31012026-JTR-01.qxd 1/30/2026 10:25 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune EDUCATORS ARE SPINE OF ACADEMIC SYSTEM: EXPERT SINGERS G KHAN, SABBA & JASMINE AKHTAR SET STAGE ON FIRE The concert highlighted the growing relevance of art and culture in campus life. P3 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 19°C | MIN 8°C YESTERDAY MAX 20°C | MIN 8°C KASHMIRI FOOD FESTIVAL AT THE LALIT-CHANDIGARH Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its growing influence on education takes centre stage at the Principals' Meet. P2 FORECAST The LaLiT is hosting Kashmiri food festival at its signature Indian finedining restaurant, Baluchi. P4 » » SUNSET SATURDAY 6.01 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 7:20 AM » SATURDAY | 31 JANUARY 2026 | JALANDHAR Govt releases ~458 cr pending dues to revive 900 colleges Over 10 lakh students have received scholarships Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 30 Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment and Minorities Baljit Kaur today said the AAP government released Rs 458 crore of dues of the postmatric scholarship pending from 2017 to 2020 to revive 900 financially stressed colleges. She said during the AAP government’s tenure, over 10 lakh students had received scholarships under the scheme, which was more than any previous government. The minister made the comments during the event held for the disbursal of scholarship at the PAP Complex in Jalandhar. While every year, the disbursal of the post-matric scholarship has been a relatively discreet affair, the special event held today was aimed at highlighting the enhancement in student enrolments under the scheme, which the AAP government says have dramatically increased under its tenure. Baljit Kaur said, “In the past three years, over 10 lakh students have received scholarships. None of the previous governments handed scholarships to more than 3-4 lakh students.” She said, “During the previ- HEALTH & WELLNESS The Tribune is starting a Q and A column to address your health-related queries. Please mail your questions (not exceeding 40 words) at healthandwellness@tribunemail.com. The Tribune’s panel of doctors will answer all your healthrelated concerns. INBRIEF YOUTH DIES IN ACCIDENT Hoshiarpur: A youth lost his life in a road accident. The police have registered a case. Honey Bhardwaj, a resident of Anandgarh village, informed the police that his brother Rajeev Bhardwaj was hit by an unknown vehicle near Shri Gururamdas Langar Hall on the Chandigarh bypass. They took him to a hospital in Jalandhar in a critical condition, where he died during treatment. The police have registered the case and started further investigation. oc THREE CAUGHT WITH NARCOTICS Hoshiarpur: The police have seized narcotics from various locations and apprehended three accused. The Bullowal police caught Sandeep Kumar, alias Bachchi, a resident of Shamchurasi, during a patrol and recovered a large quantity of banned pills from him. Meanwhile, the Mehlampur police caught another accused, identified as Navjot Singh, alias Karan, a resident of Hiyatpur, and recovered a large quantity of banned pills from him. Additionally, the Tanda police caught Prince, a resident of Khakh village, during a patrol and seized 12 gram of heroin from him. oc Dogs’ terror in Urban Estate, 40 cases reported since New Year Streets unsafe as stray dogs terrorise localities | Area councillor also the victim Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Baljit Kaur ous government, the numbers for PMS scheme were lesser than 1.75 lakh. The AAP government carried out a detailed verification, investigated the scholarship scam and punished offenders. Now, the money goes directly into students’ accounts. We had set targets of 2.60 lakh last year and 2.70 lakh this year. So far 2.67 lakh students have applied (for the scholarship) this year. And today, the scholarship was released into the accounts of over 2.20 lakh students.” The minister said when the department came to her in 2022, one of the biggest issues were regarding students not able to get their degrees because their scholarships (money) hadn’t reached the colleges – “nei- ther from state, nor from the Centre”, she added. Responding to queries regarding the closure of many colleges in the state or acute financial stress among educational institutions due to nonrelease of the scheme’s money, the minister said, “By the end of 2023, the AAP government had cleared pending dues (from 2017-20) of Rs 458 crore of 900 colleges. Many of these were on the verge of closure.” Speaking on action by her department in the increasing cases of assault and abuse of girls, the minister said, “The Child Rights Commission is already working on it. We can’t remove such social ills abruptly. But we are also planning to strengthen structures of Child Welfare Committees.” Jalandhar, January 30 “Parks are deserted, children can’t step outside, and even adults move around carrying sticks for safety. Only stray dogs roam freely here,” says Ward 28 councillor Gurpreet Kaur. Over 40 incidents in January alone has created an ominous silence in the streets even at midday. Pinky (25), a domestic help, was bitten by stray dogs in Urban Estate on January 14. This was her fourth dog-bite injury in a month. Five-year-old Mahira Singh was attacked on January 20 and sustained a leg injury. Sunita Devi (45) spent a day in the hospital after being bitten on January 22. She received seven stitches after a chunk of flesh was torn from her right leg. Two more residents were bitten in the same locality on the same day. The situation escalated on January 16, when area councillor Gurpreet Kaur Jandu, who had gone to inspect the area following repeated com- NO ONE IS SAFE Neither children, ❝adults are safe. nor Kids can't play in parks. People have to carry sticks, and even that offers no guarantee of safety. Labourers are attacked daily. Waste from eateries, especially discarded meat, has worsened the situation near the garbage dump. ❞ Gurpreet Kaur Jandu, COUNCILLOR Sunita Devi receives stitches after being bitten by dogs. plaints, was chased and bitten by a pack of stray dogs. She suffered a leg injury and narrowly escaped a more serious attack by rushing into a nearby house. Residents of Urban Estate, Shalimar Garden, Urban Avenue and surrounding areas say they are living in constant fear. They estimate over 40 dog-bite cases this month alone, though many incidents go unreported. Daljit Kaur, a resident, says, “Two or three persons are bitten every day. The dogs move in packs and get particularly aggressive near garbage dumps. The rear of Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Urban Estate is the worst hit. Domestic helps and daily wagers who must step out every day are terrified, many having been bitten multiple times.” Residents trace the problem to insanitary conditions at the Urban Estate dump near the petrol pump opposite an eatery, and another near JCT Mill. These sites have become congregation points for stray dogs, with residents reporting packs of more than 50 dogs at night. Councillor Jandu says, “Neither children, nor adults are safe. Kids can’t play in parks. People have to carry sticks, and even that offers no guarantee of safety. Labourers are attacked daily. Until January 16, when I was bitten, 20–25 cases had already been reported; since then, 16 more have come in. The dumps near JCT Mill and the petrol pump were imposed on us. Waste from eateries, especially discarded meat, has worsened the situation.” She adds that despite repeatedly raising the issue with the MC Commissioner last year and flagging it again this year with the Mayor, no concrete solution has emerged. “Residents are literally living in fear,” she says. Ahead of PM Modi’s visit, Ravidassia Renovated Guru Ravidas Chowk inaugurated community lists out demands ~500 cr package for Varanasi temple, AIMS Hospital in Doaba on the list Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 30 Ahead of the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Dera Sachkhand Ballan this Sunday for Guru Ravidas jayanti, the community, closely associated with the shrine, has drafted a charter of demands that they will propose to the PM. Advocate Sat Paul Virdi, who has earlier served as the chief spokesperson of Dera Ballan and remains closely associated with the dera chief, said, “We want a massive planning to be done at the national level for the celebrations of 650th Guru Ravidas jayanti next year. For this, we have been seeking several public and pilgrim-related needs. Some of these demands had earlier been submitted to the PM in 2016 and 2019 too during his visit to Guru Ravidas Janam Asthan Mandir, Seer Govardhanpur, Varanasi, but these have not been implemented on ground”. The list of demands includes construction of a galiara (pilgrim corridor), comprehensive beautification of the mandir complex, allocation of 100 acres of land for yatri niwas (public accommodation), a Rs 500 crore infrastructure package for construction of roads and approach paths, public parks and green areas, museum and cultural centre, prayer halls, parking facilities, community kitchen, and sanitation and safety infrastructure. The community is also sore over the issue that Shri Guru Ravidas Mandir, Tughlaqabad (Delhi), which was demolished by the local authorities in August 2019, has not been re-constructed even after 5.5 years. “One special train for the Gurpurb is inadequate. We are demanding five special trains from Punjab ahead of Gurpurb”, he said. The dera is also expecting elaborate arrangements at the site, including setting up of temporary tent cities, shelters, and basic facilities for pilgrims on a large scale next year just as it was done by the Uttar Pradesh government during the Kumbh Mela. “There is no permanent public accommodation system for lakhs of devotees who arrive annually. We want a constitutional recognition of the Ravidassia religion and our demand remains unresolved for the past over a decade”, the draft for demand reads. The dera is also seeking an AIMS Hospital for the Doaba region. Virdi said, “The community will commemorate the 650th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas in 2027. The Prime Minister has been invited to that occasion too. The community sincerely hopes that the celebration would then be organised at the national level. All our previous commitments will be honoured well before 2027. A central coordination committee involving the Government of India, Uttar Pradesh Government, Railways, Aviation, Culture, Tourism, and Urban Development Ministries will be constituted”. It concludes with a message, “The Ravidassia community does not seek favours but constitutional equality, dignity, and fair recognition. The teachings of Guru Ravidas on equality, social justice, and human dignity are deeply aligned with the values of the Constitution. We urge the government to treat the 650th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas as a national, spiritual and cultural responsibility, and to ensure that all infrastructure, transport, accommodation, and symbolic recognitions are completed well in time.” Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 30 Two days ahead of Guru Ravidas jayanti, the Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar, on Friday inaugurated a newly renovated Guru Ravidas Chowk. Two golden rings have been put up with ‘Har’ symbol at the centre. On the outer ring, the words ‘Shri Guru Ravidas Maharaj Ji Chowk’ have been inscribed in Punjabi. On the outer side of ‘Har’ symbol, lines from the aarti ‘ Naam tere ki jot lagai, bhayo ujeyaro bhavan saglare’ have been embossed. The chowk was inaugurated by minister Mohinder Bhagat, while Mayor Vaneet Dhir, AAP Jalandhar Cantt halqa incharge Rajwinder Thiara and others were present. The MC has spent Rs 18 lakh on the work which has been done by city-based Pragati designers. The inauguration was done just a day ahead of shobha yatra of Guru Ravidas jayanti to be taken out through the city Newly renovated Sri Guru Ravidas Chowk opened by minister Mohinder Bhagat in Jalandhar on Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH on Saturday. All schools and colleges will be shut tomorrow. This Monday, the MC got renovated another intersection. A huge symbolic struc- ture of the Constitution with Preamble written on it in mild steel material was put up at the BMC Chowk on the occasion of Republic Day. Man donates body Traffic diversion for shobha Minor kidnapped, to PIMS hospital yatra in Phagwara today accused arrested Phagwara, January 30 Jamna Das, a retired Inspector from the Cooperative Department and resident of Phagwara, has set a remarkable example for society by donating his body for medical research, turning his final wish into a lasting contribution to humanity. He passed away on January 26. He had expressed desire that after his death, his body should be donated to a medical college to support medical education and research. Honouring this wish, his family members, close relatives and associates from the Rationalist Society handed over his body to the PIMS Medical College, Jalandhar, for medical research purposes. The act was carried out with dignity and deep respect, reflecting the values Jamna Das stood for throughout his life. His son Charanjit “Billa” said the family felt proud to fulfil their father’s conscious decision. He stated that donating the body for research would help medical students, contributing to the advancement of the medical field and benefiting society at large. — OC Our Correspondent Phagwara, January 30 In view of the shobha yatra to be taken out on Saturday on Guru Ravidas Parkash Purb, the Phagwara police and civil administration have announced a comprehensive traffic diversion plan to ensure smooth conduct of the religious procession and to avoid inconvenience to the general public. Phagwara SP Madhvi Sharma told media here on Friday that according to the diversion plan, vehicular move- c m y b ment on major roads in Phagwara and adjoining areas will be regulated during the shobha yatra. The administration has appealed to commuters to follow the diversion routes and cooperate with traffic personnel deployed on duty. As per the plan, vehicles travelling from Ludhiana towards Jalandhar and Amritsar will be diverted via PhillaurGoraya–Nakodar-Jalandhar, while traffic from Ludhiana to Jalandhar will be routed through Goraya Rurka, Jandiala and Jalandhar Cantt. For light vehicles coming from Ludhiana to Jalandhar, diversion will be provided through Mouli to Hadiabad. Heavy vehicles travelling from Ludhiana towards Delhi will be diverted from Mehtan Bypass Chowk to Mehlive Pass. Meanwhile, small vehicles moving from Jalandhar to Ludhiana will be diverted via Pas to Basra Palace to Khotra Road, while traffic heading from Nakodar towards Phagwara and Hoshiarpur will be allowed via Hadiabad-LPUChiheeru route. Kapurthala, January 30 The Kapurthala police have registered a criminal case and arrested an accused in connection with the alleged kidnapping and enticement of a minor girl from village Husainpur, Kapurthala. The accused has been identified as Gajjan Singh, a resident of village Husainpur, Kapurthala. An FIR was lodged on the basis of a statement given to ASI Pritaminder Kaur in which the complainant alleged that the accused enticed and misled a 13-year-old girl with the false promise of marriage. It is alleged that the accused took the girl away without the consent of her family. The minor is the daughter of Akashdeep. The complaint states that the accused deliberately exploited the vulnerability of the minor and acted in violation of the law. Acting promptly, the police apprehended the accused, who is currently in police custody. The investigation is ongoing and all aspects of the case are being examined, including the circumstances under which the minor was taken away. OC