kanya Mahavidyalaya in the field of women's education. Dr Mrs K. Ratna,
Principal, Kanya Mahavidyalaya, read out the college
report. She also conferred degrees on the successful
candidates of the college. As many as 429 girl students
were awarded degrees in various disciplines. |
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Major towns to have master
plans CHANDIGARH, Nov 16 — The Punjab Government has decided to prepare master plans for all major cities and towns. This was decided at a meeting of the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Board presided over by Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal according to a press note issued here today. The board also approved the declaration of 16,642 hectares of land adjacent to SAS Nagar as a planning area under the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act,1995. Following this, the comprehensive perspective planning of the area would be possible and no change of land use would be permitted without permission of the competent authority. The board also approved the suggestion of Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh to plan a comprehensive road network for SAS Nagar, joining it directly with Zirakpur, Banur and Landran, respectively. It was also decided to have a similar planning area for the villages of Punjab adjacent to Sukhna Lake, Punjab Civil Secretariat and the PGI. A similar planning area for Anandpur Sahib was also approved. The board also decided
to declare land adjacent to ‘Science City’ on
the Kapurthala-Jalandhar highway as a planning area so as
to curb unauthorised colonisation. It also decided to
initiate a similar process for Ludhiana, Jalandhar,
Amritsar, Moga, Muktsar, Nawanshahar and Faridkot. |
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Move to erode panchayat power
flayed CHANDIGARH, Nov 16 — Mr Balwant Singh, Secretary, Punjab State Committee of the CPM in a statement today condemned the proposed amendments to the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act 1994, by the Badal Government through an ordinance by which percentage of directly elected samiti members will be reduced from 40 to 30 and percentage of indirectly elected samiti members from among sarpanches will be increased from 60 to 70. In a press note he said the move was retrograde, undemocratic and militated against democratic principles of effectively involving the people in the developmental activity of the state. The statement also demanded that the steep hike in the price of diesel be withdrawn and the bus fare hike, made stealthily, also be withdrawn. He expressed shock and
grief over the bomb blast in a train near Pathankot. |
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‘Harassment’ of Muslims flayed PHAGWARA, Nov 16 — Members of the Muslims wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal, local circle, at a meeting today, presided over by Mr Mohammad Ashfaque Khan, flayed alleged harassment of Muslims by some intelligence agencies and the police. Mr Sayed Nazir Ahmed, general secretary of the Muslim wing, who was also present, said the meeting also alleged that Muslims faced lot of hardships in burying their dead because of the illegal possession of the Waqf Board property by land sharks. He alleged that land mafia had even encroached upon masjid land causing inconvenience in observing namaz. Their burying places in
Nangal, Sapror and here were being desecrated by
unscrupulous elements with activities like gambling,
drinking and drugs, said Mr Ahmed. The Punjab Government
was also urged to ensure that possession of these Muslims
lands should be given to the community which should also
be given 15 per cent reservation, added Mr Ahmed. |
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No viscera report even
after 55 days ROPAR, Nov 16 — Even after 55 days, the authorities concerned here have yet to receive the viscera examination report of Devinder Singh, alias Bhola, a truck driver from Hasanpur, near Kharar, from the Patiala office of the Chemical Examiner to the Government of Punjab. Devinder Singh, had died on September 18 last in the custody of the CIA staff here. The post-mortem examination of Bhola was conducted by a board of four doctors — Dr H.P. Kayath, Dr Pawan Sharma, Dr Anil Diwan and Dr H.N. Sharma — on September 19 at the local civil hospital. The board was set up by the Civil Surgeon, Dr Rajinder Singh, on the orders of the then Deputy Commissioner, Mr K.S. Sidhu. Talking to TNS here today, Dr Kayath said the viscera of the deceased had been sent on the same day to the Chemical Examiner at Patiala but he had not received the report so far. Dr Rajinder Singh, in reply to a question, said here today that the Health authorities normally got a viscera examination report in about 40 days but in some cases it took some months to reach them. He also confirmed that the viscera examination report of Devinder Singh had not been received even after 55 days. It is learnt that the Punjab State Human Rights Commission has also directed the SSP, Ropar, to take prompt steps to collect the report of the Chemical Examiner and send its copy to the commission. Mr Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, SSP, said here today that the police had sent two or three reminders to the Chemical Examiner, seeking the viscera examination report, but they had not received any reply so far. Devinder Singh, along
with three youths — Inderjit Singh, Karnail Singh
and Sapinder Singh — of Hasanpur village was
arrested on September 18 on the charge of possesssing an
assault rifle. Bhola died on the same day in the custody
of the CIA staff here. Later, after a preliminary
inquiry, the Ropar police registered a case under Section
302 of the IPC on September 18 against Malwinder Singh
Malhi, SI of the CIA staff, and other police officials.
Six policemen, including a retired police inspector, were
arrested. They are now in judicial custody till November
22. |
||
‘Humiliated’ trader commits suicide LUDHIANA, Nov 16 — A local businessman, Joginder Singh, 50, committed suicide on Saturday by consuming a pesticide allegedly after being insulted by a business associate for not being able to pay back dues amounting to Rs 9.50 lakh. According to an FIR registered at the Sadar police station, Joginder Singh had gone over to a firm along with his son Manjit Singh to place orders for iron bars for his nuts manufacturing business. The FIR registered on the complaint of the son of the deceased, states that the owner of the firm Narinder Kapoor and his son Sachin Kapoor humiliated them and abused them for not repaying the dues. The FIR further alleges that the Kapoors forcibly made the deceased sign some property documents in lieu of the money owed to them. Joginder Singh is learnt to have consumed the pesticide on reaching home. He was rushed to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, where he breathed his last. The FIR was registered
by the police on the next day under Sections 306 and 34
of the IPC. No arrest has been made so far in this case. |
||
Mann flays move to revive
TADA PHAGWARA, Nov 16 — Member of Parliament and chief of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) Simranjit Singh Mann today denounced the move of BJP-led Central government to revive the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA). Talking to newsmen here, Mr Mann alleged that TADA had earlier been used and now again would be used against minorities, particularly Sikhs in Punjab and Muslims in Gujarat and Maharashtra. Hundreds of TADA victims were still languishing in jails, he alleged. "I am an old TADA victim as arrest warrants against me and orders of attachment of my property are still pending against me," he said. Mr Mann asked Chief
Minister Parkash Singh Badal to take decision to send
Sikh jathas to Pakistan, particularly on Guru
Nanak’s birth anniversary on November 23. |
||
Breakthrough in murder case AMRITSAR, Nov 16 — The Amritsar police has obtained vital clues in the sensational murder of Naresh Mahajan, Manager, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Putlighar, here. The police has reportedly issued warrants against five persons, including senior officers of the bank and two leaders of the Congress. The gruesome murder was reportedly a result of "parallel banking". However, the suspects have gone underground. The Director-General of Police is likely to transfer the case to the crime branch in Chandigarh on the basis of a request made by the relatives of the deceased. Earlier, the case had
been hushed up. |
||
MCPI flays hike in diesel,
bus fares LUDHIANA, Nov 16 — On the call of the Punjab state committee of the Marxist Communist Party of India (MCPI) a convention was organised in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office here today. People from various districts of Punjab participated in it. The convention while condemning diesel, petrol, domestic gas and recently hiked bus fares in the state, demanded its immediate withdrawal. It called upon the central and state government to curtail superfluous expenses of bureaucrats and curb wastage of resources, instead of putting burden on the common man. The convention was
addressed among others by Mr Jagjit Singh Lyallpuri,
General Secretary, Mr Uma Shankar Singh. |
||
BDS interview postponed AMRITSAR, Nov 16 — The date of declaration of the result and that of interview for the BDS Joint Migration Test 1999 (2nd professional) which was conducted by Guru Nanak Dev University on behalf of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, and was scheduled to be declared on November 15 and 18, respectively, stands postponed on account of administrative reasons. This was stated by Dr
R.S. Bawa, Registrar and coordinator of the test.
However, new date for the declaration of the result and
for holding of interview will be notified later, he
added. |
||
Badal's assurance to Christians CHANDIGARH, Nov 16 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal said today that the Shiormani Akali Dal-BJP Government stood for secularism and would protect the interests of all minority communities and ensure them full religious freedom. Addressing a deputation of the Christian community led by Mr Manwar Masih member Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board, Mr Badal said all religions were equal in the eyes of the Indian Constitution. He said religion unites people and can never divide them, according to an official press note. He said nobody had any
right to interfere in anybody's religious affairs and
lauded the contribution of the Christian community. |
||
PSIEC named resource agency CHANDIGARH, Nov 16 — The Punjab State Council for Science and Technology has been nominated as Regional Resource Agency (RRA) for the seventh consecutive year for the implementation of the National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC) in Punjab, according to a press note issued here today. The theme of the this year campaign is to keep the "environment clean and green". In this connection a
seminar-cum-workshop was organised by the council in
collaboration with Central Scientific Instruments
Organisation. |
||
Charitable hospital opened at
Humbaran LUDHIANA, Nov 16 — Avon Cycles Limited has opened a charitable hospital at Humbaran village, 15 km from here, to cater to 39 villages in the area. This hospital, called Kaushalya Devi Pahwa Charitable Hospital, is managed by a trust headed by Mr Sohan Lal Pahwa. Talking to mediapersons at the hospital, Mr Pahwa said the hospital was providing allopathic, homeopathic and yunani treatment to patients. It had a 24-hour emergency service, OPDs in general medicine, dental and gynaecology. The hospital had been set up at a cost of Rs 1 crore and another corpus of Rs 1crore was being set up to meet the routine recurring expenses of operation and management. To meet the in-house
requirement of ayurvedic drugs, over 100 varieties of
herbs and medicinal plants are being grown on the
hospital farm. |
||
Balidan Jyoti taken to Delhi DHUDIKE (Moga), Nov 16 (UNI) — Punjab Kesari Lala Lajpat Rai Balidan Jyoti was taken to New Delhi from his birth place here today after a special prayer meeting at Lalaji’s memorial. The prayer meeting was attended by a large number of Congress workers, including former Punjab Minister Malti Thapar, Moga city Congress president Shyam Lal, Servants of People Society Secretary Satyapal and a large numebr of freedom fighters. The Congress leaders eulogised the services of the great freedom fighter and took a pledge to follow in his foot steps and to work wholeheartedly to maintain unity and integrity of the country. The Jyoti was first taken to Moga and after being taken round the town, it was taken to New Delhi under the leadership of Dr Malti Thapar. Tomorrow, the martyrdom
day of Lala Lajpat Rai, the Balidan Jyoti will be kept at
the office of All-India Congress Committee. |
||
1 killed in accident LUDHIANA, Nov 16 —Chaksjot Singh (15), a student of Sacred Heart High School, was killed in a road accident this morning after an autorickshaw in which he was travelling overturned after being hit by a car. According to the police,
the accident occurred near the Nanaksar Gurdwara around
8.45 a.m. when a car (PB-10 AK-2030) hit the autorickshaw
from behind. Twelve other children were injured. No
arrest has been made so far. |
||
Five killed as car hits truck MOGA, Nov 16 (PTI) — All five occupants of a Maruti car, including three boys and two girls aged between 20-23, died on the spot when their car hit a truck near Jagat Sewak Khalsa College for Girls on the Moga-Ludhiana road, 10 km from here, today. The deceased were identified as Mohit Sachdeva, Omkar Dass and Kamal Kumar, all residents of Moga, the police said the girls killed, were Karamjit Kaur, and Sukhvinder Kaur. The latter was a
resident of Kamoh Majra in Sangrur. |
||
Mandi Board threaten stir AMRITSAR, Nov 16 — The Punjab Mandi Board Workers’ Union today threatened to launch an agitation if the state government failed to release bonus to the employees at the earliest. Employees also held a rally today in protest against the alleged dilly-dallying attitude of the state government towards its demands. Among those who spoke on
the occasion included Mr Hardev Singh Sandhu, Mr Devinder
Singh Gill and Mr Jagtar Singh of the union. |
||
Kerosene racket uncovered GURDASPUR, Nov 16 — The Pathankot police (Division No. 1) has unearthed a racket of sale of kerosene on the black market. The oil was meant for sale at the Abrol Nagar ration depot under the public distribution system. According to Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, Sarvesh Kumar had been arrested in this connection whereas his accomplices, Bishamber Dass Mahajan and his son, Rajinder Kumar, owners of the Abrol Nagar depot were absconding. He said on specific information, the police yesterday raided the Petha factory, Abrol Nagar, where Sarvesh Kumar was working as a labourer and recovered 80 litres of kerosene from him. The oil was reportedly purchased by him from the depot at Rs 10 a litre. The SSP said the accused confessed that he had been purchasing kerosene from the depot for sale in the open market. The owners of the depot had been making fake entries of ration card holders against the kerosene sold to him. A case under Section 7
of the Essential Commodities Act has been registered. |
||
Plea to recognise bank body LUDHIANA, Nov 16 — The Indian Bank Employees Congress (INBEC) has held its 10th biennial conference at Nehru Sidhant Kendra here under the president of Mr Sunil Shashtri, a former Labour Minister Uttar Pradesh. Leaders who spoke on the
occasion demanded that the wage revision due from
November 1997 as per settlement on May 12, 1999, should
be implemented without any delay. The conference urged
the Indian Banks Association to recognise the INBEC for
negotiations as it had been participating in all
negotiations since 1974. |
||
Launch war against smoking:
expert AMRITSAR, Nov 16 — War against smoking need to be launched in India for preventing cases of heart diseases amongst younger people. These views were
expressed by Dr Raman Puri, cardiologist from Apollo
Hospital, Delhi. He was here in connection with a
day-long free medical check up camp organised by the
Indian Medical Association. |
||
Two clerks suspended LUDHIANA, Nov 16 — The Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Mr S.S. Sandhu, has placed two clerks of the tehabazari branch under suspension for allegedly harassing shopkeepers outside the Aggar Nagar market by collecting "special charges of tehabazari on the occasion of Divali." The two clerks who have
been suspended are Mr Jatinder Bhalla and Mr Arun Khanna. |
||
Ahmadiyas: shun western ways QADIAN, Nov 16 — On
the third day of the week-long annual Ahmadiya conference
here, the Professor of astrology, Usmania University, Dr
Saheb Mohammad Allahdin, cautioned against the prevailing
western culture and suggested that the community should
remain away from its influence. |
||
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||
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