02052022-JTR-01.qxd 5/1/2022 11:36 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar TRIBUNE RESTORING NORMALCY IN ACADEMIA NEED OF THE HOUR School closure will not only hit learning process but overall development of children as well, say city residents. FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY SKY INBRIEF THREE ARRESTED FOR SNATCHING Jalandhar: Three persons, allegedly involved in a number of robbery and snatching cases, have been arrested by the police on Sunday. The accused have been indentified as Desh Kumar, a resident of Lohian, Lovepreet Singh, alia Bhullo, and Akashdeep Singh, alias Akash, both residents of Shahkot. They were nabbed at a naka on the Nawa Pind Khalewal bridge on April 29. A TVS Jupiter (PB76-A-8365), a Hero Splendor (PB08-EV-1856), a Platina (without numberplate) have been recovered from the trio. An FIR under Sections 379B and 511 of the IPC had been lodged at the Lohian police station. TNS TWO ARRESTED ON ABDUCTION CHARGE Jalandhar: Two persons have been arrested on the charge of kidnapping on Sunday. A case under Section 365 of the IPC was lodged against Sudhir Kumar, a resident of Patiala, and Surinder Singh, a resident of Ludhiana, for kidnapping Varinder Singh, a resident of Patiala. The complainant, Gurmeet, said he and his employer Varinder were working at Parjian village in Jalandhar when the rim of their trolley broke. Varinder went to a shop at Mehatpur to get it repaired from where four to five people took him away in a car. One of them was Sudhir Kumar. The police traced two of the kidnappers and arrested them. TNS VACCINATION CAMP AT APAHAJ ASHRAM Jalandhar: The 88th vaccination camp was organised at Apahaj Ashram, near HMV College, Jalandhar, on Monday. While the Apahaj Ashram has been doing yeoman’s service in the organisation of camps, it had already organised 87 camps in which people from all ages were jabbed against Covid. The vaccination will be held from 10 am to 12 noon. Chairman Tarsem said Covid vaccination was must to ensure protection from disease. TNS 39 DEVOTEES HURT IN ROAD ACCIDENTS Garhshankar: A total of 26 devotees, who came to Khuralgarh Sahib and Charan Chho Ganga, the shrines of Sri Guru Ravidas, were injured when the bus they were travelling in plunged into a gorge. Fortunately, the bus fell straight into the gorge. Of the 32 passengers, six escaped unhurt and 26 were injured. In another incident, a tempo carrying 16 devotees to the same religious shrines fell into a ravine. Thirteen persons were injured and three escaped unhurt in the mishap. Two passengers, Balwant Singh (60), a resident of Dhada Kalan, and Jasmine (13), a resident of Salempur, were referred to the PGI. OC PAGE 2 BIG B CALLS AJAY’S DIRECTION IN RUNWAY 34 ‘MARVELLOUS’ Ajay Devgn made his directorial debut with Runway 34, co-starring Amitabh Bachchan and Rakul Preet Singh. MAX 41°C | MIN 26°C | YESTERDAY MAX 42°C | MIN 23°C SUNSET MONDAY 7:07 PM TAHIRA GETS CANDID ON SHILPA’S CHAT SHOW SHAPE OF YOU PAGE 4 Tahira Kashyap opened up about her sex life with husband Ayushmann Khurrana on Shilpa’s show recently. SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:41 AM MONDAY | 2 MAY 2022 | JALANDHAR Staff crunch hits functioning of govt schools 25 govt middle schools in Banga, Balachaur & Nawanshahr are either teacher-less or running with one teacher Avneet Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, May 1 As many as 25 government middle and primary schools in Nawanshahr, Banga and Balachaur are suffering due to teaching staff crunch. All these schools are either teacher-less or operating with one teacher or a volunteer, who not only takes classes, but also manage administrative work. Sources in the Education Department said though the government claims that this staff crunch was mainly due to vacant posts, however, the ground reality was something different. They said through political clout, teachers were taking stations of their own choice due to which there was an uneven distribution of teaching staff in schools. “In majority of the government schools in cities, there are more teachers than actually required. The government schools in rural belts not only lack basic facilities, but also don’t have any teachers,” they added. They further said this problem of staff shortage due to ‘political sifarish’ has been brought into the notice of officials time and again, but neither the previous Congress government did anything to stop this practice nor the AAP government was now making any effort to streamline this unequal distribution of staff. At present, government middle schools running with only one teacher are located at Ladhana Ucha, Karimpur, Nai Mazara villages (all in Nawanshahr block), Kharkuwal, Jullah Majra, Kahlon (in Aur block), Khanpur, Bajjon, Raipur Dabba, Sheikhupur, Bharomjara Ranua, Ballowal (in Mukandpur block), Baharmajara, Bharoli (in Banga block) and Uttal, Lalpur, Ghamaur, Chakli Sujat, Muzaffarpur and Lalpur villages (in Balachaur-2 block). The teacher-less middle schools are at Daryapur (Aur block), Lakhpur and Nurpur (Mukandpur block) and Chak Guru (Banga block) and Government Primary PADHO PUNJAB, PADHAO PUNJAB CAMPAIGN TAKES A BACKSEAT ■ Sources in the Education Department said ‘Pad- ■ The motivation among teachers to convert their ho Punjab, Padhao Punjab’, which was started with an aim to change the face of government schools, seems to have taken a backseat. schools into smart institutions is missing. Besides, no efforts are being made to increase enrolment of students in state-run schools. Govt Primary School ; and (right) broken furniture at Govt Middle School, Chakli Sujat, in Balachaur. Nearly 37% of teaching posts are lying vacant in Nawanshahr. This problem won’t be solved unless the new govt speeds up the recruitment process. Over 50% of non-teaching posts are also lying vacant. Kulwinder Singh Sarai, DEO, NAWANSHAHR ❝ School in Chakli Sujat in Balachaur, where there is no teacher, but an EGS (Education Guarantee Scheme) vol- ❞ unteer has been deputed. Meanwhile, all these middle schools have a decent enrolment of students. But due to lack of teachers, students of Classes V VI, VII and VIII are , made to sit in a single classroom and single teacher is deputed for all subjects. Talking to The Tribune, Satpal Chakli, a social worker and former sarpanch of Chakli Sujat village in Balachaur, said: “The AAP government has promised to provide quality education to people and recruit teachers and other staff in government schools on a war footing. But it seems after coming to power, their priorities have changed.” “Forget about basic facilities like clean water and washrooms, there are no teachers in schools,” he added. Chakli further claimed that he regularly visits the DEO office to request him to depute teachers in schools as parents were worried about the education of their wards. Besides, no new admissions are taking place as parents are irked over the pathetic condition and functioning of government schools. Gurvinder Singh, a parent, from Daryapur village, said on one hand, the AAP was making tall claims of improving the education sector, but on the other, it had failed to check staff distribution in schools. “If they really wish to bring positive changes in education, at least they should first visit their own schools,” he added. Nawanshahr DEO Kulwinder Singh Sarai said nearly 37 per cent of teaching posts were lying vacant in Nawanshahr. He said until the new government doesn’t speed up the recruitment process, this problem won’t be solved. He further said over 50 per cent of non-teaching posts, too, were lying vacant. Officials at Banga and Balachaur, too, gave similar response and said the teaching posts were lying vacant due to which there was shortage of staff at some schools. Meanwhile, Balachaur MLA Santosh Kataria refused to comment on the issue, while Nawanshahr MLA Nachhatar Pal Singh said he would take up the matter with officials concerned and request the Education Minister and the Chief Minister to fill vacant posts in government schools. Special Operations Group Victim’s wife firm on holding bhog commandos deployed in city outside police station tomorrow Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Jalandhar, May 1 In the wake of unprecedented clash that broke out in Patiala on Friday and rising crime in the city, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Gurpreet Singh Toor, beefed up the security and deployed companies of Special Operation Group (SOG) in the city. As per the CP the move was , aimed at ensuring more surveillance against crime and maintaining law and order at every cost in the city. “The police is committed to serving residents for which security has been beefed up by deploying specially trained and hi-tech commandos, who are regularly checking sensitive and vulnerable areas of the city,” the CP said. The CP further said, “No one will be allowed to take law in their hands. If any one violates the law severest of severe Commandos of Special Operations Group check bags of passengers. action will be taken against them.” “Besides, officials have been sternly conveyed that laxity in maintaining law and order will not be tolerated at any cost,” the CP added. He further reiterated that additional force from the commissionerate offices and the Police Lines had already been deputed for effective nakabandi and patrolling across the city. Likewise, the CP said that gazetted officers (GOs) of the commissionerate had been asked to stay in the city area till 10 pm. Police personnel were deployed on late evening and night duties to check the activities of anti-social elements and criminal, the CP added. The CP assured people that with their help and cooperation Jalandhar would be made a crime free and safe city. He also thanked residents for maintaining peace in the city. Jalandhar, May 1 After being unable to hold the ‘antim ardas’ for her husband on April 27, wife of Ravi Gill, who was set on fire at the Kapurthala city police station on April 14, has now sought permission to hold his bhog ceremony at the same spot on Tuesday. Ravi’s wife has sought permission for holding bhog from the SDM and the SSP in writing. The woman alleged that she waited for holding the event last time due to the police insistence, but was determined to do so now. Speaking to The Tribune, Ravi’s wife said, “My husband’s spirit haunts me. I have asked police officials to stay at my home just for a night and see for themselves. He won’t find peace until all the guilty are arrested.” “On April 27, the SSP sahib called me and while addressing me as daughter asked me to hold on for four more days until the guilty are caught. He said the police was committed to provide me justice. I have waited for all these days, but not a single culprit has been caught,” she added. “I will now hold my husband’s bhog ceremony at the police station on Tuesday and not move from there until the guilty are brought to book. This time I won’t change the bhog date,” she said. Meanwhile, posters reading ‘Ravi Gill nu kad miluga insaaf’ (when will Ravi Gill get justice) have been displayed at various chowks and busy roads of the town by his family. These bear Ravi’s picture, along with that of his burnt body. A new poster for his upcoming bhog ceremony on Tuesday (May 3) has also been released by the family. Ravi Gill, 26, was set on fire at the Kapurthala city police station on April 14 (as per the FIR), while he was trying to escape some people chasing him. Having suffered over 80 per cent burns, he died days later at a hospital in Amritsar. The deceased is survived by his wife and two children aged six months and two years old. Ravi had complained and was seeking justice in a case accusing several people of driving his wife to prostitution. After Ravi’s torching incident, 11 people were charged and named in the FIR registered under Sections 302, 307-B, 120 and 34 of the IPC at the Kapurthala city police station on the statement of his wife. Those named in the FIR, include Ranjit Kaur, Manjit Kaur, Soma, Manpreet, Raman, Narinder Singh Mansoo MC, Jassa, Jatinder Shera, Sukkha and Manoj Nahar. Of these, four people, including Manjit Kaur, Ranjit Kaur, alias Renu, Jatinder Shera and Sukha, have been arrested. Ravi’s wife is demanding immediate arrest of the rest of the accused. Eco warrior: 49-year-old cycles 44 km to & from office every day REDUCING CARBON FOOTPRINTHe drinks water from a quaint earthen pot & his office doesn’t have an AC Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service NO NEW CASE IN JAL, K’THALA DISTS Jalandhar: No new case of Covid was reported from Jalandhar on Sunday. The tally in Jalandhar remained unchanged at 78,342 cases. The number of active cases in Jalandhar is 15. No deaths were reported, keeping the deceased tally at 1,578. The Kapurthala district also reported no new Covid case on Sunday. The district tally remained at 23,884 and no new death was recorded. TNS PAGE 3 Ashni Kumar has been riding a bicycle to his office at the Pushpa Gujral Science City every day for the past more than one year now. Jalandhar, May 1 “I feel light and it doesn’t cost a penny,” says Ashni, who is an avid listener to countless expert talks on reduction of carbon footprints. This closest eco-ideologue is making it happen with the simplest of steps. Ashni Kumar, 49, has been riding a bicycle to his office at the Pushpa Gujral Science City every day for the past more than one year now. Every weekday, he cycles a whopping 44 km to and from his home at Lamma Pind Chowk to the Science City, Kapurthala. The one way distance from his home to office is 22 km. A Deputy Manager (Public relations) at the Science City, Kapurthala, and a father of a 16-year-old, it was the profound idleness induced by the Covid-19 pandemic and c m y b the ensuing lockdown, which inspired him to start cycling. Early morning, cycle trips to nearby spots became a passion when office finally started. He abandoned fad for the car and took a fervent commitment to humble bicycle, which is now Ashni’s trusted ride for his daily commute. Not only this, Ashni totally walks the talk and drinks water from a quaint earthen pot he has kept at the office. His office doesn’t have an AC. His only home AC has not been used till now. He is also a strict vegetarian. While Ashni cycled away in foggy, misty or drizzly winter mornings, he continues to follow the same routine as temperature has soared to 44° C. Ashni Kumar says, “During the pandemic-induced lockdown, I felt idle at home. I started day cycling trips to DAV University, Doaba Chowk and Kishanpura Chowk among other places. It began with cycling eight to nine kilometres every day. But as the time passed, I started loving it more. When the office finally opened, I had no time left for the morning cycle commutes. So, I decided to start going to office on cycle. It’s been a year and I’m enjoying every moment of it.” While Ashni finds himself sweating profusely by the time he reaches office, he has six changes of clothes neatly tucked at the workplace for weekdays. While all the weekdays are committed to cycling, a car is only used for a day on the weekend. “Sundays are the only days I use car because I have to carry my ironed six changes of clothes to the office, which are used during the entire week. I cycle to office in shorts and change clothes at the office. Over the week, I bring the used clothes back home in my little bag kept at the back of the cycle, which I also use to carry my tiffin every day. With a daylong break from the exercise I go back to office all charged up on Monday,” says Ashni. Isn’t the scorching summer heat & pollution a problem? “I have cycled in the fog and will cycle in the summers too. I start between 7 am to 7.15 am and reach office by 8 am to 8.15 am. It isn’t hot that early in the morning. When you enter Kapurthala Chowk, the way forward is indeed polluted and has a load of traffic, but I have discovered alleys and backstreets that aren’t that crowded” says Ashni. “Now, I am so used to it that if there are back to back holidays and I don’t cycle, I get body aches. It’s a part of my routine. It keeps me fresh, light and energetic,” Ashni adds. The passion has rubbed off “Earlier, I was ridiculed. There were new workmen, who mistook me for their colleague when they saw me coming to office on a cycle. But now, everyone knows me and it’s bringing a change. I use a local manufactured cycle as I find it best over the geared or fancy ones. Eventually, a few colleagues of mine had also started coming to office on cycles. But they couldn’t sustain the habit for this long,” says Ashni. “There are many people, who talk about reducing carbon footprints and then get in an AC car to go back home. To protect ecology we have to change our lifestyle. Small steps might go a long way in this direction,” quips Ashni.