31082026-LT-01.qxd 8/30/2026 10:03 PM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune BATTH BROTHERS AND THEIR JOURNEY IN ORGANIC FARMING MC CAN CLEAN ROADS, CAN’T SEGREGATE WASTE IN KITCHENS ASHA BHOSLE’S FINAL SONG ‘AE MERI ZINDAGI’ IN OM KA HARI For Ranjodh Singh Batth and Ranjit Singh Batth, organic farming is a way of life they have followed for nearly twodecades. P2 Civic body, people share responsibility; must work together to resolve issue, say city residents. P3 One of Asha Bhosle’s final songs which may also be her last playback one - ‘Ae Meri Zindagi’ to feature in Om Ka Hari. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 36°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 37°C | MIN 29°C SUNSET MONDAY 6.51 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6:02 AM MONDAY | 31 AUGUST 2026 | LUDHIANA Jan Aushadhi Kendra at Civil Hospital lies neglected; medicine stock awaited Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 30 The shelves of the Jan Aushadhi Kendra at the Civil Hospital here wear a barren look with not even a handful of medicines in stock. Once patients used to buy generic medicines at affordable prices from here, but since the government made it mandatory to provide medicines free of cost, the stocks have not been replenished. Earlier, if medicines were not available at the hospital pharmacy, patients would often make their way to the Jan Aushadhi Kendra and they would get the required medicines and sometimes patients from outside would also come here to get generic medicines at affordable prices. Today shelves at the kendra were empty. The employee posted at the counter, who wished not to be named, said that her duty was from 8 am to 3 pm, and added that hardly anyone came here to buy medicines. “We have not received stocks of the medicines for more than a year,” she said. The basic motive behind setting up of the Jan Aushadhi Kendra stands defeated under the present circumstances. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to ensure availability of essential drugs and reduce the out- Empty shelves of a Jan Aushadhi Kendra located at the Civil Hospital in Ludhiana; and (below) no customer at the kendra to buy medicines. PHOTOS: INDERJEET VERMA of-pocket expenditure of patients visiting the public health facilities, had rolled out the free drugs service initiative under the National Health Mission (NHM). Under this, financial support is provided to states/UTs for provision of free essential medicines in public health facilities based on the requirements posed by them in their programme implementation plans within their overall resource envelope. The absence of basic drugs has left the patients in the lurch. During a recent visit, racks at the centre were found empty with even common medicines not in stock. Patients visiting the hospital are now even unaware of its existence and purpose. Since there is a pharmacy at the Civil Hospital and many NGOs are also giv- Civic body’s ~3.86-cr pothole repair machines fail to ease woes of city commuters Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 30 The Municipal Corporation’s investment of Rs 3.86 crore in two modern infrared potholerepair machines appears to have done little to ease the daily struggle of commuters, as deep potholes continue to dot roads across Ludhiana. From Pakhowal Road, Sarabha Nagar, Model Town, Dugri and Haibowal to Civil Lines, Chandigarh Road and Shivpuri, commuters continue to encounter damaged stretches, uneven surfaces and potholes. Residents say the machines, bought specifically to provide quicker and more durable repairs, are not being deployed regularly. The two machines were procured in 2023 under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). They use infrared recycling technology, under which the damaged road surface is heated and treated before the pothole is filled. The process was introduced as an alternative to routine manual patchwork, which often comes off after rain. MC officials had earlier said the machines could repair up to 10 potholes a day, depending on the condition and size of the damaged portions. The technology involves heating the affected area to about 200°C before carrying out the repairs. However, the machines have been repeatedly underutilised. Residents have raised questions about why the civic body continues to depend on temporary patchwork when specialised equipment has A dangerous pothole on Pakhowal Road in Ludhiana. already been purchased. Arvind Sharma, a city resident, said a large pothole on the road connecting Model Town Extension with Pakhowal Road had become dangerous for commuters. He said a motorcyclist had recently suffered injuries at the spot and alleged that repeated attempts to fill the pothole had not provided a lasting solution. A commuter, Jaswant Singh, said the machines would be useful only if they were deployed regularly. “People are forced to slow down suddenly because potholes are difficult to spot, especially after rain. The MC should use the equipment it has already bought instead of allowing roads to deteriorate,” he said. Another resident, Rohit Aggarwal, said road repairs had become a recurring problem. “For months, some road projects are held up by court cases, then the monsoon arrives and damages the roads again. Now water-supply projects have led to digging at several places, and the public keeps waiting for proper roads,” he said. The problem is not confined to potholes. Residents said sewerage and water-supply leakages were also weakening road surfaces at several locations, resulting in cave-ins and recurring damage. They demanded that the MC inspect the underground network before carrying out surface repairs. MC Commissioner Ojasvi Alankar said, “I will ask the officials about the machines and these will be deployed from Monday.” ing free medicines inside the hospital, it seems very little attention is being paid towards the Jan Aushadhi Kendra. Body found in canal, probe on Ludhiana, August 30 The body of an unidentified man was seen floating in South City canal under the Sarabha Nagar police station area of Ludhiana today. The deceased is estimated to be in his early 30s. Upon receiving the information, the police reached the spot, pulled the body out and took it into custody. Constable Gurpreet Singh said that the police control room had received information about an unclaimed body in the canal. The deceased was only in his underwear. The body had swollen, making the police to suspect that the death occurred approximately two to four days ago. Initial investigations revealed no signs of any injury. — TNS Lalita, a patient who came to the gynae OPD, said that she got one medicine from the hospital’s pharmacy and the other was not available. “I came to the Jan Aushadhi Kendra, but it was not available here either. Now, left with no other option, I will buy it from a chemist outside,” she said. Generic medicines are usually available at the kendra and the list of medicines available here is also provided to doctors of the Civil Hospital, so that they can prescribe medicines according to the salt and not the brand. Senior Medical Officer Akhil Sareen said that as per the latest guidelines issued by the government, all necessary medicines have to be made available to patients free of cost while earlier these were sold at affordable prices. “The medicines and consumables supply is either routed to the facilities via the government warehouses or are rationally procured at the local level in adequate amounts, aimed at ensuring zero out-of-pocket expenditure by needy patients,” added Sareen. He further said that there was a pharmacy inside the hospital where medicines were given free and hence patients generally take their medicines from there. Man found dead on road, hit-&-run case suspected Ludhiana, August 30 A man, aged around 30-35 years, was killed after being hit by an unknown vehicle on the Ludhiana-Jalandhar main road in front of the passport office on Jalandhar bypass in Ludhiana. The deceased is yet to be identified as the body was so mutilated that it was beyond recognition. Several vehicles had reportedly passed over the body following the accident. The Salem Tabri police yesterday registered a case against the unidentified driver and launched an investigation. Complainant Mukesh Sehgal, a resident of Bharti Colony, Bahadurke road, told the police that on August 28, he was present in his auto in front of the Passport Office, Jalandhar bypass. During this time, he saw the body of an unknown person lying on the Ludhiana-Jalandhar main road. According to the complainant, the deceased was approximately 30 to 35 years old. Prima facie, it is being suspected that he died after being hit by an unknown vehicle. Shortly after receiving information about the incident, the Salem Tabri police reached the spot and tried to identify the deceased and inquired from nearby people, but to no avail. No identity card or any document was found near the body. — TNS Governor Gulab Chand Kataria at the Multi-Skill Development Centre in Ludhiana on Sunday. Guv launches Shaheed Bhagat Singh Youth Facilitation Centre Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 30 Gulab Chand Kataria, Governor of Punjab, today launched the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Youth Facilitation Centre at the Multi-Skill Development Centre, Ludhiana, during the Punjab Youth Town Hall GenZ Connect programme held at the Punjab Agricultural University. Organised by Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Member of Parliament and Chairman of Sun Foundation, the Town Hall brought together over 2,000 young people for three panel discussions on careers, employable skills and entrepreneurship, followed by an open questionanswer session with Kataria and Sahney. In the morning, all youth collectively heard PM Modi’s Malerkotla tantrik booked for duping city lawyer of ~4.22 lakh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 30 A tantrik from Malerkotla allegedly duped a Ludhianabased lawyer of Rs 4.22 lakh by claiming that his wife had been possessed by a demon. As per FIR details, the lawyer’s wife was ill, and on seeing her the tantric claimed that she had been possessed by a demonic force and some miscreants seemed to have performed black magic. A ritual needed to be performed in the graveyard, or else the devil would aggravate her health issues. The complainant stated that as he was worried about the health of his wife, and so he kept on giving money to the tantric. When he realised that he had been duped and asked the accused to return his money, the latter claimed that he had lost the money in betting. He then filed a police complaint and sought immediate action against the tantrik. Following this, the Haibowal police registered a case against the accused identified as Mohd Sabir of Malerkotla and launched further investigation. The complainant stated in his police complaint that his wife had been ill for the past few years. Despite receiving treatment from a doctor, her condition did not improve, giving her and her family severe mental stress. As part of a conspiracy, the acquaintance claimed that the illness was beyond medical treatment, and was the result of some evil spirit or black magic. The acquaintance claimed that his close friend, Mohammad Sabir of Malerkotla, was an expert in black magic. The acquaintance assured him that Sabir would completely cure his wife within a few days through tantric practices, but when the condition of his wife failed to improve, he understood that accused had committed a fraud. He asked the accused to return his money, but the latter started making excuses. As he pressed the accused Farmers start indefinite dharna Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 30 The Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) on Sunday began an indefinite dharna outside the DC office in Ludhiana. Tractor-trolleys were lined up alongside the Ferozepur Road oustside the Mini Secretariat. Farmers brought ration and cyclinders along with them in the trolleys and said that they were not going to move away from here until their demands were met. “We will be cooking here and sleeping in our trolleys only,” said a union member. Addressing the gathering, district president Charan Singh Noorpura and district general secretary Sudagar Singh Ghudani said the government had failed to resolve farmers’ long- c m y b ‘Mann ki Baat’. Sahney informed the gathering that the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Youth Facilitation Centre would offer 10 youth services under one roof, including career counselling and skill mapping, AI and future-skills training, placement support, startup incubation, access to loans and government schemes, well-being counselling and a public-impact dashboard. Addressing the gathering, the Governor said, “I deeply appreciate the way Vikramjit Singh Sahney is connecting with Gen Z and taking the Prime Minister’s message directly to our youth by empowering them through skills and providing them with jobs.” Sahney said that Sun Foundation ran a network of skill centres across Punjab. A farm leader addresses a permanent morcha set up outside the DC’s office in Ludhiana on Sunday. standing demands. “Meetings provide no solution and people continue to struggle. We want proper solutions to our problems instead of going in for the meetings,” said Saudagar Singh. The leaders listed demands, including cancellation of the India-US free trade agreement, farmers’ and workers’ loan waiver, granting ownership rights to settlers, scrapping of the land pooling policy, withdrawal of police cases against farmers and an end to alleged police repression. Farmer leader Balwant Singh further said that governments were imposing corporate-driven policies that exploited farmers, workers and employees, while depriving them of land and livelihood. “We must unite and sustain a long struggle to secure our rights,” he emphasised. Supporting the protest, Harjinder Singh of the Moulder and Steel Workers’ Union said the India-US trade talks posed a threat not only to farmers, but also to industrial workers and employees. He pledged that workers would join the morchas in large numbers. “More farmers will reach here tomorrow and this will mark the beginning of an indefinite struggle. We are not going to move from here until then,” said Saudagar. repeatedly, Sabir made a video call in June, and said he would return the entire amount of Rs 4.22 lakh to him the next day at 5 pm near the Ludhiana court house. At 5 pm on June 9, he arrived outside the court house. Shortly after, Sabir also came there. “When I asked the accused to return my money, he claimed that he had lost the entire money in betting and gambling,” said the complainant. He added that when he pleaded with folded hands to return his money, the accused became enraged. He grabbed his collar and said, “We wanted to cheat you, so we did. I have connections with gangsters, smugglers and policemen.” Smuggler held with 268 kg poppy husk Ludhiana, August 30 The Sudhar police claimed to have nabbed a smuggler and seized 268 kg poppy husk from his possession. The accused has been identified as Jaswinder Singh, a resident of Mohi village near Sudhar. Sub-Inspector Kulwinder Singh stated that he, along with a police party, was present at the Sudhar chowk when they got a tip-off that Jaswinder was engaged in selling poppy husk and he could be nabbed after conducting raid at a certain place. A case under the NDPS Act was registered against the accused. The SI added that the police party conducted a raid at the specific place and arrested the accused with the contraband. — TNS