09042021-JTR-01.qxd 4/8/2021 11:09 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar TRIBUNE SARTAJ HAS CEASELESSLY BEEN HELPING PROTESTING FARMERS PAGE 2 To support the agitators, a city-based youth has come forward to supply all summer essentials to the farmers. FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY INBRIEF GOVT ASKED TO FILL VACANT POSTS Jalandhar: The Agriculture Technocrats Action Committee held a meet on Thursday and condemned the state government for not filling vacant posts and reorganising the department due to which the posts will be reduced. Members of the committee said this will ultimately affect farmers as they need people on such posts to help them out in various agricultural techniques. They said it was unfair for students who were passing out from agriculture universities and colleges in search of jobs. On one hand, the government is promising jobs, and on other, forget about filling vacancies, the government is reducing number of posts. TNS ONE HELD WITH 30 LIQUOR CARTONS Jalandhar: The police have arrested a person with 30 cartons of illicit liquor. The accused has been identified as Amarpreet Singh, alias Goldy, a resident of Tower Enclave, Phase-2. Assistant Sub-Inspector Vijay Kumar said they got a tip-off that the accused used to sell illicit liqor in the city following which a raid was conducted. He said Goldy had kept the liquor cartons at an empty plot in Tower Enclave. A case under Sections 61-1-14 of the Excise Act has been registered against the accused. TNS PROJECTS WORTH ~2.60-CR PASSED Jalandhar: The F&CC meet was held on Thrusday in which projects worth Rs 2.60 crore were passed. A project related to construction of garbage points in West constituency with an estimate around Rs 43 lakh was not passed. The meet was attended by Mayor Jagdish Raja, Senior Deputy Mayor Surinder Kaur, councillors Gian Chand and Gurwinderpal Singh Bunty Nilkanth. TNS BENEFICIARIES GET PENSION NUMBERS Jalandhar: In a special event, pension numbers were given to as many as 102 new beneficiaries in Ward No. 78. Jalandhar ADCP Daljit Singh Saroa handed over the certificates to the beneficiaries who will be covered under oldage pension scheme, pension for handicapped, and pension for widow. Councillor Jagdish Samrai said his ward has more than 800 beneficiaries. TNS PAGE 3 FARHAN TO STAR IN A GLOBAL PROJECT OF MARVEL STUDIOS ROADIES REVOLUTION-FAME SAQIB KHAN BIDS GOODBYE TO SHOWBIZ The Bollywood actor managed to keep this completely hush-hush and has already left Mumbai for the shoot. MAX 32°C | MIN 11°C | YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 14°C SUNSET FRIDAY 6:52 PM PAGE 4 Saqib said it was tough struggling in Mumbai, but he was proud that he could earn such a fan following. SUNRISE SATURDAY 6:05 AM FRIDAY | 9 APRIL 2021 | JALANDHAR names, remarks; ASHA workers Have you ever been mistreated? Callinglot on theirslightingdeal with amid pandemic had a plate to Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 8 They were called names, people insulted them by saying they were bringing virus, and were labelled as the government’s spy, ASHA workers have had to soak in numerous slighting remarks throughout the pandemic. A few days ago, the workers held a massive protest against the government for giving them their dues. Besides dealing with problems on the field, they were suffering personal problems too. There are a lot of tales that expose the ground realities and challenges in their work. When everyone was confined to their homes at the start of the pandemic, ASHA workers were entrusted with the task to visit homes and ask people if they were feeling alright or showing any symptoms but the workers said that they had to go through ‘torture’ as people didn’t see them as help. Asha worker Gurjeet Kaur (49), who tested positive recently, is the sole earner in her family. After the death of her husband, she has been looking after her aged in-laws on her own. Kaur’s son, who is into menial jobs, is also facing troubles because of the pandemic. Kaur said she is the supervisor of ASHA workers and covers 20 villages. “I have so many problems in my personal life. I am still recovering from the virus. I remember that I was holding my six-month-old granddaughter when I felt uneasiness and then got myself tested, and when the report came positive, I was shattered. I suddenly got worried for my so many problems in my ❝I havefrom the virus. I rememberpersonal life. I am still recovering that I was holding my six-month-old granddaughter when I felt uneasy and then got myself tested, and when the report came positive, I was shattered. I suddenly got worried for my granddaughter. These are the emotions that we go through. Gurjeet Kaur, ASHA WORKER ASHA workers are working as frontline health staff since the start of the pandemic. TRIBUNE PHOTO granddaughter. These are the emotions that we go through,” she shared. Kaur is already dealing with various issues in her personal life. And haunting flashbacks of past year keep coming back; she likes to term that time as a “complete horror”. “People would shut doors on our faces, would mistreat us even though we all were doing our jobs, but it has been a really tough year like never before,” she said. Amritpal, ASHA worker ❞ from Nussi village in Jalandhar married off her daughters with much difficulty and said she is the lone bread winner as her husband, a labourer, doesn’t support her much. “We live on this meager income. All this never felt that difficult since the pandemic hit us. ‘log saanu kehnde si ki etho jaao, tusi hi coronavirus laike aande ho’, can you believe how bad we would have felt at that time? No one can and ever will,” she concluded. Welcome, we are vaccinated! 2 nabbed with illegal weapons To beat tough pandemic times, food outlets promise safe dining experience Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service HELPLINE NUMBERS FOR COVID PATIENTS Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 8 ‘ We are vaccinated against the Covid-19’ signs greet visitors at a plush eatery at Urban Estate, Phase II, in the city. Amid the pandemic, fine-dining experience has taken a surreal shift as eateries are now ushering in customers by declaring that their employees have been inoculated. The stickers further exhort, ‘Take your Best Shot! Protect yourself and your loved ones. Get vaccinated against Covid-19’. Restaurants, food outlets and eateries, are getting their employees vaccinated to ensure safer dining experience for their customers. Along with promoting safety, signs are also aimed at boosting business among a restaurateur business still reeling under the aftermath of the lockdown and second peak.” Sandy Williams, manager, Barista (Urban Estate, Phase II) said, “Protection from pandemic is a major concern. Our entire staff has been vaccinated and we are following safety protocols. We aim to provide safe dining experience to our clients without worrying about the Covid-19.” Notably, nearly 28 employ- ■ Helpline number of Ambulance: 108 JALANDHAR UPDATE NEW CASES TOTAL CASES NEW DEATHS TOTAL DEATHS NEW RECOVERY TOTAL RECOVERY ACTIVE 419 32,859 8 969 366 28,759 3,131 ■ Emergency helpline: 104 ■ Jalandhar Helpline for Covid or other medical queries: 0181-2224848 ■ Dist Immunisation Officer contact: 94171-64164 ■ Website for Covid bed info: https://jalandhar.nic.in/ ‘We are vaccinated against Covid’ sign greets visitors at an eatery. ees of various franchises were vaccinated in March. Neeraj Kumar, operations manager, Euro Greens, said, “Around 28 employees working with us at Hayden Park (Birring village) and Urban Estate, Phase II, have received shots. Our workers at Barista, Subway, Chicago Pizza and Lahori Gate outlets have been inoculated. We got them vaccinated first after receiving directions from the administration. Our employees were inoculated in batches.” He said, “The idea is to ensure customer feels safe at our outlets. We have also displayed ‘wear masks, save lives’ stickers at our units. Covid protocol is abided by everybody. We also want to set an example for everyone. The attempt is also to dispel rumours regarding the vaccine. From owners to employees all of us have been vaccinated. So it serves not just a protection, but also an inspiration among customers who may be sceptical.” Employees at these eateries were vaccinated before mobile vans were started by the district administration. 8 deaths, 419 cases in dist Racing past previous records, the Covid cases on Thursday again witnessed a high. With 419 new cases reported in Jalandhar, the district’s tally reached 32,859, of 419 as many as 46 belong to other No, it’s not election time! districts. Eight persons also died here today taking the death toll to 969. While 28,759 people have so far been discharged, there are 3,131 active cases in the district. In Kapurthala, 177 tested positive and three deaths were reported. The deceased include a 76-year-old man, a resident of Fattu Dhinga block, who died at a private hospital in Jalandhar, a 75year-old woman, resident of Kapurthala, who too died at a private hospital in Jalandhar and a 62-year-old man, resident of Sultanpur Lodhi. 12 die in Hoshiarpur dist The district reported 12 more deaths due to Covid-19, pushing the toll to 611 on Thurs- day. Besides, the district also witnessed 115 fresh cases; the tally is 14,828 now. Giving information about cases in the district, Civil Surgeon Ranjit Singh said the number of active cases in the district stood at 1,225 and 14,146 patients had recovered. Out of today’s 115 cases, 15 were from Hoshiarpur and the remaining related to other health blocks of the district. Five patients of the district died at hospitals in Jalandhar, while a similar number of patients died at Hoshiarpur hospitals. One patient died at a hospital in Amritsar and one more died on the way to Amritsar from Dasuya Civil Hospital. Jalandhar, April 8 The CIA Staff 1 on Thursday held two Kapurthala-based brothers with illegal weapons. The accused have been identified as Jernail Singh (29) and Jermail Singh (26), both residents of Nurpur village in Kapurthala. Apart from two .32 bore weapons, four magazines and seven live cartridges were also recovered from their possession. Cops said they had received a tip-off that the accused were crossing Chugittee with weapons following which a naka was set up to nab the duo. A stolen motorcycle was also recovered from the accused, said the police. After the death of their father, both brothers started doing petty crimes and were granted bail last year in a theft case, said the police. A case under Sections 379, 482 and 411 of the IPC and 25-54-59 of the Arms Act has been registered against the accused at Rama Mandi police station. 32-yr-old held with heroin The Special Operation Unit (SOU) on Thursday held a youth with 8 gram of heroin. The accused has been identified as Ratan, alias Kaka, a residenet of Colony 29, Jalandhar Cantt. ACP (Crime) Kanwaljit Singh said they received a tip-off regarding the accused and his involvement in drug peddling. The 32-year-old has been in this trade for the last five years, said the police. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against Kaka at Cantt police station. Kapurthala-based brothers in the custody of Jalandhar police. Vax drive picks up pace in Nawanshahr Health Department inoculates 2,539 persons on Thursday Tribune News Service At first sight, it seems as if voters have queued up to cast their vote. When in reality the people are flashing Aadhaar cards for vaccination at the Civil Hospital, Jalandhar. The drive has certainly picked up pace. TRIBUNE PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH c m y b Jalandhar, April 8 In Nawanshahr (last five days), maximum number of positive cases have been reported from Sujjon block followed by urbanNawanshahr block. While 82 cases have been reported from Sujjon, urban Nawanshahr has witnessed 67 new cases. In order to tackle the pandemic, the Health Department inoculated 2,539 persons in the district on Thursday. As per information, 594 beneficiaries were administered vaccine in Sujjon block today. In Nawanshahr and Balachaur block, 175 and 269 persons received the jabs, respectively. As many as 633 persons in Muzaffarpur and 360 in Mukandpur received the shots. Today, the health author- ities reported 47 cases and zero death in the district. The death rate in the district is 2.69 per cent (toll 208). Nawanshahr Civil Surgeon Gurdeep Singh Kapur said, “Recovery rate has increased. There is a decrease in death rate in the district, which is a positive sign.” Beneficiaries hesitant in Kapurthala district Deputy Commissioner Deepti Uppal showed concern as more than 100 cases were being reported daily in the district. While residents in Jalandhar and Nawanshahr have started coming forward to get inoculated on their own, beneficiaries in Kapurthala were still hesitant. The Deputy Commissioner said residents here still have inhibitions. “Even I have got inoculated along with several other officials. I can assure you that vaccine is safe,” she said. Uppal urged shopkeepers and traders to ensure that there’s no rush in their shops, else strict action would be taken by the administration. She said shop will be shut if owners don’t follow the guidelines. “When the pandemic had started, shopkeepers used to ask customers to stand at a designated spot outside their shops. Such measures should be started again, otherwise it will become difficult to tackle the Covid-19,” she said.