R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
Refresher course: A three-week refresher course on “Emerging issues in commerce and management” for university and college teachers of commerce and business management was inaugurated by Dr P. P. Arya, Professor, University Business School, Panjab University, here on Friday. As many as 25 teachers from Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir are participating in this course.

Batala
Seminar: A seminar on career in service industries was organised by local Baring Union Christian College and Frankfinn Institute, Jalandhar, here on Friday. Dr Hepesh Shepherd, Principal of the college, Mr Rajan Chaudhary and Ms Shalini Parveen, centre head, Frankfinn Institute, among others spoke on the occasion.

BARNALA
Health scheme: Mr T.K. Nayar, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, will launch a rural health scheme on here Sunday to provide medical facilities to the needy at their door-step. This scheme will be launched in collaboration with Abhishek Industries for which 12 villages have been adopted. A free medical and dental camp will be organised by the Trident group in collaboration with the CMC, Ludhiana, at Abhishek Industries on the occasion, sources said.

DORAHA
Quiz: Students of Doraha College of Education organised ‘Quiz Brain’, an inter-house contest, during their teaching practice at Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Doraha. The participants were from Class IX to Class XI. The winner of the quiz was Sutlej House. The participants from Sutlej House were Guneet Kaur and Rahul Arora.

Jalandhar
Book release: Mr Kirpal Singh Dardi’s book “Kamboj Yugaan De Aar Paar” that traces the history and achievements of the Kamboj community will be released at the local Guru Nanak Dev District Library on Sunday.

Dental camp: Around 1700 patients with dental problems were examined and given free treatment during the 14th Free Dental Fortnight camp at four hospitals in Jalandhar, Phillaur and Shahkot. The camp will continue till November 30.

Conference: A two-day conference on social and economic changes in Punjab was organised by the Punjab Academy of Social Sciences, Literature and Culture, and the Punjabi Bhasha Academy at the Desh Bhagat Yaadgaar Hall here on Saturday.

Kapurthala
Lok adalat: Thirtyone cases were disposed of and claims worth Rs 1,91,461 were settled at two Lok Adalats held here on Saturday. According a press release, 38 cases were considered at the Lok Adalats, out of which 31 were disposed of today itself.

KHANNA
Rally: A chetna rally was organised by A.S. High School, A. S. College for Boys, A.S. College for Girls and A.S. Modern Senior Secondary School on Saturday. More than 700 youths took part in the rally.

KHARAR
Seminar: The Rotary Club organised a seminar on “Life without alcohol” here on Saturday. Members of the Alcoholic Anonymous, Chandigarh, shared their experiences. Dr Chandendeep Verma,  president, welcomed the participants.

LUDHIANA
Scholarship: IndusInd Bank has announced a scholarship scheme for students from Class I to X. The awardees of the scholarship will be selected on the basis of a written examination that will be conducted in different cities on Sunday. There will be three catagories. Top three scorers will get national-level scholarship of Rs 10,000 each for a period of one year.

Medical camp: Christian Medical College and Hospital and the Trident Group will jointly hold a medical camp at Barnala on Sunday. Senior consultants of general medicine, ob/gynae, orthopedics, ophthalmology, paediatrics, dermatology, Surgery and ENT will give free consultation to patients. Mr. T.K.A. Nair, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister will inaugurate the camp.

Seminar: To educate the people about the sexually transmitted infection including HIVIAIDS, CMCH conducted a seminar on ‘Adolescent Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS’ for the teachers and heads of high and senior secondary schools here on Saturday. Dr S.S. Randhawa, Director, Public Instructions (secondary), Punjab was the chief guest on the occasion. 

Annual function: The annual function of Guru Nanak Model Senior Secondary School, Doraha, was held here on Friday. The chief guest was Mrs Manjit Kaur, DEO (secondary), Ludhiana. Ms Urmil Sood, Principal, read out the school report. Cash prizes of Rs 2,100, Rs 1,600 and Rs 1,100 for outstanding students of Classes XII, X and VIII were also introduced. The other attractions of the day was a puppet show, Haryanvi and classical dances, modelling, giddha and bhangra. 

Medical camp: A three-day free medical check-up camp organised by the local unit of Sewa Bharti concluded at Natural Therapy Centre, near the Civil Hospital on Friday. More than 100 patients were examined by a team of doctors led by Dr Manjit Singh of Ludhiana. Mr C D Jain presided over the function.

PATIALA
NCC RAISING DAY: The National Cadet Corps (NCC) celebrated its 57th raising day at Khalsa College here on Friday. The ceremony commenced with the unfurling of the NCC flag by Col S.P.S. Boparai, Group Commander of Patiala NCC Group. This was followed by singing of NCC song by cadets of all units. A message by Lt Gen M.C. Bhandari, AVSM, was read out by Capt (Ms) Meenu Malhotra of girls battalion. She also spoke about the history of the NCC, its aims and values. An aero modeling display was also carried out by 3 Punjab Air Sqn NCC, Patiala. Later, nearly 400 NCC cadets and allied staff carried out a rally and displayed placards against drugs, dowry, female foeticide and deforestation. 

NOMINATED: The Punjab Government has nominated eminent social worker Amarbir Kaur as member of the Social Security, Women and Child Development Board, Punjab, for a period of two years. 

Phagwara
One booked: The police has registered a case against a resident of Ramgarh village for allegedly abducting a teenager and compelling her to marry him. One Jaswinder Singh, a resident of Jagpalpur village, has alleged in his complaint to the police that his thirteen-and-a-half-year-old daughter was taken away to Phagwara by Niranjan Singh, alias Ladoo, from Ramgarh village.

NCC Day: The National Cadet Corps (NCC) of 4/8 Company of 8 Punjab NCC Batallion, Phagwara, on Saturday celebrated the NCC Day at Guru Nanak College here by planting trees. Mr Jatinderpal Singh Palahi, Guru Nanak College secretary, inaugurated the function by planting saplings.

Tarn Taran
Demanded: Mr Subash Chander Bath, vice-president of the local mandal unit of the BJP has demanded jobs for wards of the government employees who died during service period. He said such cases should be given priority.

Office-bearers: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Rural Education Development Committee (REDC) of Government Middle School, Bugha Block No.1: chairman — Mr Satnam Singh; secretary — Mr Kulwant Singh; committee members — Ms Balwinder Kaur, Mr Gian Singh, Mr Surjit Singh, Baba Jagir Singh, Mr Harbans Singh and Ms Dalwinder Kaur.

CHANDIGARH

HONOURED: Local Congress leaders, led by Mr Krishan Nanha and the HUDA Contractors Association, on Saturday honoured Mr Jodh Singh, a freedom fighter from Karanpur village, and family members of three other freedom fighters. The function was organised on the occasion of the 92nd birthday of Mr Ranbir Singh Hooda, freedom fighter and father of the Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

HARYANA

AMBALA
EYE CAMP: The Rotary Club of Ambala organised an eye check-up and operation camp at Mahavir Dal Eye Hospital, Ambala Cantt, on Friday. The camp was organised in collaboration with Inner-wheel Club of Ambala. Dr Harprakash Sharma said about 400 patients were checked  and 50 patients were  operated.

WON: NCC senior under officer Promila Sehgal of SD College, Ambala Cantt, has won the gold medal and para certificate at an All-India NCC para training course. Dr Desh Bandhu, Principal of the college, said Promila Sehgal carried out five para jumps at the course held at Paratrooper Training School at Agra. She stood first among 3670 NCC cadets. 

Rally: The Art of Living took out a spiritual and anti-communal rally to create awareness among people against female foeticide, terrorism and religious intolerance in Ambala City on Saturday. The rally is named “Sneh sanjeevni manav kalyan Yatra” and will cross through a number of  states.

SONEPAT
Impounded: Officials of the district administration have impounded 52 vehicles during a drive in the past five days. The vehicles were allegedly operating on various routes without permit. 

Surprise checks: Deputy Director of the Education Department Shashi Kumar Chaudhary conducted surprise checks in a number of government schools in the district on Thursday. As many as seven teachers were found absent from the duty. The officer has recommended disciplinary action against the absentees.