Chandigarh, November 18
In an important development, the Panjab University syndicate today constituted 55 committees to inspect Bachelor of Education (BEd) colleges affiliated to the university and submit a report regarding their functioning by December 31.

A number of new colleges have come under cloud for inadequate infrastructure, unqualified staff and part-time principals.

The issue gains importance in the context of allegations of rampant employment of unqualified teachers by a majority of the new private colleges (at least 35)), which were affiliated to the university, recently.

These colleges neither have qualified teachers nor regular principals, both of which are mandatory requirements.

“Without naming any college in particular, we have been told about some colleges running in demolished poultry sheds. The existing classrooms in some other new colleges are very inadequate, including one allegedly in a cowshed,” a syndic said.

Prof R.C.Sobti, Vice-Chancellor, said: “The reports need to tabled by December 31, for immediate university action. There can be no compromise with the education standards. The visits by the inspection teams will be a surprise and no one will be spared.”

Another syndic said the case of a number of new colleges were classic examples of making money using education as a tool without bothering about standards and norms.

He said the university needed to react immediately and set examples for others to follow.

The syndicate deferred the item relating to case of Dr Daizy Zarabi, Coordinator of the Population Education Programme under the Population Development and Education Project, and Dr Binwant Pannu, Assistant Programme Officer.

Prof R.C. Sobti informed the syndicate that he had written to the Ministry of Human Resource Development seeking information on the subject. Dr Zarabi and Dr Pannu were first asked to be regularised by the Ministry of HRD.

It is also worth mentioning that the previous Vice-Chancellor, Prof K.N. Pathak, cleared their appointments during his last few days in the office.The reply from Ministry would finally decide the issue, it was pointed out.

The syndicate cleared the appointment of Dr M.G. Gandhi as the Chair Professor of the Lala Lajpat Rai chair.

The syndicate felicitated Prof Sobti for receiving the ‘Sir Shriram Memorial Oration Award’.

The syndicate cleared the appointment of Prof V.K. Mahajan, Department of Evening Studies, as the Coordinator of IAS Coaching Centre of the university, Dr R.K.Sharma, Correspondence Studies, as the Chief of University Employment Information and Guidance Bureau, and Dr(Ms) Sukhvir Kaur, a reader in Department of Zoology, as Coordinator of Central Animal House.

The syndicate was informed that the University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences had got a grant of Rs 1.02 crore under the FIST progamme of the Department of Science and Technology in recognition of landmark achievements in the fields of research and academics during the last decade.

Chandigarh, November 18
The winter is here, almost. After resting in the above-normal bracket for most part of November, the temperature is finally dropping, making way for winter. Met department confirmed that over the next 24 to 48 hours, night temperature was likely to drop further, declaring winter.

As for today, the maximum temperature in Chandigarh was 25.6°C as against 28.4°C yesterday — a significant drop of 2.8°C, which forced people to take out their woollens. Met chief Surinder Pal Singh said the drop was crucial as it had been recorded for the first time this season.

“For the last 20 days, night temperature in Chandigarh has been about three degree above normal, causing the delay in the onset of winter. It dropped for the first time last night. We expect the conditions to improve by way of a further fall in the night temperature,” he said.

Change in weather conditions was being attributed to the combined effect of weather systems (western disturbance) prevailing over Jammu and Kashmir, which witnessed its first major snowfall yesterday, impacting weather in surrounding areas as well. The city’s temperature had also been reduced due to snowfall in parts of Himachal Pradesh and rain in parts of Punjab today. With the fall in temperature, viral infections would also be contained somewhat, said doctors.

Here in Chandigarh, there was a trace of rain through the day. Thanks to changes in weather, the long dry spell came to an end today. Many people were actually switching on their fans at night. But not any more, if met forecast is to be believed.

Chandigarh, November 18
Seven days after the alleged harassment of a Sector 16 Government Model Senior Secondary School girl, the UT District Education Officer Kamla Bains has reportedly submitted the preliminary inquiry report to the Director, Public Instructions (S), Ashwani Kumar, only to be submitted to UT Home Secretary Krishan Mohan.

Mr Krishan Mohan on Thursday marked a probe into the incident. Taking cognisance of the allegations, the DEO was asked to inquire into the matter by the DPI (S) after the intervention of the UT Home Secretary. The inquiry committee included Ms Bains, Ms Saroj Mittal, Principal, GMSSS-40, Ms Suman Sharma, Principal, GMSSS-37, and Mr M.K. Monga.

Today, the committee headed by Ms Bains visited the school and questioned the students, class in charges of classes of classes IX, X, XI and XII.

Sources confirmed that the committee visited the girl’s house yesterday and got some information about the girl. However, the DEO refused to disclose the details of the report and said the probe was being carried out in an impartial manner and the truth would emerge after the submission of the inquiry report later this evening.

Chandigarh, November 18
His declining health fails to dent his determination to get back his “kidnapped” mentally challenged 26-year-old son from the “custody” of a Mumbai-based taxi driver.

Despite the fact that he has been running from pillar to post visiting authorities concerned, including the Chandigarh and the Mumbai Police, and also knocking at the doors of courts for the past one-and-a-half year, the country’s justice-delivery has so far failed to provide any respite to him.

The disgruntled father, 68-year-old Pandit Parasnath Shukla, a resident of Sector 32 here, has reportedly paid numerous visits to senior police officers, including the SSP, but to no effect.

Even though, he managed to trace his son in the alleged captivity of a Mumbai-based taxi driver months ago, yet union with his son is nowhere in sight as the taxi driver has been demanding Rs 2 lakh to release his son.

Narrating his tale of woes, Pandit Shukla said it all started in May last year when he, along with his son, Mukesh, and other family members paid a visit to their native village in Khushi Nagar district in Uttar Pradesh. During the trip, they lost Mukesh.

Pandit Shukla returned to the city and reported the matter to the Chandigarh Police after failing to trace his son on his own. The police registered a daily dairy report in this regard in June, 2005.

Pandit Shukla stated: “I do not know whether the police made efforts to trace my son, but they failed to get any clue about his whereabouts.

“I could not sit back and started making efforts to trace my son. Fortunately, my efforts paid results and I managed to trace my son in Mumbai. He was in captivity of one Baikunt Nath Pandey, a taxi driver in Mumbai.

“When I contacted Pandey, he demanded a ransom of Rs 2 lakh to release my son. I, then, contacted the local police which registered a case of kidnapping against the Pandey in December, 2005.”

Pandit Sukhla further alleged that his miseries did not end with tracing of the accused and the police registering a case. He had to push the local police to proceed against the accused.

He also accompanied the cops during a raid on Pandey’s residence and the cops brought him to Chandigarh on police remand.

But nothing came out of it and the accused was ultimately released. Now the matter was in court and he was waiting for hearings which came after long intervals.

He asserted that the investigation has stuck at that as the accused claimed that he had dropped Mukesh at Allahabad Railway station with the Railway Police. However, the Railway police denied it.

When contacted, the DSP (South), Mr K.I.P. Singh, asserted: “We have thoroughly interrogated the taxi driver during the police remand, but his involvement in the crime was not established.

“He told the police that it was he who had contacted Pandit Shukla out of compassion after his mentally challenged son reached his taxi stand.”

The DSP informed that the police also took the accused to Allahabad and confirmed from the Railway Police, but nothing had come out against him. The matter had been pending trial in a local court.

He further stated that he had asked his subordinates to make more efforts to trace the missing man.

“As the complainant's satisfaction is a must, we would again get his photographs flashed to all police stations in order to get a clue about his whereabouts,” asserted the DSP.

Mr Jit Kumar Gupta, chairman of the Chandigarh and Punjab Chapter of the Indian Institute of Architects, will present a paper on 'Chandigarh Capital City — a blend of traditions and modernisation' at the Institute of Geography, University of Berne, Switzerland.

Mr Gupta, a former Senior Town Planner, Town and Country Planning Department, Punjab, is visiting Switzerland from November 19 to November 26 in connection with the presentation of his papers there.

He would be tracing the historical background of conceptualisation, site selection, planning of Chandigarh, comparing two plans of Chandigarh by Albert Mayer and Corbusier and explaining the planning and design philosophy of Corbusier.

The development of Chandigarh over the past five decades and the challenges and the problems facing the City Beautiful would also be part of presentation by Mr Gupta.

Noted Pakistani writer and chairman of the International Punjabi Conference Fakhar Zaman will be in Panchkula on Sunday. He will be felicitated by the Haryana Urdu Akademi for his contribution in the field of literature and improvement of Indo-Pakistan relations. A proponent of Indo-Pakistan friendship with the help of writers, Fakhar Zaman stresses on better relations through people-to-people contact.

What brings you to Chandigarh?

I am in Panchkula for the five-day 67th session of the Indian Roads Congress (IRC), the premier body of highway engineers in India. Besides, technical sessions, the congress will have a technical exhibition, showcasing the technological advances in the construction and building sectors.

What are the main objectives of the IRC?

Set up in 1934, the IRC provides a national forum for regular pooling of experience and ideas on all matters concerned with the construction and maintenance of highways. Its recommendation carries a lot of weight with the state and Central governments as its top brass consists of the highest functionaries in the government and private sectors.

How can we reduce the number of accidents?

The Indian road accident scenario is alarming, with 4 lakh accidents, including 1 lakh deaths annually. A combination of education, enforcement and engineering can reduce the accident rate substantially.

Can you comment on Indian roads vis-a-vis the foreign roads?

With the public and private participation in place, Indian roads, particularly national highways and expressways, are comparable to the best in the world. However, there is need to allocate more resources for the construction and maintenance of roads.

— Pradeep Sharma

Panchkula, November 18
The 67th annual session of the Indian Roads Congress (IRC), the most-prestigious annual congregation of the top brass of highway engineers of the country, got off to a flying start here today.

Though the long-drawn-out session, formally inaugurated by Mr T.R. Baalu, Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, tested the patience of hundreds of delegates, the technical exhibition drew crowds, with the delegates evincing keen interest in construction technologies and products on display by over 80 companies, including MNCs.

The delegates,a substantial number of them accompanied by their families, converged on the huge pandal specially erected for the mega five-day event.

On the hospitality front, the Haryana Government tried to put its best foot forward, with even Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda urging the delegates to bring to notice any deficiencies in the arrangements on part of government officials.

Mr Hooda released a souvenir to mark the five-day annual session of the IRC.Mr Baalu released the document of “Recommended practice for sealing of joints in concrete pavements”. He also gave away nine awards, medals and commendation certificates to those with outstanding contribution in the field of buildings and roads.

Mr Hooda also inaugurated a technical exhibition in the afternoon. The exhibition will remain open for the general public for the next three days and there would be no entry fee.

Mohali, November 18
Nearly Rs 3 lakh were collected through donations to help Isha, a five-year-old girl, who lost her parents and brother in a road accident in September.

Funds were raised in the name of Isha by Kharar MLA Bir Devinder Singh. Eleven donation boxes were placed in different parts of the town more than a month ago.

These boxes were opened at the Silvi Park in Phase X today. While large sums of money were found in some boxes, in other donations varied from a few hundred to a few thousand.

The amount would be put into a fixed deposit on the name of Isha and it would be taken care of by the Mohali SDM and relatives of Isha. The interest earned from the fixed deposit would be deposited in another account which would be operated by the SDM and Isha’s relatives and the amount withdrawn would be spent on fulfilling Isha’s needs.

Among those who donated towards the Isha fund were the Punjab Chief Minister (Rs 50,000), Centurion Bank of Punjab (Rs 51,000), the Phase X market (Rs 25,000), Mr Tarlochan Singh from Balongi (Rs 21,000), the Mohali Industries Association (Rs 15,000), the Kharar MLA (Rs 11,000), Ms Anita Sharma (Rs 11,000), staff and students of the local Government College (Rs 11,000), Mr Lalit Bansal of Khanpur (Rs 5,000) and Mr Sohan Singh Bal, through the Editor-in-Chief of the The Tribune group of publications (300 $). The Tribune Trust donated Rs 9,000 to cover the medical expenses incurred on Isha at the Silver Oaks Hospital.

Mr Sohan Singh Sood, manager of the Sir Macaulif Public School, Phase XI, announced that Isha would be provided free education till class X and also would be given books. The MLA thanked the people for making donations to help an orphaned child. 

Chandigarh, November 18
“The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it”

With these lines from the ‘Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam’, Governor of Punjab and UT Administrator General S. F. Rodrigues(retd) concluded his talk to Rotarians on the occasion of the Rotary Asia Zone Institute 2006 at the Taj today. Right through his feisty speech, his message was loud and clear; the Rotary was selling itself short.

“You are not like the rest of us. You have committed to a life of service and have not feasted on yourselves but grown from yourselves. So what I am going to suggest is that it is time to you took cognizance of your strengths.”

While extolling the work that the Rotary has performed in various areas of social development like polio eradication, he went on further to say that it was time for the Rotarians to involve themselves with their time, expertise and commitment not only to implement programmes but also to formulate policies.

“There are 260 million people living below the poverty line. Do not look upon them as objects of charity but as a tremendous resource base. There is no need for more money but for your time, acumen and your commitment.”

He went on further to say that as the only worldwide NGO Rotary not only has the reach but the acceptability as and authority to reach out. The Rotary grew out of a “divine will”, he said, “and ended up with a formula which is magical as it reaches out to anyone who cares.”

He went on further to elaborate that it was imperative to work without assumptions that, “nobody else can or that nobody has thought of it before. All I am asking you is to let your heart be your guide. The Rotary approach is not about the bank account but about conscience. After all what memories are we going to leave behind?”

The morning also saw an impassioned speech by Col Parkash Tewari, Director Policy (Ecology), Ministry of Defence, Government of India on conflict resolution (he was a Rotary Scholar studying the same). “Conflict is the visible symptom of a deeper problem and it is the response to a conflict that will decide the consequences. We have to develop a capacity to imagine ourselves in a web of relationships with our enemies to resolve issues.”

The morning session also included a presentation of Rotary’s polio eradication programme by Robert S Scott, Chairman of the International Polio Plus Committee of the Rotary Foundation who urged India not to “get tired” but to keep working, lamenting that polio cases in India had risen from 47 last year to 522 this year. “We promised our children we would and we must keep that promise.”

Chandigarh, November 18
Neither the showers in the day, nor the subsequent chilly nip in the evening air could dampen the enthusiasm of the 150-odd children coming from economically weaker sections of Uchai, Mauli Jagran and Bapu Dham, who gathered at the Rock Garden for an evening of fun, feast and fiesta.

The evening organised by Rotary International saw a generous turnout of Rotarians who mingled with the children, talking and dancing with them and the young ones all found something to delight them.

While for eight-year-old Shahrukh Khan it was puppets juggling vigorously to 'kajra re', rosy-cheeked Arsh could not stop staring at the twinkling lights strung up on the trees. But it was not just the puppet show and the magic show that enthralled them.

Trundled up in wads of warm clothes, 50 children from Bal Bahar School in Bapu Dham, Sector 26, could not stop staring at the sculptures dotting the Rock Garden. "They are fascinated by them especially the ones with colourful bangles in them," smiled their teacher Usha Chauhan.

Even William Boyd, World President of the Rotary International, dressed in a colourful shirt and turban, could not resist the charms of the youngones and after chatting with many of them, he proceeded to even dance gamely with them to the raucous Hindi film songs.

Right from burgers, vegetable noodles, sandwiches, French-fries, potato smiles to a spread of regular Indian cuisine with hot 'gulab jamuns' and ice-cream were laid out for kids.

According to the Managing Director of the catering firm, Four Seasons, there were extensive meetings held on deciding the menu and finally everything that would seem familiar and the children would enjoy was included.

However, it seemed as if the cold drinks were a big hit. Seven -year-old Ashraf was spotted sitting in a corner slurping through one.

When asked what she was drinking she replied she did not know, but it was wonderful.

After the 'masti' wound down, all children were given a blanket each before they went back. 

Chandigarh, November 18
Keeping in line with the high traditions of the Indian Army, the Corps of Engineers,more popularly known as Sappers, celebrated their 226th anniversary with pomp and gaiety at Headquarters Western Command Headquarters, Chandimandir, today.

The Chief Engineer, Western Command, Major-Gen Gautam Banerjee, the seniormost serving engineer officer here, laid a wreath at the 'Veer Smriti' war memorial to mark the occasion, a statement issued here said.

Later, a social evening was organised in the Shivalik Officers Institute which was attended by serving as well as retired sapper officers along with their families. The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief,Western Command, Lieut- Gen Daljeet Singh, and President Army Wives Welfare Association (Regional), Mrs Mohini Daljeet Singh, were among those present on the occasion.

Sappers have a long history, spanning over more than two centuries, of providing engineering support to the Army during war and peace. During war, these engineers carry out multifarious tasks such as laying and breaching of minefields, construction of assault bridges, helipads, development of tracks for mobility of vehicles and so on.

During peacetime, they are always in the forefront carrying out tasks in support of the deployed troops in insurgency areas, neutralising bombs, constructing roads and shelters and providing water supply and electricity.

The challenges thrown up by modern day warfare such as nuclear, chemical and biological defence have also been entrusted to the Sappers.

The Western Command Engineers on their part have contributed immensely in maintaining high level of defence preparedness as well as working towards nation building.

They have also been contributing in humanitarian tasks such as rehabilitation of earthquake victims by constructing shelters along the Northern borders, as well as rescuing strained people, in flood-hit areas.

The Military Engineering Services (MES) and the Border Roads Organisation form important constituents of the Corps of Engineers which play a pivotal role in development of infrastructure, construction of buildings and roads and maintenance of housing for the Army.

Chandigarh, November 18
Ward number 5 has been an uphill task for development, as unlike other wards, it consists of villages and colonies. Consisting of Sectors 25, 25 (West) E.W.S. Colony, Khudda Jassu, Khudda Lahora, Sarangpur, EWS Colony of Dhanas, Milk Colony and Housing Board Colony of Dhanas and Dadu Majra Colony (38 West), and east road leading to Chandigarh from Mullanpur, (before delimitation). The ward has a vast area where various development works have been undertaken in the past five years.

However, the residents feel that there is scope for a lot more work. A majority of the residents are of the opinion that the dumping ground should be shifted from Dadu Majra.

Meanwhile, V-6 roads in Dadu Majra are in dire need of repair. A community centre is another demand of the residents of the ward.

Councillorspeak: Shyama Negi

A lot of work has been put into my ward in the past five years. The condition of water supply and sewerage has improved tremendously. Nine tubewells have been put up, which have 70,000-gallon capacity.

Sewage pipelines have been changed in Khudda Lahora and Dhanas. The water problem in the Housing Board Colony has also been solved. Roads and gullies have been laid in Dhanas and Dadu Majra. Paver blocks have been provided in all markets. The dumping ground in Dadu Majra has been covered from all sides.

Residents of Janta Colony and Sector 25 Kumhar Colony have been provided plots in Maloya. Milk Colony, has been made freehold. Cremation ground, Sector 25, has been renovated. Graveyard has been provided with electricity. Public toilets have also been provided and renovated in the ward.

Chandigarh, November 18
Victor Hugo in 1849 had said, ‘The day will come when there will be no battlefields in Europe other than markets open to trade and the spirit open to ideas,’ and today this august French writer’s words could not be truer.

As ESSCA - Ecole Superieure Des Sciences Commerciales D’Angers - a 100-year-old prominent business school in France, came calling to Chandigarh today to recruit students for masters programmes, through the Alliance Francaise de Chandigarh’s EduFrance Desk (Sector 36), representative spoke at length about “all eyes on India now”.

Director, international development, Alain Ouvrieu puts this intense scrutiny of the country to one reason alone, especially this year. “It is what I call the Mittal-Arcelor effect,” he laughs.

In simpler terms, it means that if an Indian can attempt to lay his hands on a company that is considered to be “the pride of Europe” then most clearly “India is on the map” as Alain puts it.

In order to encourage Indians to apply, ESSCA has introduced two of its relevant masters programs in English, starting September 2007, a masters in retail management and one in international trade. What is interesting is that along with campuses in France (in Angers, Cholet and Paris) they have one in Budapest (Hungary) and in Shanghai (China).

This is where their USP lies, according to Alain. “Not only are we a practical business school which gives hands-on experience to students through our compulsory internships through the masters programme but because of having a campus in east Europe, we can give a true international flavour to our programmes,” he explains.

The two programs include one semester in Budapest and with east Europe opening up to west Europe and business opportunities growing rapidly in the region, the experience currently is worth its weight in gold.

Not just this, Alain also believes that Indian students bring with them a plethora of experiences, which actually go down very well with other international and French students. “We have seen that Indian students excel in whatever they take up and that gives a lot of fillip to the programmes they are in.”

For this reason, ESSCA has also tied up with two management institutes in India - Narsee Monji in Mumbai and the IMDR in Pune-for students to go across to ESSCA campuses and contribute to the flavour of internationalism, giving credence to his belief that “the world is a gigantic global village.” 

Chandigarh, November 18
Four persons, including two scooterists, sustained injuries in two road accidents in the city.

According to the police, Ms Jyoti Anand Kaur of Sector 33 and Sangeeta, who were riding a scooter, suffered injuries after being hit by a school bus (CH-03-0546) in Sector 36 on Friday. The injured were shifted to the PGI. The police has arrested the bus driver, Randhir Singh, after booking him in case of causing hurt due to rash and negligent driving.

In another incident, scooterist Raju of Mansa Devi Complex, Sector 5, Panchkula, lodged a complaint with the police alleging that a Scorpio vehicle (HR-61-6252) hit his scooter near the IT Park on Friday. He along with the pillion rider Vikram Singh sustained injuries in the mishap. They were rushed to the PGI. The Scorpio driver reportedly fled the spot.