23012021-JTR-01.qxd 1/22/2021 11:19 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar TRIBUNE JASMINE WINS U-19 SINGLES IN DISTRICT BADMINTON C’SHIPS Jasmine Malhi, who had lost in the U-17 girls’ singles final on Thursday, grabbed the U-19 title on Friday. FORECAST SCATTERED SHOWERS INBRIEF EXCISE DEPT RAIDS 3 TOBACCO FIRMS Jalandhar: The Excise and Taxation Department raided premises of three cigarette and tobacco dealers at Gur Mandi on January 21 evening. The teams were headed by Kamaljit Singh, Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner (AETC), Jalandhar II, and Darveer Raj Kaur, AETC, Jalandhar I. The officials said they received a tip-off that these firms were purchasing cigarettes without bills. Paramjit Singh, District Excise and Taxation Commissioner (DETC), said dealers used to transport beedi from Delhi in cars without bills (due to high Goods and Services Tax on these items). “They used to put beedi in cartons and take bill of only one carton. We have taken the stock from five godowns in our custody and have started further investigation,” the DETC said. He said they would recover purchase bills from the dealers. The District Excise and Taxation Commissioner, said, “There is 28 per cent GST on these items apart from 50 per cent cess. Thus, tax evasion is always suspected.” Earlier, raids were conducted in Bathinda and Amritsar. “More raids will be conducted in near future. The drive won’t stop,” said Paramjit. TNS ~2 LAKH GIVEN FOR BAR LIBRARY Kapurthala: Chairman of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh, Karanjit Singh on Friday visited the District Bar Association (DBA) office and handed over a cheque of ~2 lakh to President DBA, Kapurthala Malkiat Singh Thind for the upgrade of Kapurthala Bar Library. DBA press secretary Pawan Kalia, said Chairman Karanjit Singh also declared one of the members of DBA, Kapurthala, Khalaar Singh Dham as co-opted member of State Bar Disciplinary Committee. Senior members of the DBA, Kapurthala, including JJS Arora, Rakesh Sharma and Harcharan Singh addressed the gathering and presented different grievances being faced by the advocates especially during lockdown before the Chairman of Bar Council Punjab and Haryana. During his address, the council chairman assured them extending all kind of help. TNS CHRISTIAN BODIES SUPPORT FARMERS Jalandhar: Priests and heads of various Christian organisations on Friday held a protest against the Centre for not repealing the three agri laws. They supported agitating farmers and urged the Central Government to consider the demands of protesting farmers. Members of various Christian bodies flayed the style of functioning of the government. They said law and order situation can get affected if the Centre continues to stick to its stance. Arch Bishop of Pentecostal Diocese of Punjab PJ Soloman, chairman of Rashtriya Masihi Sangh Fares Masih, Punjab Christian United Front chief George Soni, Punjab Christian Movement chief Hamid Masih, Pastor Ashok Masih and Pastor Surinder Gill of the United Pastors’ Association were present on the occasion. TNS DR RAJ SLAMS TINU OVER SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME Chabbewal MLA Dr Raj Kumar on Friday hailed the decision of the high-power committee to release pending dues to the tune of ~ 309 crore. PAGE 2 PAGE 2 PAGE 3 DISHA PATANI IS EXCITED ABOUT THEATRICAL RELEASE OF RADHE DUBEY OFFERED BIG AMOUNT FOR SEASON 2 OF JAMAI 2.0 Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai, which stars Disha opposite Salman, is slated for release in theatres on Eid 2021. MAX 18°C | MIN 7°C | YESTERDAY MAX 18°C | MIN 12°C SUNSET SATURDAY 5:55 PM PAGE 4 With a huge fan following and an impressive body of work, Ravi Dubey has always been on the top of charts. SUNRISE SUNDAY 7:24 AM SATURDAY | 23 JANUARY 2021 | JALANDHAR Boon for poor, but discrepancies play spoilsport Minister lays foundation Ayushman BharatWithin two years of launch, 3 hospitals de-empanelled, 2 issued notices stone of link Constant efforts are being roads in Dhogri DIST DATA OF AB-SSBY KNOW MORE ABOUT AB-SSBY TREATMENT FOR BENEFICIARIES made to increase the reach of EMPOWERING LIVES Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 22 The Ayushman Bharat Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana (ABSSBY) launched on August 20, 2019 opened up benefits of free healthcare for BPL families, farmers, journalists, small traders and requisite card holders. The scheme has acted as a boon for lakhs of beneficiaries burdened by unaffordable healthcare. However, discrepancies and persistent denial of services to beneficiaries has given way to serious anomalies. With 54.57 per cent coverage, Jalandhar ranked 13th in the state in terms of the coverage of the scheme. Of 2,62,609 families, the scheme has so far covered as many as 1,43,316 families and 2,92,562 individual e-cards had been generated in the district. So far, claims of 48,086 ben- Rank in terms of coverage 13th in state Coverage of scheme 54.57 per cent Targeted families 2,62,609 Covered families 1,43,316 Claims submitted 48,086 Amount released 62,15,59,056 Claims rejected 4,521 Number of cards generated 2,92,562 Ration card holders 2,74,127 Farmers 4,515 Construction workers 910 Small traders 108 Journalists 910 SECC 12,700 eficiaries had been submitted in the district and a total of Rs 62 crore and 15,59,056 has been released for treatment. In total, claims of 4,521 beneficiaries were rejected. Within less than two years of the scheme, at least three hospitals had been de-empanelled in the district after discrepancies were found against them and several others had The AB-SSBY, a flagship health insurance scheme aims to provide financial protection to 75 per cent of the population of the state. It is entitlement-based cashless health insurance cover of ~ 5 lakh per family per year. Under this scheme, cashless and paperless treatment is available at the government and empanelled private hospitals. ■ Cashless treatment up to ~ 5 lakh per family every year. ■ Cashless tertiary care treatment under 1,579 packages to beneficiaries, including 180 packages reserved for public hospitals of which 25 packages referable to private hospitals. ■ The Covid-19 treatment at the empaneled hospitals as per the order of the government. WHO ALL ARE ELIGIBLE NFSA ration card holders, J-form holder farmers, construction workers, Yellow card holder journalists, small traders and SECC (beneficiaries identified based on Socio Economic Caste Census of 2011 by the Government of India). been issued notices after they were found overcharging. As per a response to an RTI query filed by a Jalandharbased activist and journalist Kumar Amit, 129 complaints had been made regarding the Ayushman Bharat Scheme on the 104 helpline in the district. Of these 129 complaints, 126 were hospital related and three were regarding com- mon service centres. The district ranks second in the state with respect to complaints made regarding the scheme. It stands at third position with respect to complaints made against hospitals not entertaining card holders. Dr Jyoti, Deputy Medical Commissioner-cum-Nodal Officer, Ayushman Bharat Scheme, said, “Thirteen pub- lic and 57 private hospitals have been empanelled under the scheme in Jalandhar district. We have 54.57 per cent coverage. We have recently started holding camps to enlist more beneficiaries on priority basis. Vidal Health Insurance has been roped in to increase the number of enrolment camps. At present, manpower is not sufficient. the scheme.” The Deputy Medical Commissioner said, “We are reaching out to various departments to increase beneficiaries. The ASHA and ANM workers are taking lists from depot holders. We are also targeting common service centres and have requested all the departments to send lists of beneficiaries.” Dr Jyoti said, “The District Grievances Officer formally solves the issues and in case he/she fails then they come to me. If issues still remain unaddressed then we take up them in the District Greivances Committee meeting.” The Nodal Officer informed that the empanelled hospitals, which had been de-empaneled in the district, include Kapoor Hospital, Balaji Hospital and Rattan Hospital. Showcause notices have been issued to two more empanelled hospitals regarding discrepancies in the scheme. 4 killed in bus-car collision AAP announces candidates CIVIC POLL A total of 41 faces in electoral fray Our Correspondent Tribune News Service Talwara, January 22 Four persons, including a three-year-old child, were killed after a bus collided with their car on Friday morning. The accident took place on the Talwara-Hajipur road. The victims have been identified as Sarabjit Singh (23), Sushil Kumar (20), both residents of Roli village, Kuldeep Singh (19), of Sarabha Nagar, Jalandhar, and three-year-old Aryan, a resident Bagrian village, Gurdaspur district. Ajmer Singh, in-charge, Talwara police station, said a private bus (Kartar Transport), was heading towards Jalandhar and the car was on its way towards Talwara. He said the vehicles collided near the bridge on Kandi Canal. The crash was so powerful that the bodies of the car occupants got stuck in the vehicle and rescuers had to The accident took place on the Talwara-Hajipur road on Friday. use hammers and crowbars to pull them out of the ill-fated car. The bodies of the victims were sent to the BBMB Hospital, Talwara. The bus driver, who has been identidfied as Makhan Singh, a resident of Anandpur Sahib, fled from the spot after the accident. A case has been registered under Sections 304 A, 279 and 427 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the bus driver. Jalandhar, January 22 The Aam Aadmi Party, on Friday, announced its list for the nagar council and nagar panchayat elections. The party also announced to hold a bike rally on January 23, in solidarity with the farmers’ protest. District party (urban) president Rajwinder Kaur and district (rural) president Principal Prem Kumar said the party workers would hold a motorcycle rally on January 23 to lend solidarity to the kisan tractor march held by farmers on January 26. He exhorted several persons to participate in the tractor march. They said the party workers would also participate in huge numbers to lend support to the tractor march on January 26. Addressing the press, Rajwinder Kaur said it was for Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 22 Punjab Industry and Commerce Minister Sunder Sham Arora today laid the foundation stone for construction, widening, and strengthening of link roads in the industrial zone at Dhogri Industrial Park at the cost of Rs 2.62 crore. The minister, accompanied by Member of Parliament Santokh Singh Chaudhary, MLAs Chaudhary Surinder Singh, Avtar Singh Junior Bawa Henry, Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori said the funds had been sanctioned by Punjab Rural Development Board funds and approximately 4.72 kmlong road stretch would be widened, strengthened and constructed at the cost of Rs. 2.62 crore at the Dhogri Industrial Estate. He said tenders had also been given to the Jalandharbased company and this work would be over within five months as the construction work has already begun. He said this would benefit a large number of industries of Dhogri, and Raipur Rasulpur and would attract more industries to at Dhogri. He said the new industry would offer more jobs to the local youths and hence would help them deal with unemployment. MP distributes cheques for ~ 6.78 cr to 28 villages AAP leaders address mediapersons in Jalandhar on Friday. the first time in the history of the nation that on one hand, jawans would be holding the January 26 Republic Day march and on the other, farmers will be holding their own march. She said the party workers would participate in the kisan march. Announcing candidates for Mehatpur, Nakodar, Adampur, Nurmahal, Kartarpur, Lohian Khas and Phillaur she said while the other parties had duped the people of the state, the AAP, if voted to power in Punjab, will provide free water, cheap electricity, good schools, state-of-the-art Mohalla clinics, sanitary arrangements, proper waste management, and various key facilities on the doorsteps of people. A list of 41 candidates for the nagar panchayat and nagar council polls was released. Mahilpur: MP Manish Tewari distribured development funds to different villages during a public meeting organised at Babora village in Block Mahilpur here on Friday. MP Tewari said that the Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, was committed to the allround development of villages, so that all kinds of facilities can be provided at the city level even in rural areas. He said that there will be no shortage of funds for development. He also targeted the Narendra Modi government at the Centre and said that on continued on page 2 1,595 administered Covishield shots Drive was carried out at 24 session sites in Jalandhar dist on Friday Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 22 The vaccination drive was carried out at 24 session sites in the district on Friday. Of them, 14 were held at private and 10 at the government health facilities. As many as 1,595 health workers were inoculated against the contagion. Several CHCs also saw the drive for the first time today. These include Lohian, Shahkot, Adampur, Kartarpur, Phillaur, Kala Bakra, among others. On Thursday, 458 health workers had received the vaccine shots while 1,595 workers were administered the dose – the biggest number achieved in the district so far. As many as 11,800 health workers have been registered for vaccination in the first phase in Jalandhar. So far, no incident of adverse reactions has been reported in the district. Medicos and paramedical staff of New Ruby Hospital were administered the Covid doses at the hospital. Dr SPS 1 MORE COVID DEATH IN HOSHIARPUR Hoshiarpur: The district reported the death of a person due to the Covid-19 contagion, pushing the toll to 329 on Friday. Besides, the district reported 10 more positive cases, taking the tally to 7,980. At present, the number of active cases stands at 57. Around 7,594 patients have recovered in the district. — OC A health worker poses for a picture after getting inoculated. TWO DIE, 28 TEST POSITIVE IN JALANDHAR DISTRICT Jalandhar: The district reported the death of two persons due to the Covid-19 contagion taking the toll to 666 on Friday. Besides, the district reported 28 more positive cases of Covid-19, taking the total count to 20,455. The number of Grover, MD, and Harwinder Grover and Dr Kulwant Singh Baghiana were immunised. Dr. SPS Grover was the first to receive the shot and presented himself to quell fears prevailing in hospital active cases was 209. At present, while 19,580 people have been discharged, 116 persons are also under home isolation in the district. Meanwhile, Kapurthala district reported five more positive cases on Friday. TNS medical and paramedical staff. District Immunisation Officer Dr Rakesh Chopra said, “The session sites have been increased to include maximum workers for the drive. Over 2,000 health c m y b workers have so far been inoculated in the district and more private hospitals are also being involved in the process. Several new sites will also see inoculation in the coming days.” Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori inspects full dress rehearsal for the district-level 72nd Republic Day function at Guru Gobind Singh stadium in Jalandhar on Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Minister Aruna Chaudhary to unfurl Tricolour on R-Day Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 22 Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori on Friday participated in the full dress rehearsal ahead of the Republic Day celebrations at Guru Gobind Singh stadium. During the rehearsal, the Deputy Commissioner unfurled the national flag and the march past was led by parade commander Jyoti Yadav. Thori gave necessary directions to officers regarding fool-proof preparations for the mega event in which Social Security, Women and Child Development, Minister Aruna Chaudhary, would unfurl the Tricolour. The DC said preparations for this mega event were going on in full swing and every effort would be made to make sure that the auspicious day was celebrated with fervour. Deputy Commissioner of Police Arun Saini, Additional Deputy Commissioner Jasbir Singh, Sub-Divisional Magistrates Rahul Sindhu, Dr Jai Inder Singh, and Assistant Commissioner Hardeep Singh, among others were present.