In Brief

Rally held against poor implementation of employment guarantee scheme
Abohar: In a huge rally at Abohar,many workers protested against the apathetic attitude of government regarding implementation of the NREGS (National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme). The rally was addressed by Abohar MLA Sunil Jakhar. He said Punjab government has made about 6.74 lakh job cards and hence the government should have spent Rs 800 crore but only Rs 100 crore have been spent so far. The Centre has issued Rs 120 crore but of this fund,only Rs 99.1 crore have been used. Jakhar alleged that Punjab has spent maximum amount sanctioned under the NREGS on establishment and administrative expenses. In Abohar block,10,115 job cards have been made while 7,600 cards have been made in Khuian Sarvar block. The government should have spent Rs 12.44 crore for Abohar and Rs 9.35 crore for Khuian Sarvar,whereas these areas received only Rs 37 lakh and Rs 36 lakh,respectively.

Charred body of woman found
Bathinda: A charred body of an unidentified woman was found near a water channel near Bhagta Bhai Ka village on Thursday. Terming it to be a case of murder,the police said a portion of body had been eaten away by dogs. “We are trying to identify the woman to investigate the case further,” said Bathinda SSP Ashish Chaudhry.

Four youths planning bank robbery held
AMBALA: The Ambala Cantonment police have arrested four armed youths who were reportedly planning a bank robbery. One of the accomplices,however,succeeded to escape under the cover of darkness. The police had received a tip-off that five youths were preparing to loot the State Bank of India branch at the Panjokhra Road in Ambala Cantonment. Two country made 0.312 pistols,one air gun,15 live cartridges of 0.315 bore and 30 of 0.312 bore pistol,one iron rod and a screw driver were recovered from their possession. SHO Tara Chand said the kingpin of the gang was identified as Salim.

Students get training in life-saving techniques
CHANDIGARH: The Department of Paediatrics at PGIMER,along with NSS volunteers of the National Institute of Nursing Education (NINE),organised a workshop at the Advanced Paediatric Centre for nearly 200 students of St John’s High School on Thursday. The initiative was aimed to impart first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training to the youth. Students were also informed of the various telephone helpline numbers such as Childline (1098) and Traffic Helpline (1073). Nursing students also demonstrated certain life-saving practices. Professor Sunit Singhi,Head of the Paediatrics department and chief of the Emergency and Intensive care unit felt that teaching basic life support skills to school students will go a long way in empowering the community.

Kang appointed election observer for byelection
CHANDIGARH: UT State Election Commissioner O P Kelkar has appointed chief auditor of the Municipal Corporation,R S Kang,as the election observer-cum-election expenditure observer in connection with the forthcoming byelection to fill up one vacancy of a panch in the Gram Panchayat of Mauli Jagran village.

JD(U) hails reservation for Muslims in West Bengal
CHANDIGARH: Janata Dal (United) leader and Rajya Sabha member Ali Anwar Ansari appreciated the step taken by the Bengal government to give 10 per cent reservation for socially and economically backward Muslims,while condemning the cancellation of 4 per cent reservation in Andhra Pradesh. He clarified that they were not demanding religion-based reservation. Ansari also said that the Congress was dilly-dallying on the implementation of the findings of the Sachar Committee. He added that the party will be holding a demonstration outside the Parliament0 on March 15. The 11-point charter includes demands like inclusion of Dalit Muslim and Christians in the Scheduled Caste category,33 per cent reservation for women from backward classes and loans at 4 per cent to small traders among others.

Prize distribution function held at Mohindra College
PATIALA: More than 400 students were felicitated at the annual prize distribution held at Government Mohindra College,Patiala,on Thursday. Malkiat Singh,Dean Academic Affairs,Punjabi University,was the chief guest. Principal Sudeep Bhangoo read out the annual report of the college. The prestigious College Role of Honour was awarded to Sukhdeep Kaur,Nivedita Singla,Jyoti,Kanwaljit Kaur,Mamta Rani,Gurinder Kaur,Sonica,Sikashu,Gurpreet Kaur,Kulnaz Kaur,Nitin Chandla and Swarleen for their positions in the university merit list. Happy Kumar,Gurdeep Kaur,Ravinder Singh,NilamVerma,Hina,Manpreet Kaur,Shilpi Singla,Kanika,Kushpreet Kaur,Gurveen Kaur,Manpreet,Gagandeep Kaur,Gurpreet Singh and Neha were honoured with the College Colour for their academic achievements.

Self-immolation by teacher: Cong member demands Education Minister’s resignation
MOHALI: All India Congress Committee member Lakhwinder Kaur Garcha on Thursday demanded the resignation of Punjab Education Minister Upinderjit Kaur.  In a press statement,the Congress leader,along with local municipal councillor Kuljit Singh Bedi,said the recent self-immolation by a teacher in Kapurthala was a matter of “shame” for the state government and owning up to her moral responsibility,Kaur should immediately step down. “Even the coalition partner BJP has raised serious objection over the recent diktat of SAD president Sukhbir Badal to deputy commissioners over extending undue favour to select group of Akali leaders,” claimed the Congress leader.

LPG auto permits to be countersigned by Admn and Punjab govt
Chandigarh: The Punjab government and Chandigarh Administration have decided that initially 500 LPG autorickshaw permits will be countersigned by either authority on the basis of the Reciprocal Transport Agreement. All the LPG autorickshaw permit holders of Chandigarh have been informed to obtain the countersignatures from the Office of District Transport Authority,Mohali,Punjab on a priority basis. A Letter of Authority for this purpose shall be issued by the UT State Transport Authority on a first-come,first-serve basis.

A literary fest at GCG-11
CHANDIGARH: Glitterati,an annual literary and cultural event,was organised by the Department of English,Government College for Girls,Sector 11,on Thursday. Three documentaries,shot by students of the Department of Functional English,were screened on the occasion. ‘Sparsh’,the first documentary,touched upon the lives of mentally challenged children,their aspirations and zeal. The second documentary was based on drug addiction and the third ‘Paradise on Earth — Manipur’ took the audience on a sojourn to the state. The Jam session brought out the wit and presence of mind of students. The event concluded with a cultural show.

Lecture on bioethics and patent laws held
CHANDIGARH: “With changes taking place in every sphere of human life and patent laws being applicable for every new invention and idea,the role of the legal fraternity in spreading awareness regarding patent laws and intellectual property laws becomes all the more crucial,” said Professor (Emeritus) Sehdev Kumar from the School of Continuing Studies,University of Toronto,Canada. He was delivering a lecture on ‘Bioethics,Patent Law and Intellectual Property’ in the Department of Laws,Panjab University,on Thursday as part of a special lecture series organised by the Department of Lifelong Learning and Extension (DLLE). Addressing students,the professor said,“Innovation in biotechnology is producing new medicines,treatments and processes with the potential to save or transform the lives of millions. As new technological frontiers are crossed,our expectations continue to rise and so do the complexities of bioethics. Several cases concerning biotechnology and bioethics,patent law and intellectual property have raised significant issues regarding the rightful ownership of traditional knowledge,plants and herbs and other life forms,such as transgenic animals,or a human gene.” The lecture was followed by an interactive session with the faculty and students.

56 volunteer at blood donation camp
MOHALI: As many as 56 students and faculty members volunteered at a blood donation camp organised by the college Red Cross Society at Government College in Phase VI,Mohali,on Thursday. College principal Nirmal Gupta inaugurated the camp while a student of BCom (third year) Sumit Dhawan donated blood for the 11th time. As a noble gesture,Pradeep Kumar,a student of BA (II) donated blood to mark his birthday and motivated other students to follow suit. Lecturers R P Kaushi and Rajinder Kanwar donated blood for 37th and 31st time,respectively.

Mega cultural fest tomorrow
MOHALI: A mega cultural festival in the memory of renowned poet Karnail Singh Paras is being organised by the Chandigarh Punjab Lok Kala Kendra at Dussehra Ground in Phase VIII in Mohali on Saturday.  Kendra president Surinder Singh and general secretary Harkanwal Singh Kang said Punjabi folk singers Harbhajan Mann,Gurkirpal Surapuri and several other artistes would perform on the occasion. Punjab Tourism Minister Hira Singh Gabria will be the chief guest and would honour music director Manmohan Singh and his team for the film ‘Pind di kudi’.

Awareness camp for women in Buterla
CHANDIGARH: Indra Social Welfare Society in collaboration with the Chandigarh Social Welfare Board will be organising an eight-day awareness generation camp for needy women from February 13 to 20 in Buterla. Lectures on different topics including health,nutrition,income-generating schemes,consumer rights and women rights would be delivered.

Students’ body takes charge at Hansraj School
PANCHKULA: The Students’ Cabinet at Hansraj Public School was constituted with an impressive ceremony on Thursday. The function began with a havan,presided over by principal Jaya Bhardwaj,which was followed by an investiture ceremony wherein outgoing student cabinet members passed on their duties and responsibilities to their newly appointed successors. The function ended with the principal and staff members blessing students appearing for Class VIII,X and XII boards. Bhardwaj wished students luck “as they were stepping out into the world far from the protective environs of the school”.

Desh Bhagat group signs MoU with Medicine Hat College
CHANDIGARH: Desh Bhagat Institute of International Studies has signed an MoU with Medicine Hat College in Canada for academic co-operation. Chairman of Desh Bhagat Group Zora Singh said the MoU aims at enrolling students for degree and diploma programmes offered at Medicine Hat College and for mutual student exchange programme.

Mukesh Arts and Cultural Society to hold auditions for slum dwellers on Sunday
CHANDIGARH: The Legendary Mukesh Musical Arts and Cultural Society would hold auditions for residents of slum areas and other weaker sections at Government High School,Sector 26,on Sunday. Around 400 artistes are expected to participate. Similar auditions were earlier held in Government Model School in Mauli Jagran and Ramdarbar.