AMRITSAR
PSEB EMPLOYEES: The Punjab State Electricity Board Employees Federation, in a press note here on Saturday, urged the state government and the board to accept the demands of the employees. The federation has been demanding regularisation of services of ad hoc employees and abolishment of the ACR system. Mr Tehal Singh, president of the federation, threatened to launch an agitation if the demands were not met.

PROTEST RALLY: Members of the Unemployed Multipurpose Health Workers Union held a protest rally in the constituency of the Punjab Health Minister, Dr Baldev Raj Chawla, here on Saturday. They urged the government to release result of the interviews held in April and issue appointment letters.

TEA EXPORT: The green tea export from the city is likely to get a boost when the interim government takes over in Afghanistan on December 22. According to Mr Rajinder Goel, president of the Amritsar Tea Traders Association, tea export had suffered due to political turmoil in Afghanistan. The association would write to the Afghanistan ambassador in this connection, Mr Goel said.

BATHINDA
BLOOD DONATION CAMP: A blood donation camp was organised by the Young Blood Club at the district Civil Hospital on Saturday evening. Mr Tinku Grover, general secretary, Punjab Youth Congress, was the chief guest on the occasion. Twentyfive volunteers donated blood.

HOSHIARPUR
SUICIDE: Kuljit Singh died after he consumed some poisonous substance here on Saturday. A case has been registered under Section 306 of the IPC against Balwinder Kumar whose threats allegedly forced Kuljit to commit suicide, the police said.

LIQUOR SEIZED: The Tanda police seized 45,000 ml of illicit liquor from Ganga Singh of Miani on Saturday. The Hajipur police also seized 9000 ml of IMFL from Som Raj. Both have been booked under the Excise Act.

JALANDHAR
TRAFFIC AWARENESS: A 15-day traffic awareness campaign launched by the police culminated on Saturday with the setting up of a road safety cell and distribution of information booklets on traffic rules among school children and traffic policemen. The cell was inaugurated by the IG, Mr J.P. Virdi, at Police Division No. 2 complex.

KAPURTHALA
MONEY STOLEN: Harbans Singh, a resident of Sukhjit Nagar, was cheated of Rs 1.16 lakh by an unidentified person on Saturday. According to the police, when Harbans Singh parked his scooter in front of his house, a man diverted his attention and decamped with a bag containing the money.

NAHAN
SANCTIONED: An amount of Rs 5.39 crore has been sanctioned under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund for various development schemes in Sirmaur this year, Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kaushal said at a meeting here. Construction of a 4.25 km road in Paonta, a 12.5 km road in Nahan, a 14-km road in Pacchad and a bridge over the Tons river in Shillai would be undertaken.

BANKS WARNED: At a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner, AGM Nabard Nirmal Chand expressed surprise that certain banks were charging a fee for issuing no-due certificate to loanees of priority section schemes. Mr D.K. Meena from the RBI said action would be taken against these banks.

PATHANKOT
MUSHAIRA: The Pathankot quiz masters organised a mushaira here on Saturday. The programme was presided over by Urdu poet Rajinder Nath Rehbar. Ravi Zia, Puran Ehsan, Rakesh Nudrat and Banke Bahadur Arora were among those who participated.

SCOOTER RALLY: Activists of the Pathankot Vikas Manch organised a scooter rally on Sunday. President of the manch Rajesh Mahajan, said the aim of the rally was to urge the government to start a government college in the area.

PHILLAUR
FOG SIGNALS: The Northern Railway has installed fog signal posts near all railway stations. Railway officials said fire-crackers would be burst near the signal posts to give green light to train drivers on a foggy day.

PRACHAR MANCH: Mr Ravinder Talwar, Principal, DAV Senior Secondary School, and Mr Narinder Thakur have been elected chairman and general secretary of the Dayanand Prachar Manch, respectively. The manch is an organisation committed tot he ideology of Swami Dayanand. The organisation has taken up the task of uplifting the down-trodden. The major thrust area for the manch in the coming year will be on educating the girl child to make her self reliant. 

NAGAR KIRTAN: A nagar kirtan will start at noon tomorrow from the Sector 22 gurdwara and will conclude at the Sector 38 gurdwara in the evening. Mr Sardul Singh Vilkhu, convener, Nagar Kirtan Coordination Committee, said that the nagar kirtan would pass through bus stand, Sector 8 gurdwara, Sector 7 and 19, Jama Masjid, Sector 20, Sector 20 market, Sectors 21, 22, 23 gurdwara and Sector 37.

FELICITATION: The Punjab Governor and UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob, on Sunday extended heartiest felicitation to all the people on the eve of Id-ul-fitr. In a message, the Administrator said that let this day promote compassion, love and brotherhood amongst all people, ushering in an era of peace and prosperity in the country. He called upon the people to celebrate this festival collectively in true spirit of Punjabiat.

DIABETIC CAMP: A free diabetic detection camp was organised on Sunday at Chhabra Clinic, Sector 30, Chandigarh. Around 60 patients were checked for blood sugar, out of which 50 per cent were found positive for blood suger. Medicines were provided free of cost to patients by Nichdlas Piramal India Ltd, and free consultation was provided by Dr Manuj Chhabra. Blood sugar camp is organised on third Sunday of every month from 9 am to 12 pm at the clinic. 

MEDICAL CAMP: Dr Rameshwar Chander, Director Health Services, UT, inaugurated a free hypertension and diabetes check-up camp on Sunday at Government High School, Kajehri, and stressed the need to take preventive measures to cope with and control hypertension and diabetes, whose incidence have been rising steadily in the country. The camp was organised by the Kusum Arora Memorial Trust in collaboration with the UT Health Department for the benefit of the genearl public in the village.

CONFERENCE: The third day of the ongoing four-day conference on diabetes organised by the RSSDI at the PGI was marked by a guest lecture on “Ambiguity of insulin: human versus animal” by Prof Kochupillai. Prof Kochupillai emphasised the need of continuing animal insulin use in the developing countries because of its safety and low cost compared to the synthetic or human insulin. The other talks were on the molecular basis of blood vessel complications by Prof Dandona from the USA. Prof Khardori gave an insight into the exciting future prospects in treatment.