Polls may cast a shadow on Parvasi Punjabi Divas

Chandigarh, January 4
The assembly elections in Punjab may take away the sheen from the annual Parvasi Punjabi Divas to be held here tomorrow where major issues for deliberations would be skills development, education and employment.

Interestingly, politics has been put on the hold as focus would be more on those planning to immigrate abroad for either employability, higher education or for investment in western world in general and Canada in particular.

Canada, being the major partner in this event, will be represented among others by Ontario Minister for Government Services Harinder Takhar, Member of Provincial Parliament of Alberta Peter Sandhu and former MP from Ontario Gurbax Malhi. Besides these representatives of Parvasi Punjabis, Canada's Consul-General Scot Slessor will also make two presentations at the daylong conference to showcase his country's potential in education, employment and business.

Though model code of conduct would debar the SAD-BJP combine from making any announcement for redressal of long-pending demands of the overseas Punjabis, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal is expected to formally inaugurate the deliberations that would be later joined by former deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha Charanjit Singh Atwal, Punjab Chief Secretary SC Aggarwal and Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Technical University, Dr Rajneesh Aora.

Canada a world leader in workplace and school diversity but Quebec lags behind, new study reveals

Almost three-quarters of Canadians work or go to school in a diverse, multicultural background, which puts them among the world leaders in tolerance, says the Association for Canadian Studies.

A massive four-country study done for the organization found that people who work or learn in a diverse environment are more open to people from other cultures, Postmedia Newsreported Wednesday.

Diverse workplaces and schools translate to more openness in other areas of life, such as choosing friends and neighbourhoods where you live, according to the study that looked at Canada, the United States, Britain and France.

"Canadians are stacking up as the country that has the most diverse workplaces," said Jack Jedwab, association executive director.

But the study found Quebec had among the least diverse workplaces in Canada, he added. While 73 per cent of Canadians surveyed in the study described their workplace or school as diverse, only 60 per cent of Quebecers said they worked in a multicultural environment.

Seventy per cent of Americans surveyed in the study said their work or school environments were diverse, compared with 68 per cent of Britons and 67 per cent of French respondents, Postmedia reported.

Jedwab said the Quebec figure reflects the fact most of the province's immigrants live in Montreal, which in turn attracts fewer immigrants than Toronto and Montreal. Quebec also has a smaller proportion of cultural minorities in its public sector than other provinces, he said.

Eight out of 10 francophones said most of their friends were from the same cultural background, compared with 66 per cent of anglophone Canadians and 55 per cent of those who speak something other than English or French.

The study also recorded a generational shift, Jedwab said, with 80 per cent of Canadians aged 18-24 describing their school or workplace as diverse, compared with about 75 per cent of older age groups.

The figures are lower for francophones - 70 per cent for 18-24-year-olds, 50 per cent for those aged 25-34 and about 40 per cent for older groups.

"There are considerable differences between these younger cohorts and their exposure to diversity through the workplace or schools and the older cohorts," Jedwab said.

"Going forward, as our workplace milieu and schools will become more diverse, it will likely generate more openness to difference."

The Canadian component of the study was done by Leger Marketing, which surveyed 2,345 people online last September and October, with a margin of error of two per cent, 19 times out of 20.

A list of Canada's most best diversity employers can be found here.

Too many Canadians ignore early signs of dementia: report

The signs can sometimes be hard to distinguish from the regular hallmarks of aging, but a new survey says Canadians wait far too long before checking out the early stages of dementia.

Close to half of the 958 caregivers surveyed said their loved ones afflicted with the condition had gone for more than a year with symptoms of Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia before seeking medical care.

The online survey, commissioned by theAlzheimer Society of Canada and released Wednesday, also found that 16 per cent put off a visit to the doctor for more than two years, a delay that prevents the benefits of early treatment, support services, medication, and management.

In addition, more than 25 per cent of those looking after a loved one with dementia said their charge initially refused to seek treatment or believed their symptoms would eventually go away.

"Symptoms of dementia are different from normal aging," Alzheimer Society CEO Naguib Gouda told the Canadian Press. "We need to help Canadians recognize the symptoms for what they are — signs of a brain disorder that will affect 1.1 million Canadians in the next 25 years."

While there's no medical cure yet for Alzheimer's, Gouda added there are treatments that slow the progression of the disease and pointed out the abundance of information to help orient and support patients and their loved ones.

Of the common early symptoms reported, respondents noted frequent memory loss affecting daily functions, increasing disorientation, like getting lost on a familiar route or forgetting what month it is, and distinct personality changes, such as confusion, suspicion or paranoia.

Acknowledging the benefits of early treatment, 75 per cent of those caregivers surveyed said they wished in hindsight that they'd sought an earlier diagnosis.

UTTARAKHAND POLLS 2012

Sonia fails to turn up at rally venue Thousands of Congress supporters disappointed; Fog plays spoilsport

Haldwani, January 4
The Congress plans to kick-start the poll campaign in Uttarakhand with a bang ended in a fiasco of sorts as the star campaigner for the opening public rally, party president Sonia Gandhi failed to turn up at the venue.

Thousands of Congress supporters had to go back disappointed as the weather played truant and did not allow Sonia Gandhi to fly to Haldwani on account of the dense fog on the route. With the poor visibility preventing her arrival, it was left to the state-level leadership that was accompanied by a couple of faces from the central organisation to take the event forward. The moment the SPG personnel vanished from the venue, the public got the inkling that Sonia’s programme had been cancelled and started moving out in large numbers.

Some of them with links in the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters could be seen calling up Delhi to make sure whether the programme had actually been cancelled.

Ironically, the rally had initially been scheduled to be held in Rudrapur and later Haldwani was chosen as the venue.

The Congress supporters had come to the MB Postgraduate College Grounds in large numbers from across the region to participate in the rally which was supposed to kickstart Sonia’s campaign schedule for the five poll-bound states. The supporters had started gathering on the spot from 10 am.

Observers feel that despite Sonia’s absence, the rally has proved to be a success as the supporters got to hear what the party had to offer during its campaign and if voted to power. The tone was set by former Cabinet Minister and Congress heavyweight from Haldwani Indira Hridayesh who announced from the stage that the Congress would be setting the state on the path of economic growth if voted to power. She said the party would set up Uttarakhand Financial Corporation to give loans to entrepreneurs at the lesser rates of interest. She also talked about giving an unemployment allowance to the youth.

Hridayesh said apart from providing low-cost housing to the weaker sections of society, the Congress would also provide agricultural loans at 3 per cent rate of interest. She also promised the revival of the Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) unit at Bhimtal.

Interacting with mediapersons amidst the speeches being made from the stage, Union Minister Harish Rawat ruled out that there were differences within the party and claimed that the response of the people for the rally showed that they were desperate for a change.

Lok Sabha member from Almora Pradeep Tamta said the Dalits and minorities had always been safe under the Congress rule.

UT gets serious about Sukhna

Tells Punjab, Haryana to ban high-rises in catchment area

Chandigarh, January 4
The UT Administration has asked the governments of Punjab and Haryana to stop construction of high-rise buildings in the Sukhna catchment area. In a letter forwarded to both the states, the Administration has also raised the points of the Punjab and Haryana High Court order which has banned construction in the catchment area. The Tribune was the first to highlight the issue of construction activity in the catchment area.

A senior official of the Administration said construction activity was going on in the Kansal area where people had constructed five or six floor residential buildings, which would be harmful for Sukhna Lake. He further said the authorities concerned were not checking the construction activity.

The High Court had already constituted a committee for the demarcation of the catchment area near the lake. The committee had been constituted to ensure that there was no illegal construction in the catchment area and had been asked to submit a report on February 13.

Acting on a petition filed in public interest to save the lake, a Division Bench of the High Court had on March 14, 2011, banned construction of any kind in the catchment area falling in Haryana and Punjab.

Building projects, particularly societies, are a major concern in the area, especially the changed tracts of the rivulets feeding the lake. Constructions have blocked the natural path of these rivulets, which pose a threat to fields and even buildings next to the original tract.

The issue of haphazard constructions in the areas falling in Punjab and Haryana and adjoining Sukhna has assumed bigger significance with big realtors coming up with mega residential projects.

‘Casual’ Admn

When the Punjab and Haryana High Court banned the construction activity, the amicus curiae in the case, advocate Tanu Bedi had questioned the casual approach of the UT Administration towards the lake and for failing to keep a check on the increasing rate of urbanisation in the catchment area. She had contended that if the urbanisation trend was not checked at this stage, the lake would die.

ਸੁਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਘੁੰਮਣ ਅਤੇ ਬਖਸ਼ੀਸ਼ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੋਢੀ ਨੂੰ ਮਹਾਰਾਣੀ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਐਮ. ਬੀ. ਈ. ਐਵਾਰਡ ਦੇਣ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ

2 ਜਨਵਰੀ ૿ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਰੇਡੀਓ ਲੰਡਨ ਦੇ ਮਾਲਕ ਸੁਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਘੁੰਮਣ ਅਤੇ ਬਖਸ਼ੀਸ਼ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੋਢੀ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਵਾਈਸ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਗ੍ਰੇਵਜ਼ੈਂਡ ਨੂੰ ਨਵੇਂ ਵਰ੍ਹੇ ਦੇ ਮੌਕੇ ਮਹਾਰਾਣੀ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਐਮ ਬੀ ਈ ਦੇ ਸਨਮਾਨ ਨਾਲ ਸਨਮਾਨਿਤ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਸਨਮਾਨ ਮਹਾਰਾਣੀ ਐਲਜ਼ਿਬਿਥ 2 ਵੱਲੋਂ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ। ਸੁਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਘੁੰਮਣ ਨੂੰ ਇਹ ਸਨਮਾਨ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਰੇਡੀਓ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਰਣ ਦੀ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਵਿਚ ਨਿਭਾਏ ਰੋਲ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਪਿੰਡ ਘੁੰਮਣਾਂ ਦੇ ਜੰਮਪਲ ਸੁਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੂੰ 29 ਸਾਲਾਂ ਦੀ ਉਮਰ ਵਿਚ ਪਹਿਲਾ ਨੌਜਵਾਨ ਮੈਜਿਸਟਰੇਟ ਬਣਨ ਦਾ ਮਾਣ ਵੀ ਹਾਸਿਲ ਹੈ, ਜਦ ਕਿ ਸ: ਬਖਸ਼ੀਸ਼ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੋਢੀ ਨੂੰ ਇਹ ਸਨਮਾਨ ਸਮਾਜ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਨਿਭਾਈਆਂ ਸੇਵਾਵਾਂ ਬਦਲੇ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। 40 ਸਾਲਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਗਰੇਵਜ਼ੈਂਡ ਵਿਖੇ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਸ: ਸੋਢੀ ਨੇ ਜਿੱਥੇ ਨਵੇਂ ਗੁਰੂ ਘਰ ਦੀ ਉਸਾਰੀ ਵਿਚ ਅਹਿਮ ਰੋਲ ਨਿਭਾਇਆ, ਉਥੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਪੋਰਟਸ ਕਲੱਬ, ਏਸ਼ੀਅਨ ਵੈਲਫੇਅਰ ਸੁਸਾਇਟੀ, ਸਿੱਖ ਹੈਰੀਟੇਜ਼ ਟਰਾਇਲ ਸੰਸਥਾਵਾਂ ਲਈ ਸੇਵਾਵਾਂ ਦੇਣ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ-ਨਾਲ ਗ੍ਰੇਵਜ਼ੈਂਡ ਦੀ ਕੌਂਸਲ ਵਿਚ ਵੱਖ-ਵੱਖ ਭਾਈਚਾਰਿਆਂ ਵਿਚ ਆਪਸੀ ਸਾਂਝ ਵਧਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਵੀ ਸਨਮਾਨ ਹਾਸਿਲ ਕਰ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਹਨ।

Russian’s arrest snowballs into diplomatic row

Chandigarh, January 4

Russian photojournalist Olga Timoshik's arrest by the Punjab Police has snowballed into a diplomatic row. Moscow has for the third time lodged a protest over her arrest "without any evidence."

In fact, the Embassy of Russian Federation has sent its third note of protest on her arrest to the Ministry of External Affairs.

In a communication dated December 28 last, the Embassy has drawn once again the ministry's attention to the criminal case against Timoshik, a professional photographer and journalist, who helped organise numerous exhibitions on Indian culture.

The letter says: "The Embassy regrets to point out that more than a year-and- half after her arrest, there still has not been even a single hearing of the merits of her case". It also says: "This inordinate delay caused constant mental stress followed by severe health deterioration of Timoshik. At present, she is completely exhausted physically and mentally suffering from constant mental anguish and deep depression and asthmatic attacks…."

"The Embassy regrets to reiterate that the failure of the police to provide evidence of Timoshik's criminal activities and continuous hoaxing discrediting honour, dignity and reputation of Timoshik are detrimental to India's image as a friendly nation in the eyes of the Russian public at large".

Referring to Olga's petition filed by counsel SS Behl before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the letter says the Embassy requests the ministry to bend every effort through the concerned authorities to ensure fast response from the prosecution side by the next date of hearing.

Olga was arrested by the police and allegedly subjected to third degree interrogation for 10 days during her police remand. The cops also allegedly launched a ‘character assassination campaign’ in newspapers and ‘publicised’ the ‘confidential details of her private life’.

The startling claims made by the Russian were made in the petition before Justice Alok Singh for the quashing of the FIR registered under the provisions of the Foreigners Act on May 25 last year at Nangal police station in Ropar.

Appointment of info commissioners

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the Punjab Secretary, Department of Information and Technology, to be present on Monday to answer the queries on procedure adopted for appointment of two State Information Commissioners — Chander Parkash and Bidhi Chand. The directions came on a PIL filed by advocate HC Arora.