08042021-ATR-01.qxd 4/7/2021 11:04 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar TRIBUNE THE FLOWERING VERDURE ON HIS TERRACE IS HIS PRIDE & JOY PAGE 2 Meet Dr KS Manchanda, a child specialist, who has raised several ‘leafy children’ at his residence. FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY INBRIEF FIRE AT BUS STAND POLICE POST Amritsar: A fire broke out near the bus stand police post here on Wednesday. Several vehicles impounded by the police were gutted in the fire. However, no loss of life was reported. Lovepreet Singh, Divisional Fire Officer, said: “We got a call at 1.10 pm. Our fire tenders left immediately and reached within a few minutes. We had sufficient equipment to control the fire and it was doused till 2 pm.” Several other vehicles and busses were parked in the same area, but these were evacuated safely. The reason that led to the fire is unknown. The police claim the loss was major as several vehicles were case properties, which were sub-judice. TNS PROTEST NEAR SONI’S RESIDENCE Amritsar: The Bharatiya Janata Party Mahila Morcha staged a protest near the residence of Cabinet Minister Om Parkash Soni over the issue of women security in state. Speaking on the occasion, Alka Sharma, president of the morcha, said in the last four-and-a-half years of the Congress rule in state, no concrete steps had been taken to insure safety of women. She alleged that law and order situation had completely deteriorated in the state during the Congress rule and instances of chain snatching and eve-teasing were on the rise. While the workers of the BJP tried to reach near the residence of OP Soni, they were stopped by the police, which had installed barricades on the way. Sharma demanded that the Chief Minister fulfil all promises made by him before the elections. TNS DIVYANGS SEEK SPL TRICYCLES Tarn Taran: Divyangs submitted a memorandum to DC Kulwant Singh here on Wednesday for MP Jasbir Singh Dimpa and demanded batteryfitted motorised tricycles for them. The members with special needs under the banner of Angheen and Blind Union, Punjab, in the memorandum said that the administration had organised a special camp for them on March 2 for releasing tricycles. Lakhveer Singh Saini, state president, and Kulwant Singh Lauhuka, district president of the organisation, said that persons with special needs often travel to far off places to do their jobs hence they required motorised tricycles. OC Amritsar, April 7 In yet another incident of petrol pump robbery, three unidentified armed assailants snatched a bike near Gujjarpura village and then robbed a petrol station in Ajnala here on Tuesday night. Harvinder Singh, who lost his motorcycle to the armed assailants, said he worked in a private hospital in Ajnala. After his shift when he was heading towards Gagomahal village, three persons standing on the roadside waved him to stop. He didn’t stop the bike. The miscreants, whose PAGE 3 ANUPAMA REMINISCES HER INITIAL DAYS IN THE INDUSTRY Shah's debut directorial venture Someday has been selected for the 51st Annual USA Film Festival. MAX 33°C | MIN 14°C | YESTERDAY MAX 32°C | MIN 15°C SUNSET THURSDAY 6:54 PM PAGE 4 From appearing in Punjabi music videos to acting in a web series, Anupama goes down memory lane. SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:09 AM THURSDAY | 8 APRIL 2021 | AMRITSAR District reports 7 deaths, 325 fresh cases Despite no lockdown, around 70,000 migrants yet to return Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 7 The district has reported seven deaths in the last 24 hours with which the toll increased to 731 on Wednesday. The health authorities have also reported 325 new cases with which the tally of infected patients increased to 22,988. The deceased have been identified as Sahib Singh (50), a resident of Dashmesh Nagar; Amarjit Kaur (70) of Gurnam Nagar; Chaman Lal (61) of Azad Nagar; Joginder Singh (85) of Jodh Nagar; Nasib Kaur (72) of Daokae; Nirmal Singh (60) of Tirath Nagar and Bhajan Kaur (60) of Jandiala. The new cases include 259 influenza-like illness cases and 66 contacts of positive patients. With the recovery of 213 patients, the recovery count has increased to 19,039. The district at present has a total of 3,218 active cases. Meanwhile, 6,944 persons were given injections on Wednesday. The health officials said 79,067 persons above the age of 45 years have been Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service A health worker inoculates a man at the tehsil complex in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR HELPLINE NUMBERS FOR COVID PATIENTS ■ City Control Room Numbers: COVIDUPDATE NEW CASES TOTAL CASES NEW DEATHS TOTAL DEATHS NEW RECOVERY TOTAL RECOVERY ACTIVE 325 22,988 7 731 213 19,039 3,218 0183-2500398, 2500498, 2500598 ■ Health Department helpline: 0183-2535322, 0183-2535323 ■ Medical helpline: 104 ■ Contact a doctor: 1800 180 4104 ■ Bed availability and status: Punjab Covid App (updated daily at 5 pm) given injections for Covid19 so far. Additionally, 20,751 healthcare workers and 26,482 frontline workers have also been given injections. Amritsar, April 7 Around 70,000 migrant workers out of nearly 2.5 lakh, who were engaged in different fields and left for their native places during the Covidinduced lockdown, have not returned so far. This was stated by the Uttar Pradesh Kalyan Parishad (UPKP), Punjab, here on Wednesday. Ram Bhawan Goswami, general secretary of the parishad, said, “A large number of migrants who cannot earn more than Rs 10,000 per month back home have not returned to join their jobs in the city.” He said a large number of migrants were treated unfairly by their employers during the Covid-19 lockdown as the balance of their salaries was not paid by their employers. He said many of these employers were shopkeepers and wholesale dealers whose shops are based within the An employee works at a power loom in Amritsar. SUNIL KUMAR walled city. Goswami said, “Instead of returning here, workers are looking for work in the NCR and Gujarat because they are offered social welfare incentives like the provident fund, ESI, national holidays and minimum wages.” On the other hand, local facto- ries show multiple firms in documents to evade tax and workers working under a unit are shown in different firms, denying them benefits being offered to labourers. “The minimum wages of Rs 8,900 have never been paid to them though they are asked to perform duty more than eight hours.” It was over a year ago that the local ESI hospital was announced to be upgraded to a model hospital. However, no effort was made in this regard. In reality, the hospital invariably remains short of staff. Raju, who works at an embroidery unit, said he had put his house, situated in Preet Nagar locality in the Batala Road area, on sale. “I have asked my family back home to admit both children at some nearest school,” said Raju. Santosh Kumar, a trained power loom worker, said he was getting work for five days a week and the unit remained closed for two days. “We are not being paid a fixed salary and wages are decided on a piece rate basis. Earning Rs 12,000 per month has become a difficult task. With this amount it is very difficult to feed a five-member family, bear education and medical expenses, besides paying room rent,” he said. Keeping calm & hoping for the best Karan, director of Aar Vee Group, says another lockdown won’t be needed Neeraj Bagga situation is very fluid keeps ❝Though the day, we do not expectandlockdown we changing every a TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE AMRITSAR, APRIL 7 Once again the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases has added to the fear of reimposition of the lockdown and there is nearly 30 per cent fall in business activities, said Karan Verma, director of Aar Vee Group, which has interests in mining, energy, warehousing-transportation and hospitality. “Though the situation is very fluid and keeps changing every day, we do not expect a lockdown we had once witnessed last year,” he said. Karan is hopeful that everything will not be closed again and a partial lockdown would be enough. All commercial activities and even tourist flow had increased in January and February. “Now again, consumer consumption and economic activity are on the decline and there is about 30 per cent fall in business.” The group is primarily After snatching bike, robbers loot pump Tribune News Service SHEFALI’S DIRECTORIAL PROJECT SELECTED FOR USA FILM FEST faces were covered with cloth, fired gunshots. He got shelter at a nearby petrol pump but the accused reached there as well and snatched motorcycle from him. Harvinder Singh got a bullet injury in the incident and was admitted to the Civil Hospital. Mohit Kumar, SHO, Ajnala police station, said the miscreants then targeted a petrol pump, around 2-km away from where they snatched the bike. Raj Kumar, a worker of the petrol pump, told the police that around 8.43 pm three continued on page 2 had once witnessed last year. It should be kept in mind that the pandemic and its restrictions demand that all human activities should come to a standstill. Last year, our sales had gone down to almost zero as we had to provide comfort to suppliers and buyers. Post-Covid world would be different as new sectors will emerge and some old sectors may lose their relevance ❞ Karan Verma, DIRECTOR OF AAR VEE GROUP THAT HAS INTERESTS IN MINING, ENERGY, in mind that the pandemic and its restrictions demand that all human activities should come to a standstill.” The pandemic being oncein-a-lifetime experience has moulded every businessman. A more practical approach and flexible planning to handle events must be in their repertoire. “Last year, our sales had gone down to almost zero as we had to provide comfort to suppliers and buyers. In such a situation, bigger companies A ‘dose’ to convince people for Covid vax Tribune News Service WAREHOUSING & HOSPITALITY associated with the B2B segment having mining rights for gypsum in Jammu and Kashmir, and deals in various kinds of coal, including imported and domestic. It trades about 0.20 million tons of coal per annum and handles cement for ACC and provides warehousing. It also owns Mohan International Hotel in Amritsar. Minimum sustainable business is the demand at this juncture. “It should be kept Kalanaur health officials come up with an act to shed inhibitions regarding the vaccination drive. had been worst hit, so we took a balanced approach and had to provide assistance to our suppliers and buyers as we had business relations with both over the years. Before the lockdown, the scope online trading was limited, but in the coming years it is expected to take over in a big way. “PostCovid world would be different as new sectors will emerge and some old sectors may lose their relevance.” Gurdaspur, April 7 ‘Teeke Naal Jit’ (victory with vaccine), an informative short play about the importance of vaccination drive being run by Health and Family Welfare Department against Covid-19 was staged at the villages of block Kalanaur of district Gurdaspur on Wednesday. The health authorities stated that the motive behind staging the play is to clear all misconceptions among people regarding the ongoing vaccination drive. The play has been directed by Senior Medical Officer, Kalanaur, Dr Lakhwinder Singh Athwal and scripted by Block Extension Educator (BEE), Naveen Kalia. The officials have decided to choose the artists for the play from among the rural residents and peer educators (sathiyas), who are part of Rashtriya Kishore Swasthya Karyakaram (RKSK). Dr Athwal said: “We are taking every action to promote vaccination in the block and as such we are using the medium of art as a tool for motivating people.” He said that people under the influence of rumours being spread on social media have developed many misconceptions, which need to be addressed at the earliest. BEE Naveen Kalia shared, “The play is about a local boy who promotes vaccination despite opposition from some of his friend.” He manages to convince rural residents to stay away from rumours by providing them with authentic information.” Free bus travel not living up to expectations? Rural areas being neglected, residents say 175 buses insufficient hence passengers depend on private buses ❝ Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 7 While the state government had earlier this month implemented its decision regarding free bus travel for the women in state, most of the routes, especially in rural areas do not have a single government bus running. The residents stated that the government buses have already been pulled out of the routes in rural areas and at present are running for important destinations only. They stated that though the government has announced free bus travel for women inside Punjab, it would not help much and women in many areas would Until the ’90s to 2000, the rural people were mostly dependent on government buses. Afterwards the number of buses has continuously decreased but that of private buses has seen an exponential growth. In present circumstances, the free bus travel announcement is a joke. Gurnam Singh, SCHOOLTEACHER (RETD) have to travel in private buses and government buses fleet has depleted during the last two decades. In district, with around 175 buses at the two depots c m y b of Punjab Roadways, the passengers are predominantly dependent on private buses as they have a much larger presence. “Until ’90s to 2000, the ❞ rural people were mostly dependent on government buses. Afterwards the number of buses has continuously decreased but that of private buses has seen an exponential growth,” said a retired school teacher Gurnam Singh. He added that in the present circumstances, the free bus travel announcement is a joke as there are not many government buses available. The old timers in the Punjab Roadways stated that during their days, it had a fleet of 2,200 buses which has now shrunk to 175. The government bus drivers and conductors are already on warpath against the state government as they are demanding regularisation of their contractual jobs. However, with the new free bus travel for women announced in state, they feel that their chances of getting a regular job have further decreased. While the state government and administration are terming the decision of free travel as an achievement, Ruchika Mehra, a college student, said, “On one hand we are trying for gender equality and on the other hand we are portraying women as feeble who require free bus travel. The service should have been ideally given to economically vulnerable groups, including both men and women and not on gender basis.” She stated that she sees the government decision as a political gimmick which is aimed at developing mileage in the next elections than providing any real benefit to the desired sections.