13032025-ATR-01.qxd 3/12/2025 11:39 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 26°C | MIN 15°C YESTERDAY MAX 26°C | MIN 14°C STAFF CRISIS, LOW ENROLMENT PLAGUE PHAGWARA SCHOOLS SNUBBED, SONU NIGAM HITS BACK AT IIFA-JAIPUR 2025 NAVNEET READY TO MENTOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS Despite govt's stress, schools continue to grapple with severe staff shortage and dwindling student enrollment. P3 The event did not include Nigam in nominations despite his hit song among the many chartbusters last year. P4 Once a reigning beauty queen & now a powerhouse entrepreneur, she is proving that success knows no limits. P4 » » SUNSET THURSDAY 6.28 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6.32 AM » THURSDAY | 13 MARCH 2025 | AMRITSAR Edu Minister Bains orders DEOs to plan field visits daily for 2 hours Two arrested with 508 gm of contraband, Efforts on to improve efficiency ahead of admission season drug money Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 12 To improve the efficiency of government schools in the state ahead of admissions for the 2025-26 cycle, Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains has ordered all District Education Officers (Elementary & Secondary) to spend two hours daily in the field. The DEOs have been asked to plan field visits between 9 am to 11 am daily and prepare data-based districtspecific action plans with measurable outcomes. The outcome of all the DEOs will be reviewed on a monthly basis. These directions were issued during a full-day marathon review meeting with the DEOs held at Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration (MGSIPA). The Education Minister also asked them to NO OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION RECEIVED ■ Any official notification in this regard is yet to be received by my office. It’s a good initiative and our officials anyway keep visiting schools to know the ground reality. We welcome any such move, said Harbhagwant Singh, DEO (Secondary). ■ These directions were issued during a full-day marathon review meeting with the DEOs held at Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration (MGSIPA). The Education Minister also asked them to ensure on-ground implementation of programmes regarding the Schools of Eminence (SOEs), enrollment drive and student coaching launched by the state government. ensure on-ground implementation of programmes regarding the Schools of Eminence (SOEs), enrollment drive and student coaching launched by the state government. To assess the progress in fulfilling promises and achieving targets in the education sector, which has been accorded top priority by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab Government, Bains stated that education is the cornerstone of Punjab’s future and the gov- ernment is committed to transforming the state’s education system. Meanwhile, Harbhagwant Singh, DEO (Secondary), said that any official notification in this regard is yet to be received by his office. “It’s a good initiative and our officials anyway keep visiting schools to know the ground reality. We welcome any such move,” he said. The admission drive is slated to begin this year around March 17-18 and will continue for a month. Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 12 The Amritsar rural police have arrested two persons with over 500 gm of heroin and ~80,000 of drug money from their possession. They were identified as Sukhchain Singh, alias Kala, and Gurpreet Singh, alias Sonu, of Jhanjhoti village in Rajasansi. They were travelling in a car (PB-46-X-9473) when they were intercepted by a police party. The police also seized three mobile phones from their possession. A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered in this connection and a probe was on to ascertain the source of the contraband. Their backward and forward links were being identified and more seizures are likely to be made in the near future. Pingalwara gets Bihar workers treated, reunites them with family on Holi Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 12 Making the festival of Holi special for a group of labourers from city, volunteers of the All India Pingalwara Charitable Society at the Bhagat Puran Singh Ward at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital under Government Medical College arranged for their journey back home, to reunite them with their families. It was an emotional farewell for Dilip Kumar, Suraj, Balram Das and Pawan, who boarded a train to Bihar today, as sewadars of the Pingalwara bid them goodbye. All four of them worked as daily labourers and were brought to the ward after receiving treatment for various bodily injuries sustained while working or otherwise. All these four patients are residents of Bihar and were Volunteers of the All India Pingalwara Charitable Society with the workers who will be reunited with their families in Amritsar. treated in the orthopedics and surgery wing of Bhagat Puran Singh Ward. “They had serious injuries; some came with fractured limbs and aggravated, infected injuries and had no one to look after them. They were reported to us and our sewadars (volunteers) brought them to the hospital. After receiving treatment, they were shifted to Bhagat Puran Singh Ward where they recovered as they did not have any one to look after them. When they shared their desire to go back home and re-unite with their families, we got them train tickets and arranged for their journey,” shared Yogesh Suri, administrator, Pingalwara. The ward run by the Pingalwara Institute at Guru Nanak Hospital has been treating patients of liver cirrhosis, various injuries and sending them home after treatment. Dilip who belonged to Amrori village in Araria district, Suraj from village Dharampur district of Vaishali, Pawan from Basti village of Saharsa and Balram Das, from village Harpur district in Muzaffarpur were working in Amritsar for the last many years. In a world that left them to die, they found hope in strangers and Pingalara’s sewadars have been serving many such abandoned, destitute patients, helping them recover from physical and mental scars. In the last seven months, Pingalwara received a total of continued on page 2 Four arrested with three foreign-made pistols PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 12 The Gharinda police have arrested four persons with three illegal pistols — an Austria-made Glock pistol and two China-made pistols from their possession. They were identified as Karan Singh and Satnam Singh, both residents of area near Gurdwara Baba Jeevan Singh in Attari, Gulzar Singh and Rahul Singh, both residents of Bhuse village falling under the Sarai Amanat Khan police station in Tarn Taran. Apart from three pistols, a police patrol party led by Sub-Inspector Jasdeep Singh also seized three mobile phones, a motorcycle and a moped from them, said Maninder Singh, SSP Amrit, sar Rural Police. MC launches fogging drive Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 12 To prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria, the Municipal Corporation (MC) has initiated a fogging drive across all wards. Mayor Jatinder Singh Moti Bhatia said fogging would be conducted regularly to ensure the wellbeing of residents. The drive has been proven effective in reducing mosquito population and minimising the risk of disease transmission. By making fogging a regular feature, the corporation aims to create a safer environment for its residents, he said, adding that the proactive step demonstrates the MC’s commitment to protecting public health, particularly during these months. Vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria are a significant threat to human health and there is a need to take preventive measures. The suspects in custody of the Amritsar Rural Police on Wednesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Sharing details, he said the three suspects were standing just across the railway crossing gate located on the road going from Ranike to Muhawa border village. On seeing the police team, they tried to slip away. The police got suspicious and stopped them. During search, the police seized two China-made mausers with .30 bore calibre each from Karan and Satnam Singh and a 9mm Austriamade Glock pistol was recov- ered from Gulzar Singh while no recovery was made from Rahul Singh. They could not produce any documents regarding the weapons seized. They also failed to answer the police’s queries. continued on page 2 BSF seizes 3.3-kg contraband, 2 pistols from border village in dist BSF personnel along with the seized contraband and pistols in Amritsar. Amritsar, March 12 Following an intelligence input-based operation, the Border Security Force (BSF) confiscated 3.3 kg of heroin along with two pistols which were dropped by a drone at Hardo Rattan border village in the Amritsar sector on Wednesday. Addressing mediamen, the BSF said troops got inputs regarding dropping of some consignment by a drone in border belt near Hardo Rattan area. “A search operation was launched in the area . During the operation, the BSF seized six packets of heroin with gross weight of 3.319 kg, two pistols of .30 bore and two smart phones with an earphone. They were found in an agricultural field of the border village,” said a BSF spokesman. The packets were wrapped in the yellow adhesive tape and copper wire loops with illumination strips hinting that the consignment was delivered via a drone. — TNS Good oral health is foundation of overall well-being, says expert Police action against farmers flayed Crowds of pilgrims head for Hola Mohalla at Anandpur Sahib as atmosphere turns festive Event to promote oral health awareness held at hospital Tribune News Service Manmeet Singh Gill Officials of the Health Department during an event to mark Oral Health Day in Amritsar. Amritsar, March 12 A district-level event was organized at Satellite Hospital Sakatari Bagh to observe World Oral Health Day. The event was held under the guidance of Civil Surgeon Dr Kirandeep Kaur. Deputy Director (Dental) Dr Jaganjot Kaur emphasised the importance of oral health, stating that it is the foundation of overall well-being. She advised the audience to brush their teeth twice a day and maintain good oral hygiene. Dr Kaur highlighted common oral health issues, such as bleeding gums, bad breath, and tooth discoloration, besides stressing the importance of timely treatment to prevent serious diseases. The Health Department has instructed all schools, educational institutions and religious institutions in the district to promote oral health awareness. Various camps are being organized in institutions and public places to educate people about the importance of oral health. Dr Ravinder Pal Kaur delivered a detailed presentation on the prevention and treatment of dental diseases and oral cancer. The event was attended by District MEIO Amardeep Singh, Principal of CKD Nursing College Yashpreet Kaur and other healthcare professionals. — TNS Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 12 Condemning the use of ‘force’ against farmers in Gurdaspur during a bid by the administration to take control of land for the Bharat Mala Road project, the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee has announced to initiate an indefinite protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office till the officials responsible for the act are punished. In a press conference here on Tuesday, KMSC general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said, “Seven farmers were brutally beaten up and even the government hospital refused to admit them.” He said this is the height of brutality by the state government. Pandher said the administration had tried to forcibly take control of the land without even paying the compensation which would not be tolerated. continued on page 2 c m y b Amritsar, March 12 With Hola Mohalla celebrations just around the corner, thousands of devotees from the city and rural areas are embarking on a pilgrimage to Anandpur Sahib, the birthplace of Khalsa. The excitement is palpable as trucks and tractor-trailers adorned with blue and kesari flags make their way to the sacred site. For many pilgrims, visiting Anandpur Sahib during Hola Mohalla is an annual tradition. “These are the days when the farming community is almost idle as it has finished tending to the wheat crop that is still in its ripening period,” said Gurmeet Singh, a pilgrim from Tarsikka village. The tractor-trailers, once considered a humble mode of transportation for the rural peasantry, have been transformed into comfortable vehicles equipped with LCD screens, phone Ahead of the Holla Mohalla celebrations, pilgrims on way to Anandpur Sahib in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR chargers, mattresses and water purifiers. A video of one such trailer has gone viral on social media, showcasing the innovative efforts of the villagers. “We have been preparing for this journey for weeks. The excitement is building up, and we can’t wait to be a part of the grand celebrations at Anandpur Sahib,” said Jaswinder Kaur, a devotee from Amritsar. As the pilgrims embark on their journey, traders and vendors have set up makeshift shops along the roadsides, selling flags, snacks and other essentials. The festive atmosphere is electric and the pilgrims are eager to immerse themselves in the spiritual and cultural significance of Hola Mohalla. For most pilgrims, making this journey with their families and relatives is a tradition being followed for generations. Niranjan Singh, a resident, said, “Earlier, it was a long and tiring journey but now with modern means of travelling, it just takes a few hours.” He lamented the use of loud music by some youngsters which is against the spirit of a pilgrimage.