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Protesters again target public
Residents, commuters face inconvenience as Anganwari workers block traffic
Shivani Bhakoo
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 10
It seems the only way to wake the government up from its deep slumber is to harass the common man. It was evident when yet another protest organised by hundreds of Anganwari workers here caused a lot of inconvenience to the city residents and commuters travelling from far-off places. The agitators had blocked the traffic at Bharat Nagar Chowk for about an hour. As no vehicle was allowed to pass the chowk, the traffic police had to divert the traffic and massive traffic jams were witnessed on all the roads connected to the chowk.

The worst hit were the passengers of long-route buses and the schoolchildren. The police had diverted the traffic at the Circuit House and at around 1:30 pm. Fewer vehicles were allowed to pass the Arti Chowk and Bhai Bala Chowk areas. From the PAU to Ghumar Mandi, which is just a 1-km stretch, commuters had to take alternative routes from Hathi Complex, Rose Garden Road, College Road, etc.

Ritu, a homemaker, said: "They can not stop the vehicles of ministers and bureaucrats. Thus cause inconvenience to the common man. If they have got some demands, there is a way to convey those to the higher-ups. Why the common man should be punished every time. The authorities become mute spectators. Such protesters should be taught a lesson. I had to pick up my child from his school and I am stuck in this jam. I am feeling so helpless," she said.

Workers’ major demands
Implement the orders of Indian Labour Conference and stop privatisation of Anganwari centres
Implementation of pension, gratuity, provident fund schemes and till then Rs 15,000 be given to a worker and Rs 10,000 to a helper
An increase in fuel supply
Buildings be provided to Anganwari workers and panchayats must not interfere in their working
Mini-Anganwari centres be converted into full-fledged centres
Reservation of ETT teachers and ANMs for Anganwaris
Scholarships and uniforms be provided to the centres

Officialspeak
Assistant Commissioner (G) Areena Duggal said the workers had come to her to submit their memorandum. They left her office after that. "If they are protesting or causing inconvenience to the public, it is the police which has to maintain law and order," she added.

Protesters' view
The president of the Anganwari Mulazim Punjab Union, Subhash Rani, said: "Unless we block traffic or cause inconvenience to the general public, the authorities refuse to listen to us. We are fighting for our rights and peaceful demonstrations hardly bring any results. "

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MC officers fail to file returns
Puneet Pal Singh Gill
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 10
It seems the senior officials of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation are not taking the Punjab Government Employees (Conduct) Rules 1966 seriously. A total of 45 officials in the group B category, who had been posted in the Ludhiana MC between January 2010 and January 2013, have not filed their annual property returns, which is a gross violation of the Punjab Government Employees (Conduct) Rules 1966.

According to the rules, all the officers in the group A category should file their annual property returns with the Secretary, Personnel Department, Punjab, and the group B officers with the Property Returns Commissioner of the Ludhiana MC.

These revelations came to light when RTI activist Rohit Sabharwal filed an application under the RTI Act, seeking details of the annual property returns filed by the Group A and Group B officers.

Some of these 45 officers have either been posted in some other government departments or have been transferred out of Ludhiana, still at the time when they were posted in the Ludhiana MC.

“There is a possibility that corruption can be the foremost reason for violating this mandatory rule as there are chances that such officers have amassed assets by using corrupt means,” Rohit Sabharwal alleged.

When this RTI application was filed on January 24, Sabharwal did not get the information and it was after the orders of the Chief Information Commissioner RI Singh that he got this information.

MAYORSPEAK
Mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria said if the officers had not filed their annual property returns, then it was a serious matter. “I will immediately ask all of them to file their returns else it will be taken as a violation of the Punjab Government Employees (Conduct) Rules 1966,” claimed the Mayor.

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Athlete brings laurels to city
Charanjit Singh Teja
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 10
Athlete Satinder Singh Bajwa has brought laurels to the city by winning gold in the 400m hurdle race in the 20th Asian Athletics Championship held from July 3 to 7 in Pune.

Sanjiv Sharma, a coach of the Sports Department, said Satinder’s achievement would help him to participate in various international athletics meets.

Satinder hails from Laongowal village in Gurdaspur district. He had been training in Ludhiana for the past many years.

"Satinder has been our trainee for the last four years. He has achieved a lot. Now, his best timing for 400m hurdles is 49.99 seconds. He is the second players in India to have finished the race under 50 seconds," said Sanjiv.

Satinder has participated in several international meets. However, this time he failed to qualify for the world athletic meet to held in Moscow.

"My next target is the Commonwealth Games-2014. I am working hard to get a medal in the Commonwealth Games".

Satinder had won two gold medals in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Games in 2011 and one gold in National Federation Cup held at Patiala in April 2013.

Satinder said: "I am happy to have won the gold. But the timing was not good. If I had completed the race in 49.80 seconds, I would have qualified for the World Athletics Championship." 

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Thieves decamp with Rs 5 lakh from ATM
Moht Khanna
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana July 10
Thieves struck at an ATM of the State Bank of Patiala at Sahnewal in the morning here today and decamped with nearly Rs 5 lakh.

Kulwant Singh, SHO, Sahnewal police station, said a gas cutter was used to break the ATM. He suspected that after breaking the ATM machine in Sahnewal, the thieves headed towards the Jodhewal Basti area.

Morning walkers foil another theft

Alert residents foiled thieves’ attempt to break an ATM located on the Jodhewal road.

In the morning, residents of Shakti Nagar, who were going for a morning walk, spotted four youths entering an ATM centre with a gas cutter.

They suspected their activities and raised an alarm, after which the thieves fled the scene.

A resident, Tarsem Lal, said the thieves had come by a car. The police found a gas cutter from the ATM.

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Population Day Today
Men shy away from vasectomy
Anupam Bhagria
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 10
Despite enhanced incentives, most men have been shying away from vasectomy. As a result of this, the District Health Department has failed to achieve its 25% target of vasectomy. Interestingly, such men always prefer their wives to have a tubectomy.

According to the data available with the District Health department, during 2011-12, only 7% men (903 men) underwent vasectomy while 10,997 women underwent tubectomy in the district. The figure of vasectomy cases further came down in 2012-13 when only 6% (610) vasectomies were conducted. However, cases of tubectomy reported during this period were 8,500.

The department is supposed to conduct 25% vasectomies every year. The District Family Welfare Officer, Dr Maninder Singh, said: "We are trying hard to motivate men to have a vasectomy but they are not cooperating with us. It is very difficult to change their mindset. The common myths associated with vasectomy are men get impotent or would not be able to lead a happy married life after the surgery. It is a mater of fact that this is a very simple surgery."

The department also gives an incentive of Rs 1,100 each to men to undergo vasectomy while the motivators gets Rs 200 each. However, each female is given Rs 600 for having a tubectomy while the motivators get Rs150 each."

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MC plans city’s development
Puneet Pal Singh Gill
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 10
The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) is all set to start the development of city in a planned manner.

For this purpose, the work has started for updating the City Development Plan (CDP), which was prepared in 2006. The CDP is a document, which is to be prepared as per the guidelines of the Central Government.

The first meeting of stakeholders was held today and it was attended by senior officers of the Ludhiana MC, other government departments as well as institutions such as Punjab Agricultural University, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Christian Medical College and Hospital, besides others.

Once the CDP is prepared, the MC would be clear about the development, to be carried out keeping in mind needs of the next 25-30 years.

While speaking to The Tribune, Sumit Jarangal, MC, Additional Commissioner, said only government officers or representatives of institutions were not the stakeholders in the CDP.

“For us, each city resident who wants to contribute for the overall development of the city is a stakeholder. Today was our first meeting and three more meetings would be held (one each week). We plan to prepare a draft of the CDP in the next 20-30 days,” said Dr Sumit.

The CDP would be a document which would have all details related to development of city and its needs for the next 25-30 years. For seeking any financial assistance from the Central Government, the city has to prepare a CDP, which would have proper details of total funds required for carrying out development and the ways in which the MC plans to carry out this development.

“It is a very important document and that is why we want to involve maximum residents. Next meetings would be held with the representatives from private sector, police, general administration, social organisations and others. The CDP would take its final shape in the coming 60-day period,” said Dr Sumit.

This meeting was chaired by Mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria and was attended by MC Commissioner Rakesh Kumar Verma, Additional Commissioners Dr Sumit Jarangal and Isha Kalia, Joint Commissioner AS Sekhon, and other senior MC officers.

RITES holds meeting
A delegation from RITES also held a meeting with the MC on Wednesday. Mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria said the officials from RITES gave a detailed presentation about the eight-laning of the Ferozepur Road, starting from Jagraon Bridge till the Sidhwan Canal.“We have given our suggestions and have asked them to make some alterations to their plan and present it before us again on July 16,” said the Mayor

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Missing Bihar boy reunited with parents
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 10
The city police and the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) today handed over the 12-year-old boy, who went missing from Bhogpur district in Bihar on June 23, to the Bihar Police.

The police said the boy, Amrit Panday, son of Anirudh Panday, had caught a train at Bihar and reached here along with some migrant labourers from there.

For about 10 days, he was sleeping on a footpath and having food from tea stalls run by migrants in the Focal Point area.

It was on June 6 that a social worker, Poornima, spotted Amrit working at a tea stall.

She informed the Focal Point area police and the CWC about the boy. However, Amrit took the CWC members for a ride as he lied to the police and CWC member Arvind. He claimed that his name was Aman and not Amrit. He told the police that his parents died nearly four years ago.

The boy told the police that he fled from the house as his elder sister was forcing him to work as a bonded labourer.

“We established contact with the Bihar Police and told them about the missing boy. They told us that a 12- year-old boy named Amrit had been missing from Bhogpur district. We asked them to send the photograph of the missing boy. They sent the pictures two days ago and it matched," said Arvind, a CWC member.

Arvind suspects that the pressure of studies might had led to the fleeing of the boy from home.

“I don’t know why the boy had concocted a story and perhaps he would be scared of his parents’ reaction," he said.

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Ministerial staff protest by wearing black badges
To hold district-level rallies on July 15, 16
Shivani Bhakoo
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 10
The Punjab State Ministerial Association has given a call to all its employees to wear black badges to protest against the callous attitude of the government in fulfilling their demands.

However, most of the staff at the Mini-Secretariat here maintained that wearing black badges would hardly make any difference and the government would move only at its convenience.

The Tribune interacted with several ministerial employees who were not wearing the badges.

One of the staff said: “We are on a protest till the state government meets our demand. But wearing black badges will not serve the purpose as we are doing our routine work. Though the call has been given, it hardly serves any issues.”

“On July 15 and 16, district-level rallies will be held. We will take part in these rallies. Visitors are coming here and if we wear black badges, they keep on asking so many questions,” said another female staff member.

However, state president of the association Sukhwinder Singh said association members were on a visit to the offices and majority of the staff were wearing the badges.

“All staff/employees are with us and we are united. There may be one or two persons having different opinions but everyone want to get his/her rights from the government,” he said.

The Demands
Removal of anomalies in the pay scales of clerks, steno, senior assistant and superintendent grade I and II
Promotion scales for the clerical staff in 4-9-14 years
Increased pay scales for staff as per the Fifth Pay Commission
Upgrade of the superintendent grade II into superintendent grade I
Clerical staff to be appointed on a regular basis
Recruitment of staff in newly created districts

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Unauthorised Colonies
Developers hold protest, seek rationalisation of policy
Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, July 10
Finding faults with the policy announced by the Punjab Government to regularise unauthorised colonies on payment of compounding fee and development charges, colonisers and property developers, along with other stakeholders, held a protest at the Mini-Secretariat here today.

In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister through the district administration, the colonisers called upon the government to rationalise the policy in such a manner that unlicensed colonies were regularised and adequate revenue was also generated.

Kultar Singh Jogi, president, Punjab Colonisers and Property Dealers Association, who led the protest, said the compounding fee of Rs 2.50 lakh per acre for colonies developed prior to August 17, 2007, and Rs 15 lakh per acre for those developed thereafter, was on a high side. Development charges of Rs 250 and Rs 500 per sq yd, respectively, for the two categories of colonies, were also unviable and beyond the reach of most of the developers and plot/property holders.

“Unrealistic compounding fee and development charges will kill the whole purpose of the policy which is aimed at promoting a regulated growth and at the same time it will not yield the estimated revenue to the government," Jogi asserted while claiming that the policy, in its present form, will adversely affect realtors as well as those who had invested their hard-earned money in buying plots/property in unlicensed colonies.

Making a fervent plea with the government to review and rationalise the policy, he said the existing colonies be regularised on payment of development charges stipulated in a notification issued by the Local Government Department on January 4, 2011, which for A class cities were fixed at Rs 307 per square yard for colonies located within the city limits. He said the government should announce an amnesty and liberal one-time settlement scheme for existing colonies and also put in place a single window system for new colonies to curb the unregulated development.

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Pensioners’ body demands office at railway station
Charanjit Singh Teja
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 10
The Northern Railway Pensioners’ Welfare Association has written a letter to Railway Minister Mallik Arjuna Kharge and demanded an office for association members at the Ludhiana railway station.

The office-bearers of the association said they need an office at the railway station to address the issues of pensioners.

The railway authorities provided offices to both employees’ unions - the Northern Railway Men's Union (NRMU) and the Uttariya Railway Mazdoor Union (URMU). But the pensioners’ association has no permanent office where pensioners can approach for their grievances.

Sher Singh, chairman of the association, said: “There are around 5,000 railway pensioners residing in Ludhiana and they have been facing a number of issues.

After retirement, a number of pensioners have been struggling to get their dues from the authorities. Most of the pensioners are not conversant with the rules. Hence, we have constituted the association to address their problems.”

“We will also decrease the workload of the accounts branch of the DRM offices,” he added.

The association demanded that the Railway Ministry should allot them an office room to support and guide pensioners.

“We are willing to pay rent and water and electricity charges for the accommodation,” Sher Singh added.

The plea
The Northern Railway Pensioners’ Welfare Association demanded that the Railway Ministry should allot them an office room to support and guide pensioners

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REGISTRIES OF PLOTS
Visitors feel harassed
Allege harassment by tehsildars, naib tehsildars
Shivani Bhakoo
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 10
Government has put a ban on the registries of plots and lands in unauthorised colonies for the time being. But the visitors visiting the Sub-Registrar's offices here complain that under the garb of government's orders on unauthorised colonies, the tehsildars/naib tehsildars have virtually stopped doing any registry and the visitors are being asked to bring the records of their lands from the Municipal Corporation.

One of the tehsildars said, "The work of registries had slowed down in past two to three days and it will continue for another week until government gives a clear picture."

When asked that visitors from the interior part of the city, who have been residing there for the past several decades, were also being asked to bring records from Municipal Corporation, the Tehsildar said, "We cannot take any risk. Dealers themselves wantto bring this policy that registries to unauthorised colonies be stopped. The government has imposed a nominal fee for the approval; but still dealers are not willing to pay the amount. The lands in interior city are old, on which no khasra numbers are mentioned. Whether these are approved or illegally occupied, how will we know? Only the MC will have the records, so we ask visitors to bring those records. Obviously, it has become a cumbersome process but we are helpless."

Joginder Pal, a visitor, said he has a house in interior city which was to be sold. "The house is about 50 years old. How can we bring the khasra number from the MC? We are paying the bills and have got TSI certificate, which itself is a proof. Still, they have refused to do the registry and want documentary proof from the MC, which is impossible," said Joginder.

Revenue Minister, Bikram Singh Majithia, said registries of only unauthorised colonies were stopped and not any other land deals. He said, "In Punjab over 5,300 illegal colonies have mushroomed in last several years and such colonisers have to pay to the government to make the colonies legal. We have given them a chance and they have to pay a nominal fees for that, still they are shirking. I have instructed the Deputy Commissioner that apart from this condition, others should not be harassed and Tehsildars must be given direction to do the work in routine."

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Parents suffer as bus operators go on strike
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 10
The parents of the wards studying in BCM, Sector 32, and KVM had to face a lot of harassment as the bus operators of these schools refused to pick and drop the students.

The bus operators were opposing a move of the District Transport Department (DTD) under which 26 buses of KVM School had been impounded recently. The operators have been demanding the release of these buses without any penalty as they were already in debts and are not in a position to prepare all the documents.

District Transport Officer Anil Garg said, “The department is going to impose a penalty on the operators as they did not have the required documents. We will not bow to any such pressures.” 

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Deadline to complete Sidhwan Canal Expressway extended
Puneet Pal Singh Gill
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 10
The state government has extended the project completion deadline of the much awaited Sidhwan Canal Expressway. Now, December 31 has been fixed by the state government as the next deadline. The state government claims that the four-lane road in the project will be ready by October 31.

Initially, the state government had fixed February 2012 as the deadline for the completion of the project, which was extended to June and now December 31.

The foundation stone of this project was laid in the year 2009. Rs 328.16 crore expressway project involves construct of 26.9 km-long four lane road with carriage way on each side from the medium of Doraha to Ludhiana-Ferozepur Road, providing a bypass for traffic going to Ferozepur. The project has a total of nine bridges, which include five canal bridges, two rail over bridges and two flyovers.

PWD minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, accompanied by senior department officials, today visited the project site and asked the contractor to speed up the work and complete it by December 31.

While speaking to The Tribune, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon said that 85 per cent of the project has been completed. “We had to carry out the construction work on the project under different circumstances. The Sidhwan canal is full of water for most of the year and still we have strengthened the embankments, constructed pillars in it and carried other such works. I admit that the project has been delayed, but right now our main focus is completing the four-lane road by October 31 and the entire project by December 31,” he said.

Dhillon said, “Once this project is complete, it will take only 12-13 minutes for the commuters to reach Doraha from Ludhiana, which otherwise takes around 45 minutes at present. More than 68 per cent of the construction work of Dhuri Line rail over bridge and around 82 per cent work of Ferozepur line rail over bridge are complete.” 

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CM appreciates services of health team
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 10
A three-member team of the Health Department that was sent to Uttarakhand a few days ago has won appreciation from Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

The team, comprising Dr Puneet Sidhu, Dr Gurpartap Singh from Ludhiana and Dr Zorawar Singh from Khanna, left for Uttarakhand, along with three paramedics, for the treatment of flash flood victims recently.

Subhash Batta, Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, said: “The team returned after staying there for a few days after treating the sick and injured people.”

Dr Sidhu said all employees and officers of different departments were invited to Chandigarh by the Chief Minister yesterday.

“The Chief Minister appreciated our services and said each one of us will be given appreciation letter for the same,” she said, adding that "it was a nice experience".

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Award for Health Dept
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 10
The District Health Department will get an award for the best family planning services at a state-level function to be held at Fazilka tomorrow. The Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, Dr Subhash Batta, said: "Some other districts are also going to get this award and Ludhiana is one of them."

Last year, three villages of the district were awarded by the Health Department for curbing the menace of female foeticide.

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sarpanch’s post
‘Winners do not belong to reserved category’

Ludhiana, July 10
Surinder Singh, a losing candidate for the post of sarpanch from Kapoorsing Wala village, has alleged that in his village the post of Sarpanch (ward No. 1 and 2) had been reserved by the government.

Three persons, including Jaimal Singh (sarpanch) and Jarnail Singh, who have won the elections, do not belong to the reserved category.

Their certificates (meant for Scheduled Caste/Backward class) must be examined again as they are from the Rajput Sikh category.

The complainant alleged that even the certificates of their wards show that both of them do not belong to the Scheduled Caste category, still they filed nominations from the reserved seat and won the elections.

Meanwhile, SDM, West, KS Mahi, said the issue would be discussed in the Tribunal. “The results have been notified with the government and any decision on this will be taken by the respective Tribunals, constituted by the government.” — TNS

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NRI youth goes missing, parents suspect foul play
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 10
Mystery prevails over disappearance of an NRI youth of Duley village, who allegedly left his house for Manali along with his friends three weeks ago.

The missing has been identified as Hardeep Singh (19), a student of University of Philippines. It is suspected that some of his drug addict friends had killed him.

According to a complaint lodged by his father Kuldeep Singh some miscreants had allegedly abducted his son and killed him.

Hardeep Singh, who was scheduled to leave for Philippines on June 30, had left his house on June 21. He had told his parents that he, along with his friends, would be visiting Kullu and Manali and other hill stations. The group was supposed to return on June 28.

Though, the mobile phone used by Hardeep had been unreachable since the day he left for Kullu and Manali, his parents assumed that it might not be working due to network problems. It was only after June 30 that the family started searching for him and contacted his friends and relatives settled in various villages and towns. Having failed to find any clue about his son, Kuldeep Singh lodged a complaint with the Dehlon police station.

Preliminary investigations by a police team, led by SHO Satinder Pal Singh, revealed that Hardeep was last seen with two drug addicts of the same village while another youth had seen them carrying him to a nearby canal on the fateful night. The suspects are yet to be nabbed.

Hardeep's motorcycle has been found near the canal.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Gurpreet Singh Sikand said the police had tightened noose on the trio who are reported to be responsible for Hardeep’s disappearance.

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12 water connections disconnected
Anupam Bhagria
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 10
District Health Department today collected as many as 12 water samples from different areas of Sherpur.

Dr Parvinder Singh Sidhu, Senior Medical Officer, Community Health Centre, said: "We collected 12 water samples from different localities where we were suspicious of water born diseases. We also called up the team of Municpal Corporation at certain places and showed them illegal water pipes passing through sewerage pits. The MC team immediately disconnected 12 water connections."Meanwhile, out of 16 gastroenteritis patients, who were under treatment in different hospitals in Sherpur area, 12 have been discharged today.Dr Sudhu said, "The remaining four will be discharged by tomorrow. Majority of thes e patients were from Muslim colony while the remaining from Fauji colony and Deep Colony."

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Cycle association members meet Labour Dept Principal Secy

Ludhiana, July 10
A delegation of United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association today met Vishwajeet khanna, principal secretary, department of labour, under the leadership of Gurmeet Singh Kular, president, to discuss the problems of minimum wages notification.

Hotels, restaurants and wine shops have been allowed to reduce their minimum wage by Rs 1,765 per month, if they provide lodging and boarding. Association members requested that similar provision should be given for other industries, which provide lodging and boarding. “This time the neutralisation has been increased from Rs 6.00 to Rs 8.25 per point on the same series. As a result, within six months the minimum wage has been increased by Rs 495 to Rs 5,695 per month. This amount to 19 per cent inflation annually whereas in Haryana the last increase in six months is Rs 234 which is inflation at the rate of 9.6 per cent annually,” said Kular and suggested that the neutralisation rate should remain at Rs 6.00 per point. —TNS

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Man commits suicide

Khanna, July 10
A man committed suicide by jumping into Sirhand canal. He was identified as Shiv Dayal, a resident of Khanna.

As per his wife, Reshma, he had gone to work. He was working with persons on Amloh road Khanna. When she tried to contact him, his mobile was switched off. She has demanded enquiry into the incident. According to the police officials, the investigation is under way.—OC

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Freshers all set to experience college life
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 10
With only a few days left for the colleges to reopen freshers are all geared up for their new ventures and life ahead.

The preparations are in full swing, some are getting excitement pangs while others are getting butterflies in their stomach. Those heading for hostels have a lot of questions in their mind.

"Although I will be missing my school, college life also seems to be very exciting. The best part will be that I will be dressing up the way I want and making my hair as it pleases me. All my dresses and bags are ready and I am just waiting for the day when my college starts," said Aakriti, a fresher.

Another visibly excited Kanika said, "Finally the time has come when I will be going to college. I have prepared thirty dresses so that none of my dresses gets repeated in one month's time. I am all set to face the new challenges of life ahead."

Meanwhile, Gauri, who will be going to a hostel, is excited and nervous at the same time. "I have never lived away from home. I am excited that I will be living independently and at the same time I will be missing my family, especially my mother, who takes care of every little thing of mine. And now I will have to arrange all my things by myself," she said.

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from colleges
Students shine in BSc-II (Biotechnology) exams

The students of the Khalsa College for Women in a jubilant mood after the declaration of BSc-II Biotechnology (Hons) results in Ludhiana.
The students of the Khalsa College for Women in a jubilant mood after the declaration of BSc-II Biotechnology (Hons) results in Ludhiana. Tribune Photo: Himanshu mahajan.

Ludhiana: Girls of KCW have once again proved their mettle by scoring top positions in BSc-II Biotechnology (Hons), the results of which were declared by Panjab University on Wednesday. Bhavya Malhotra has secured first in the university with 82 per cent marks while Simranjit kaur has bagged the seventh position in university with 78.15 per cent marks, Mani Arora is ninth in the university with 77.25 per cent marks and Kirti has secured tenth position with 76.4 per cent marks, said college principal Dr Varinder Kaur Thind. An elated Bhavya, who was first in the university last year, also shared that this time she had to put in a bit of extra effort to maintain her position, but the support from the teachers and the competitive learning environment in the college made it all easy. She thanked her parents and teachers for their continuous motivation and support. Simranjit Kaur and Mani said they would work harder next year also to attain a top position in the university. The members of the college managing committee congratulated the staff and students of the biotechnology department for their stupendous results and also applauded the vision and efforts of the college principal Dr Thind.

Guru Nanak Girls College

Keeping up the tradition of good results, the students of BSc-II Biotechnology (Hons) of Guru Nanak Girls College have once again proved their excellence. Pawandeep Kaur secured sixth position in Panjab University by securing 78.2 per cent marks. Navjit Kaur bagged second position in the college by securing 72.9 per cent marks and Jasmine stood third in the college by securing 71.8 per cent marks. The stupendous results are a result of untiring efforts made by the students and their mentors.

Adventure camp

Sri Aurobindo College of Commerce and Management participated in the “Adventure Camp YC-515” organised by Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Delhi, at Van Niwas, Naintal. A total of 28 students participated in the camp and were accompanied by Kanwaljeet Singh. The camp was exclusively meant for adventure activities organised by the ashram. The students learned trekking. The entire activity was carried on after learning the lessons on scrambling, bouldering and rock climbing. After rock climbing students learned rappelling activity and the art of river crossing. Besides the adventure activities, the ashram authorities organised various lectures on meditation. The lecture also covered the vital aspects of existence and intellect of the human being and how to organise these two in one’s life. A laughter therapy session was also organised by president Dr Umesh Sahgal, Laughter Club, Delhi.—TNS

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PAU NOTES
Avoid roadside food during rainy season, say experts

Ludhiana: The home science experts of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) have advised the home makers and other residents to stay healthy during rainy season, and pay attention to the home management.Referring to diet and health care, Dr Kiran Grover said avoid roadside food and eat only homemade food.

“Increase the intake of hot drinks like tea/milk, or a vegetable/dal soup to prevent any kind of infection. Use ginger, mint, tulsi, dal-chini and malathi as ingredient in tea and increase the consumption of bitter-gourd (karela), jamun, and bitter herbs like neem and turmeric (haldi) as these contain anti-oxidants and medicinal properties,” she said. “Drink plenty of water as this will help to drain toxins from the body,” she said. About home cleaning, Dr Surinderjit Kaur said, “Put little camphor on kitchen shelves to drive away cockroaches, lizards and ants. Regularly pour liberal amount of hot water with kerosene oil down the sinks and drains to prevent breeding of cockroaches. Thoroughly clean the refrigeration at least once a fortnight with warm water. Lubricate door hinges to avoid rusting and squeaking noise. To prevent knives and other iron tools from rusting, rub these with coconut/mustard oil or glycerin once a fortnight.”Giving tips for the care of clothes and accessories, Dr Harinder Saggu said, “To clean fungus spots of leather articles, rub candle over the stain and then rub it with a soft cloth. Rub the rusted zippers also with a piece of candle or a lead pencil.” Dr Sukhminder Kaur advised the parents that not to allow the children to play in stagnant water in pits as they may get several skin diseases. Make them wear full sleeves night suits in order to protect them from mosquitoes and other insect bites, she suggested. Put a bottle of boiled or filtered water in the bag of the child to prevent infection, she said.

Agro-processing complex comes up in Moga

An agro-processing complex "Brar Agro Industries" has come up at Drauli Bhai village of Moga, with the technical expertise and support of the Department of Processing and Food Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). The complex, owned by S Avtar Singh, is the result of the efforts put in by the PAU under the auspices of All-India Coordinated Research Project on Post-Harvest Technology. Dr Ashok Kumar, Head, Department of Processing and Food Engineering; Dr MS Alam, Research Engineer; Dr TC Mittal, Extension Engineer; and Mehal Singh, Technical Investigator; attended the inauguration of the agro-processing complex. Besides, sarpanch of the village, members of zila parishad, and other eminent persons of the area were also present on the occasion. Dr Ashok Kumar said the processing plant includes wheat flour milling unit, feed mill, oil expeller and grinder for turmeric and chillies. He said that such processing units check the migration of rural youth to the cities, generate employment opportunities for the rural populace and give high economic returns to the farmers. Stating that the agro-processing plants play a vital role in the value addition of farm produce and in curtailing post-harvest losses, he exhorted the other farmers of the area to set-up such units. The Department of Processing and Food Engineering of the PAU has been regularly organising training programmes to motivate the farmers to establish processing plants, he said. “The next training course will be held from August 19-23,” he said. — TNS

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ludhiana scan
Van Mahotsava celebrated

Ludhiana: As part of the Van Mahotsava celebrations, the Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha, Ludhiana, in co-ordination with the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, on Wednesday planted and distributed 100 saplings at the Kapil Park, Hambran Road. The event was inaugurated by MS Bhatia, organising secretay, BJGVJ. In his address, Bhatia stressed upon the need to plant trees in maximum numbers to save the environment. The residents of the area gathered in good number and pledged to protect the trees.

Protest

Jagraon: The activists of Jagraon unit of Punjab Youth Congress on WednesdayActivists of the Youth Congress burn an effigy of a BMW car in Jagraon on Wednesday to protest against the state government. staged a protest against the state government for spending hefty amount on the purchase of "luxurious" cars for Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. A large number of Youth Congress activists led by former Director of the Punjab Khadi Board Purshotam Lal Khalifa took part in the protest and raised slogans against the ruling alliance of the SAD-BJP.

Activists of the Youth Congress burn an effigy of a BMW car in Jagraon on Wednesday to protest against the state government. A Tribune Photograph

Free eye check-up camp organised

A free eye check-up camp got under way at the Raja General Eye Hospital on Wednesday. The camp will continue for a month. The camp was inaugurated by Vidhan Sabha speaker Charanjeet Atwal. —TNS

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Two booked for molesting a girl
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 10
The city police has booked two persons for molesting a girl.

The accused have been identified as Jagjit Singh of Kumkalan and Gagan Singh of Mundian Kalan.

According to Hukam Singh, a resident of Pajeta village in Kumkalan, her daughter was returning home after attending a class at Samrala. When she was returning home the accused, who were travelling in a Tata Safari, started following her and started molesting her on the way. She stepped into her uncle's house and narrated the incident to them. Meanwhile, the accused fled from the scene.The police has recorded her statement and investigation is under way.

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Five booked on charge raping minor
Mohit Khanna
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 10
A day after a 13-year-old dalit girl from Heeran village near Chandigah road was allegedly gang raped by unidentified youths; and after the intervention of former Health Minister Satpal Gosain, the police officials today swung into action and booked four youth and a person named "Sarpanch".

Investigating Officer Inderjit Singh said the case was registered last night on the complaint of victim and her mother.The police today conducted raid in Panglian and Mundian villages for the arrest of the accused persons.

The victim's mother said they visited the police station several times. The police officials were reluctant to register the case.Finally, the victim along with her mother went to the house of a BJP leader and former Health Minister Satpal Gosain. Gosain brought the matter to the notice of senior police officials and condemned the police inaction. The incident took place on Sunday evening when the victim was heading towards a shop to buy notebook. Four youths, who were traveling in a car, stopped the vehicle and asking about the road leading to Kohara. When she stopped to tell them the route, the accused pulled her in the car and sedated her. She said when she woke up she was in tatters. She said a woman and sarpanch named Jaswant Singh of nearby Panglian village left her at home. The victim's mother said they approached the Kum Kalan police and narrated the entire incident but the police officials were reluctant to register their case. 

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Motorcycle thief arrested

Samrala, July 10
The Samrala police has arrested a motorcycle thief and recovered five motorcycles from his possession.

SHO Samrala said the police stopped a youth at a check point. During interrogation they came to know that the motorcycle was a stolen one.

He has been identified as Pardeep Singh, a resident of Ikolaha village. During interrogation he said that he had stolen seven motor cycles from different places.—OC

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Clash over inauguration of road project
Councillors Bhola, Gora get bail
Rajneesh Lakhanpal

Ludhiana, July 10
Additional Sessions Judge Sukhdev Singh today granted bail to Daljit Singh Grewal alias Bhola, councillor of Ward No 8, Basti Jodhewal area, and Gurpreet Singh Gora, councillor of Ward No 7, Ludhiana.

Supporters of Akali Dal, MLA Ranjit Singh Dhillon and the independent councillors had a clash over the inauguration of Rs 32 lakh road project in New Shakti Nagar on June 23. The desire to get credit for the start of development projects had resulted into the clash, which landed councillor Bhola behind bars as his opponent was the MLA of ruling party. The duos were at loggerheads for a long time. Bhola was earlier in Akali Dal but had left the party when he was denied ticket in MC elections.

Similar scenes were witnessed in Punjabi Bagh of Ward Number 8 on March 16. At that time both the groups fought and alleged stone pelting over the inauguration of Rs 19 lakh road project when allegedly the supporters of independent councillor Daljit Singh Bhola broke the foundation stone with the name of MLA Ranjit Singh Dhillon on it.

Bhola's supporter had burnt the effigy of MLA after the registration of the case against the councillor. They were of the view that the work started on funds from the councillor's quota and was passed in the MC house meeting. Thus, the MLA was having no right to interfere in it.

A case under Section 307 and other sections was registered at Basti Jodhewal police station on June 23. — TNS

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Trials held for sports wings
Charanjit Singh Teja
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 10
Motivating budding players, the Sports Department, Punjab, has conducted trials for sports wings of different games at the Guru Nanak Stadium and the grounds of Punjab Agriculture University here today.

As many as 534 women players, who have been studying in colleges affiliated with the Panjab University, Chandigarh, participated in the trials.

The players of 18 sports - athletics, basketball, boxing, badminton, cycling, football, gymnastics, hockey, handball, judo, kabaddi, kho-kho, lawn tennis, swimming, table tennis, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling - from colleges of Ludhiana district were participated in trials.

Kartar Singh, District Sports Officer, said: “We will select players for training wings of the Sports Department. The selection of players will be on merit. The department will give free training to the selected players. Moreover, we will provide Rs 100 per day for diet to them. Under the residential scheme, we will give Rs 200 to players for diet.”

Sports officials said the trails for boys would be conducted on July 11.

Today, 62 women players participated in the trials for athletics wing, 37 for basketball, seven for badminton, 24 for boxing, 18 for cycling, 49 for football, 43 for hockey, 20 players for handball, 24 for judo, 100 for kabaddi, 38 for kho-Kho, 13 for table tennis, 52 for volleyball, 24 for weightlifting, and 20 for wrestling wing.

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