Chandigarh Beat

GURDASPUR: Loans on subsidy will be provided to attract investors to set up industrial units in the focal points of the state, Minister of State for Information Sewa Singh Sekhwan said here today. He said 326 new focal points equipped with modern facilities were being set up in the state in addition to the existing 364 focal points, which were being revived and repaired to make them functional. Sekhwan added Rs 11 crore had been earmarked for the repair of school buildings in the state.

GURDASPUR: The District Magistrate has rescheduled the timings of all schools in the district keeping in view the hot weather conditions. The new timings for primary schools are 7.30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and for middle, high and senior secondary schools from 7.30 a.m. to noon. The orders come into force with immediate effect.

NAWANSHAHR: Lions Club, Nawanshahr city, organised a blood donation camp yesterday in collaboration with the Sirsa Finance Group of Companies, Nawanshahr. As many as 51 units of blood were collected at the camp, which was inaugurated by the SSP, Surinder Singh Sodhi.

ABOHAR: As many as 80 patients were checked up at a free ultrasound check-up camp organised by Apex Club at Sidarth Ultrasound Scan Centre. Social worker Chander Shekhar Gagneja was the chief guest and Dr C. L. Bhargava the guest of honour.

SHIMLA: A total of 250 persons donated blood at the camp organised by the local Sant Nirankari Mandal yesterday in connection with Manav Ekta Divas observed by the mission to pay homage to Baba Gurbachan Singh, head of the mission. The camp was held under the supervision of a team of doctors and staff of the Blood Bank of the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital.

NAWANSHAHR: District school teachers would participate in strength in the rally being organised at Tarn Taran by the Sanjha Adhiyapak Morch on May 29 against the alleged callous attitude of the Badal government towards their demands. The teachers are seeking category-wise release of pay-grades, ending political interference in the transfer of teachers, generalisation of various court decisions, reappointment of teachers working on 89 days basis, etc.

KAPURTHALA: Union Minister of Railways Nitish Kumar gave a cash award of Rs 25 lakh to the workers of the Rail Coach Factory for producing 7,500 coaches in a short span of 10 years during his visit to the factory on May 21. He lauded the role of workers for achieving the production targets and took a keen interest in the newly-developed high-speed coaches fit for running at speeds of 160 km per hour.

ABOHAR: The City Congress Committee has condemned the decision of the Central government regarding enhancing of retirement age. Demanding the withdrawal of the decision, the Abohar Congressmen said the move will shatter the dreams of many a youth.

CHANDIGARH: Senior vice president of Punjab Youth Congress Sukhpal Singh Khaira has in a statement has decried the BJP government for its short term approach while deciding to conduct nuclear blasts. Khaira said that though the nuclear tests would have been a matter of pride for the country, but the doubtful intentions with which the issue had been decided indicates that it was an attempt to distract the attention of public from the political instability. He criticised Union Home Minister L.K.Advani for creating a war like situation with Pakistan. In comparison the mature Congress leadership had always attempted to maintain cordial relations with the neighbours.

SHIMLA: Shimla district unit of the Association of Lecturers has demanded a separate directorate for secondary education on the Punjab and Haryana pattern and urged the state government to direct the State Board of Education to conduct plus one examination also. Ashwani Kumar, general secretary of the association, regretted that despite repeated requests, gazetted status of the lecturers had not been restored.

SUNDERNAGAR: Bhadhar Singh of Jugahan village, near here, was taken into custody by the Sundernagar police in connection with the death of his 30-year-old wife Krishna on the night intervening May 23-24. According to police, the accused had some altercation with the deceased earlier that day and Krishan was found dead in her bed around 3 am, the police added.

SUNDERNAGAR: Mohan Singh, a resident of Dashrathpuri in New Delhi, died on the spot after falling off a bus, here this afternoon. The police have sent the body for post-mortem examination to the local sub-divisional hospital. The deceased was on his way to Manikaran via Deoth Sidh, police added.