Chandigarh, March 5
The UT police today filed a chargesheet in the district courts against two doctors of Government Multi-Specialty Hospital (GMSH) in Sector 16 here and a lab technician for their alleged negligence in the Suman wrong blood transfusion case.

The chargesheet came three days after the UT Consumer Forum had held the hospital guilty of medical negligence and directed it to pay Rs 4 lakh compensation to Suman in addition to free lifetime treatment.

The police filed a chargesheet in the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate JS Sidhu today. SHO Sector 17 police station Inspector Ranjodh Singh said they had filed the chargesheet in a case of causing death due to negligence under Section 304 A (causing death due to negligence) and Section 201 (destruction of evidence) of the IPC against house surgeon Dr Manpreet, intern Dr Navdeep and lab technician Kirti Sood of the GMSH.

The police had registered an FIR in the case in June 2011 following a magisterial probe. The incident occurred in December 2010.

Wrong blood transfusion to Suman, allegedly due to the doctors’ negligence, had resulted in the death of the nine-month-old foetus and damage to Suman’s kidneys.

As per the chargesheet, Suman was administered a unit of B-positive blood that was meant for another woman in a case of mistaken identity (there were two women by the same name in a similar state of pregnancy at the hospital). When it was detected that she had been transfused with the wrong blood group, it was too late. The foetus died and her kidneys were affected, following which she was referred to the PGI.

Suman later underwent treatment at the PGI for her damaged kidneys.

Chandigarh, March 5
Miscarriages bring distress, but not now, with North India getting its first recurrent miscarriage clinic, which will open at Max Hospital, Mohali.

Considered to be the most common complication of pregnancy, Dr Preeti Jindal, recurrent-miscarriage specialist, former Senior Fellow at the world-renowned Recurrent Miscarriage Clinic, Saint Mary’s Hospital, London, has said single miscarriage is seen in 20 per cent of the expecting mothers.

Explaining miscarriages, Dr Jindal said, “Two consecutive miscarriages are suffered by 5 per cent of expectant mothers and three consecutive miscarriages are seen in 1 per cent of the expectant mothers and repeated miscarriages call recurrent miscarriages.”

According to experts, there are not many recurrent-miscarriage specialists in India and especially none in North India except Delhi. The new clinic comes as a hope for the region where there is poor awareness among physicians and patients about disease management and thus it’s emotionally, physically and financially distressing for couples and their families.

Giving reasons of recurrent miscarriages, Dr Jindal said, Genetic abnormalities inherited from parents or sporadic are considered to be the main reason for recurrent miscarriages. She added that other reasons could be structural defects in uterus like septum, fibroid, didelphus, adhesions in the cavity, etc, and bacterial and viral infections and smoking, alcohol intake, drugs are also among major contributors to miscarriage.

In worldwide studies it has been seen that attending dedicated recurrent miscarriage clinics have much higher successful outcome among the women suffering from recurrent miscarriages.

According to Dr Mahesh Inder Singh, Regional Director, Max Healthcare, “The clinic has been created to deliver world-class healthcare services to women who have been suffering from the problem of recurrent miscarriages. The clinic will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology and will offer quality medical expertise”.

Dr Singh said the clinic would be inaugurated on March 19 at Max Hospital. The clinic will offer the world’s latest available treatment modalities for this problem. “At our recurrent miscarriage clinic, we are going to provide dedicated consultations with experts, world-class diagnostic facilities and individual treatment to couples”, added Dr Jindal.

Chandigarh, March 5
In a move that could benefit a large number of families, the government has extended medical benefits under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) to minor children of widowed or separated daughters of the Central government employees and pensioners.

Earlier, only the widowed or separated or divorced daughter of the CGHS member was eligible for availing the benefits under the scheme. Bringing children of widows and separated women under the Central Government Health Scheme cover has been recommended by the Sixth Pay Commission.

Started in 1954, the CGHS provides medicare in major cities to Central government employees and pensioners who are members of the scheme. They are required to pay a nominal subscription depending upon their grade pay.

The CGHS dispensaries cater to Allopathic as well as alternate system of medicines like Ayurveda and Homeopathy.

Under the new provisions, the children concerned can avail medical benefits upto the age of 18 years and should normally be residing with the Central Government Health Scheme member.

Chandigarh, March 5
The “dispute” among the HCS, PCS officers and the IAS officers of the AGMUT-cadre was finally resolved by the UT Adviser KK Sharma today.

The Adviser met the representation of more than dozen HCS, PCS officers today and assured them that their grievances would be properly looked into.

Before meeting the Adviser, these officers held a meeting, which was also attended by two IAS officers of the Haryana cadre, and it was decided that they would meet with the Adviser on the alleged “discrimination” of the Chandigarh Administration towards the state-cadre officers.

Requesting anonymity, an officer said the Adviser had assured them that they would solve their genuine grievances and on the Adviser’s assurance, they had decided to close this chapter now.

Recently differences among HCS, PCS and AGMUT-cadre IAS officers started to crop up when the post of Joint Secretary (Home), which was earmarked to a state-cadre officer, was given to an AGMUT-cadre officer.

Thereafter, the officers had claimed that the post of Director, Social Welfare and Tourism, which had been held by an HCS officer till December last, was given to an AGMUT-cadre officer.

Another officer said there were a number of incidents when the state-cadre officers had faced “ill-treatment” at the hands of top officers of the Chandigarh Union Territory Administration. 

Zirakpur, March 5
The impending election results have made the candidates in the fray superstitious. While some are turning to gods for divine intervention to ensure their victory, the others are banking on their lucky day for emerging as a winner in the poll.

The candidates remained busy throughout day answering phone calls of their supporters and the other purported well-wishers. The main candidates in the fray from Dera Bassi Constituency are NK Sharma (SAD-BJP) and Deepinder Singh Dhillon (Independent).

On Monday, the SAD candidate NK Sharma started his day with listening to the grievances of the area people and met the party workers where he discussed the strategy for next day. “Tuesday is lucky day for me and I will start the day after paying obeisance at Lohgarh temple.” He said that as such he had no plans to take out a procession after the victory but it will depend only on his supporters. He assured that he will win the seat with huge margin as he had done development works in the area.

On the other hand, Deepinder Singh Dhillon, an Independent candidate had started his day with receiving phone calls from his supporters and well wishers who congratulated him in advance. Later, he attended a bhog ceremony and marriage functions of his supporters. In the evening, Dhillon met the party workers and agents where they planned for big day. “I will start my journey from Chandigarh and pay obeisance in Gurdwara at Bhankarpur in Dera Bassi,” he added. He says, “If I win, his priority will be development in the area.”

Mohali, March 5
The endless wait to know the outcome of the January 30 polling will finally be over tomorrow. With political pundits predicting a photo finish outcome for the Punjab elections, the candidates of various political parties in fray from Mohali assembly segment spent their Monday holding mock counting drills for their agents and on kept a hawk eye on the strong rooms where the EVM had been kept.

Though the anxiety was writ large on the faces of the candidates of all the major political parties yet they showed the confidence of proclaiming victory by handsome margins. Not to spare the moment, the supporters of the candidates chased them to the homes and offices, only to congratulate them in advance.

Among the main candidates in the fray from Mohali are Balbir Singh Sidhu (Congress), Balwant Singh Ramoowalia (SAD) and Bir Devinder (PPP). On Monday morning, the Congress candidates took a round of the counting centre at Shivalik Public School, Phase VI after attending a bhog ceremony at his supporter’s house. Then he settled down at his Phase I office. “I pray to god everyday. It is my routine. I am hopeful of winning with a big lead. I know the votes polled and at each and every polling booth,” he said while beaming with confidence.

Balbir Sidhu seemed to be cautious of taking out a victory procession least to attract the expenditure panel of the Election Commission. “We are not taking out any procession. We will just pay our obeisance at local ‘gurdwaras’ and ‘mandirs’. But if my supporters come to congratulate me, how can I stop them,” he quipped.

The SAD candidate, Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, spent the day doing social work of helping a married woman who had been deserted by her NRI husband after six months of marriage. “I was at Punjab and Haryana Civil Secretariat, pursuing her case with the Australian embassy,” he said.

Hopeful of giving a good lead to his nearest rival, Ramoowalia, while resting at his Sector 69 residence shares his plans to improve the face of the Mohali city. Riding on his long experience in politics, he said the voters would prefer to go a seasoned and matured candidate. Aware about the hawk eyes of the Election Commission officials, who would be keeping an eye on the processions of the winning candidates, he said that the supporters had already started gathering at his place. At his sector 69 office-cum-residence, the supporters were seen in large numbers while congratulating him.

The PPP candidate, Bir Devinder Singh, preferred to put his efforts on training his agents, deputed at the counting centre. “Since all of them were new, they needed to be told about various things,” he said after landing at his Phase 2 office. Confident of polling a majority, he said that he had full faith in god and in electorate.

On the issue of taking out a victory procession, he said that no such procession had been planned. Controlling his anxiety, Bir Devinder Singh said “aggressive polling” indicated that people wanted a change.

Mohali, March 5
A state-of-the-art building of the Punjab Legal Services Authority will come up in Sector 69 here.

Sources said that in the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), the building plan has been cleared by the state’s chief architect.

Land measuring 1,000 sq yd for the state-level institution had been given by GMADA and the structure will be built by the Building and House Committee that comes under the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The designs of the buildings of the legal services authorities in Gujarat and Hyderabad have been studied to incorporate ideas in the building.

The sources said that the proposed building would have Lok Adalats that would take up family disputes and other cases.

Two or three courtrooms had been planned apart from mediation chambers and seminar halls.

The state’s legal services authority is presently functioning in rented accommodation in Sector 22, Chandigarh.

The foundation stone of the building was likely to be laid on March 10 by Justice Altamas Kabir of the Supreme Court, added sources.

Mohali, March 5
As various departments of the State Government face financial cuts in release of funds in the previous financial years, the State Water Supply Department has been given with additional grant of Rs 91 crore as bonus for speedy and successful implementation of the rural water supply programme. The officials in the department said incentive from the Centre had been given for good performance in the financial years 2009-2010, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012.

It has been stated that medium term programme of the state was to achieve full coverage in all the villages with safe drinking water by adopting reform approach that had attracted wide appreciation. The Rural Water Supply Programme has been implemented through empowerment of Gram Panchayats and local communities by adopting decentralised service delivery as enshrined in the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment. So far, 5438 villages had been covered with safe water supply. All the 16028 rural schools premises, 14977 ‘aganwadis’ located in the government building, had been provided with water supply and sanitation facilities.

Whereas, State Government was suffering from the financial cuts in releases in previous financial years due to inadequate performance, now, Government of India (GOI) has rewarded efforts of the state by providing an additional grant (bonus) every year, continuously, for its good work in rural water supply sector.

Giving details, the officials said in additional amount released in the three years is 2009-2010 (Rs 12.17 crore), 2010-2011 (Rs 28.80 crore) and 2011-2012 (Rs 50.15 crore).

It has been stated that the Centre through its 20 point programme closely monitors the implementation progress and the financial achievements of all the State Governments on monthly basis.

Ever since the adoption of reform approach by Punjab from 2008-09 onwards, the number of habitations added every year rose from 1794 in 2008-2009 to 1927 habitations in 2009-10 and 1717 habitations in 2010-11. The households with private water connections have also shown a steep increase as 239 habitations have 100 per cent household coverage through private connections and 1809 habitations have water connections ranging from 70 per cent to 9 per cent.

Presently, 11 habitations are availing 24x7 metered water supply.

Chandigarh, March 5
Celebrating Holi, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) brings more happiness to their mobile service customers by providing extra talk time or full talk value on some selected range of top-up vouchers.

The promotional schemes are announced by the Chandigarh circle and available for five days from March 5 to 10 to its 2G and 3G prepaid subscribers.

In connection with the festive occasion of Holi, the BSNL offers full talk-time value equal to the MRP on all top-up vouchers/C top-up/Flexi top-up to all 2G and 3G mobile prepaid customers for a top-up value of Rs 100 or more.

The BSNL has also extended the benefit of increased talk time on recharge coupon/top-up of Rs 250 for all the prepaid customers for a limited period. — TNS

Chandigarh, March 5
A Punjabi play ‘Chhoti Sardarni’ was presented by Amritsar-based drama ensemble ‘Actors on Stage’ in the first theatre festival of Roopak Kala Welfare Society, as part of the ongoing week-long International Women’s day celebrations at the Randhawa auditorium here today.

Based on a story by Veena Verma, an acclaimed NRI author, and directed by Mandeep Kaur, the play depicts the sanctity of human relationships and gross misuse of trust.

Young Roop (Mandeep Kaur) falls in love and weds a man, named Narinder (Tejpal Minhas), who is already married. Roop is given a secondary position in the family, but hopes to get the respectable status of being Narinder’s wife. Over the years when they visit Punjab, the people around address her as Chhoti Sardarni in reverence. Later, she repents getting married in a haste and realises that emotional relationships, made in blind passion, do not survive long. Lyrics by Vishal and music by Harinder Sohal were soothing.

Chandigarh, March 5
The Panjab University Career Counselling and Guidance Cell, established under UGC’s Plan XI, is organising a 3-day training program (5-7 March, 2012) on life skills. The programme will focus on 10 core skills listed by World Health Organization - Self-awareness, Interpersonal relations, Communication, Critical thinking, Problem solving, Creative thinking, Dealing with emotions, Coping with stress, Decision-making, and Empathy. 

The event, which kick-started today, will be conducted by life-skills training experts Sunitha Ranjan and Divya Santhanam. They will help the students through modules on ‘Effective Communication’, ‘Inter personal Relationships’, ‘Thinking Skills’, ‘Creative Thinking’, ‘Problem Solving’, ‘Decision Making’, ‘Coping with Emotions and Stress’, ‘Personality Enhancement’ and ‘Positive Strokes’. The day also served as the formal inauguration of Yuvothhan, the student committee of the cell. The idea for the evolution of this committee stressed that it provides a good platform for students to represent their career development needs in their respective departments and fields. It facilitates the process of planning and executing appropriate interventions that will address those needs. 

The committee also serves the purpose of enabling better connection between the cell and the student community. Prof RC Sobti, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, was the chief guest on this occasion. He claimed that the CG&CC would facilitate the students in realisation of their potential, enhance their skills and help them grow.

Chandigarh, March 5
Though the search committee constituted for the selection of the new Vice Chancellor of Panjab University is yet to meet and decide the selection criteria, IS Chadha, one of the members, and PU nominated Senator, has reportedly asked the university to submit names of eligible candidates.

Chadha, a retired IFS officer, verbally asked the Registrar's office to submit names of 20 senior most professors, but he soon asked for names of those with at least 10 years of experience to allegedly accommodate his preferred senator in the list.

When asked about the allegations, Chadha refused to comment, a senior official of the university said.

"So far, the only written communication the PU got about the VC's selection is Chadha's letter to Chancellor, accepting his inclusion in the selection committee. We got verbal orders from Chadha asking for 20 names, but soon we were asked to give names of professors with 10 years of experience. We have not given any list so far, as it takes time, " said an official of the university.

Meanwhile, PU senators raised an objection on the issue and sought Chancellor's intervention into the matter.

"First of all including a sitting nominated senator into this committee is unjustified and now, he goes on to decide the criteria and seeking lists. Why is everybody so tightlipped about the blatant violation of propriety and norms," said HS Ghosal, a senior Panjab University senator.

"Chadha is known to be favouring a teacher, who is also a senator. How can the Registrar office act on verbal orders? The Chancellor should ensure that the next VC is selected on merit rather than whims and fancies of an individual," said one of the prospective candidates for the post.

Dera Bassi, March 5
Sri Sukhmani Institute of Engineering And Technology, Dera Bassi, organised a mega joint campus placement fair on its premises. The fair was organised to provide placement opportunities to postgraduate and graduate engineers in India and abroad. The students from Punjab, Himachal, Haryana and other states had taken part in this fair. The mega placement fair focused primarily on job and placement opportunities in leading companies.

A number of candidates from all-over the North India visited the campus to attend the placement fair. The mega joint campus placement fair was open for all the graduates and postgraduates.

More than 580 students took part in the job fair. The representatives from leading companies conducted various tests, personal interview and shortlisted the deserving candidates for the various positions.

The college placement and recruitment cell initiated the proceedings during the inaugural day of the fair.