Syndics restore VC's powers
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 27 — The item pertaining to the selection of professors, readers and lecturers in various departments of Panjab University was deferred indefinitely in the wake of the implementation of the election code of conduct at the Syndicate meeting held today evening. All the 51 items pertaining to the recommendations of the selection committees for appointments to these posts were withdrawn from the agenda following a news report published in The Tribune regarding the 'violation of the EC code of conduct in making these selections.'

Today's Syndicate meeting was marred by a walkout when the issue pertaining to the restoration of powers to the Vice-Chancellor with regard to the constitution of selection committees for Class A teaching posts came up for discussion. Mr Ashok Goyal, Prof I.M Govil, Mr Rabinder Nath Sharma, Mr Randeep Surjewala, Mr S.S Hundal recorded their dissent and later staged a walkout. Mr Rajinder Deepa, who came in late, supported them. While these powers were restored to the Vice-Chancellor by a majority vote, the members of the oppposition group insisted that the same should be ratified by the Senate.

The item pertaining to condonation of lectures of 44 students also got the Syndicate's approval.

The reduced fee structure agreed upon following negotiations between Dean Students Welfare, Prof V.K Bansal and a joint action committee drawn from various students organisations was approved.

The issue of appointments of seven lecturers to the Department of Physics was also approved by the Syndics in the light of the directions issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The High Court had directed them to reconsider their decision of readvertising the posts.

It was also decided in the meeting that a special entrance test should be conducted to fill the vacant seats in BBA and BCA part I courses in the colleges of Punjab affiliated to Panjab University. The MFC Part I and II students, who had earlier failed to clear the examination in April 1998 have been given a special chance to clear the same.

The Syndicate has adopted the UGC notification of November 6, 1998, pertaining to raising the retirement age from 60 to 62 years, following the adoption of UGC circular in toto.

A decision has also been taken not to admit the students of Bihar Intermediate Education Council, Patna (Bihar) in any course of Panjab University.

Professor Ashok Sahni has been appointed Dean University Instructions (DUI) for a period of one year with effect from September 1, 1999.

The introduction of a 4-year BE programme in Agro-processing Technology at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology has also been approved.

The Syndicate has authorised the Vice-Chancellor to dismiss from service two senior clerks, Mr R.S Nagra and Mrs Kiran Bala and Mrs Urmil Sharma, a superintendent following gross irregularities in the declaration of results.

Plan to tax cable operators
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 27 — In a bid to generate more resources, the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) has decided to bring certain tax proposals for discussion at the meeting of the civic body to be held on August 30.

According to sources, the meeting would discuss the policy regarding the operation of the cable network in Chandigarh and the guidelines for levying charges on the main cable operators for laying their cable lines from the main relay centre to their agents and from the sub-centres to the residents.

Under the proposal, which has already been okayed by the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC), multi-system operators like the Siti Cable and C-Con shall deposit Rs 5 lakh in cash as security and Rs 5 lakh in the shape of bank guarantee for 10 years. Out of the Rs 5 lakh security, Rs 3 lakh will be refunded to the applicant on the successful laying of cables and Rs 2 lakh would be kept as security for future damages to essential services and could be refunded after five years.

In addition, the major cable operators should pay Rs 1 lakh per month as ground rent. However, the F&CC recommended that small sector cable operators should pay Rs 12,000 per annum per sector as ground rent. The charges from Sectors 1 to 6 would be Rs 6,000 per year.

It may be recalled that Siti Cable was given permission by the Chandigarh Administration for laying their network after depositing Rs 5 lakh as security on certain terms and conditions. Siti Cable has not paid any charges for laying their network on or underneath the municipal land. Another cable network, C-Con, laid its network without taking permission from the administration or the MCC and had not deposited any security.

Through another agenda item, the meeting would impress upon the administration to transfer 10 per cent share of the income earned from the auction of contract of country wine and 16 per cent share of the excise duty collected from the sale of English wine and beer to the civic body on the Punjab pattern.

The matter regarding the auction of 15 commercial sites and 23 booth sites in Sector 9-C and three shops in the Community Centre in Thakurdwara (Mani Majra), will again come up for approval.

Similarly, the nomination of an expert technical member on the committee constituted to inquire into the construction of a box culvert on the Chandigarh-SAS Nagar road will also come up for discussion.

The creation of posts for the electricity/electrical wing of the corporation, show-cause notice to the MCC by the administration regarding the regularisation of construction already made by the individuals on the acquired land in Pocket Nos 2 and 11 in Mani Majra and various estimates passed by the F&CC will also come up at the meeting.

Rehearsal for poll officials
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, ug 27 — The first rehearsal for 327 presiding officers, 1,000 polling officers, 25 supervisors and 13 duty magistrates to be put on election duty at the 287 polling booths all over the district was carried out at the Sector 20 grain market here today. Also present at the rehearsal was a force of 327 additional persons who would form the reserve team which might be required on the day of polling.

The Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer, Mr Vivek Joshi, appealed to the trainees to carry out their work impartially since this was also their constitutional duty. He told the participants to work in coordination with one another to dispense their duties effectively and efficiently.

He added that action would be taken against those who had failed to report for the rehearsal under Section 134 of the Act of 1951.

The Subdivisional Magistrate, Mr Rajbir Singh, explained the process of election and what the duty of each officer entailed at length during the rehearsal.

Speaking at the rehearsal, the Superintendent of Police, Mr Alok Mittal, said that adequate police arrangements had been made at the polling booths. He informed the participants that 20 non-gazetted officers, 25 head constables, 262 constables and 287 Home Guards jawans had been deployed for the smooth conduct of the elections.

UT B.Ed seats filled
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 27 — Almost all B.Ed seats of the UT pool in city colleges were filled on the first day of counselling held at Dev Samaj College of Education, Sector 36, here today.

Even though a large number of persons had gathered at the venue since morning in the hope of being interviewed, admissions to only two local colleges could be completed by the end of the day.

Out of 89 seats, 86 have already been filled in Dev Samaj College of Education while three seats have been kept vacant for students of the fine arts stream. In Government College of Education, Sector 20, 87 seats have been filled out of 90.

Admissions to all colleges in Punjab and open category seats in local colleges will be conducted tomorrow.

No takers for Hindi scholarships
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 27 — National language Hindi fails to attract applications for scholarship in the city. Not a single candidate has applied in the last and current sessions. This scenario has been prevalent over the past several years.

Senior officials in the department confirm this trend. In 1996, a single candidate had applied, but his application was rejected as he did not fulfil the conditions.

The scholarship is given to students interested in Hindi at the plus two, undergraduate and post-graduate levels. One of the conditions is that the student should not have quit the subject at any level. Also, only students from non-Hindi speaking states are considered. There is no condition regarding the income level of the applicant.

Sources confirm that the Eduction Department ensures dispatch of information to the university and colleges. The advertisement in this regard also finds mention in leading newspapers. The department also sent reminders to the institutions, but to no avail.

Rajeev Ranjan, a student from Bihar, said the award offered hardly anything in cash. The amount paid is approximately Rs 200 and the recipient dos not fall in the category of a special academic achievement. Some other scholarships also do not offer much cash, but they carry academic weight.

Vijay Kumar, a college student, said the amount offered did not attract applications as it would be of little assistance in purchasing books and stationery. The process of receiving the amount also seems tedious to students.

Senior officials said even other scholarships, including those for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, did not attract much attention in the city.

Students receive bigger amounts in case of scholarships under B.Sc., post-graduation in agriculture and veterinary science, diploma in engineering and architecture streams, sources said.

Original domiciles to adopt strategy
By Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 27 — The original domiciles of the Union Territory of Chandigarh are a resentful lot. They have decided to hold a convention at Gurdwara Kanthla Sahib in the Industrial Area, Phase II, here on August 29 and decide their line of action for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.

The convention will discuss a charter of demands that the villagers want to project before the candidates and political parties. Alleging continuous discrimination, both by political parties and the Administration, the villagers maintain that they have been reduced to "refugees" in their own territory, while "migrants" and others have been rehabilitated on the land acquired from them at throwaway prices.

Since 1950, they say, the Administration has violated the Periphery Control Order by building hundreds of dwelling units for the economically weaker sections. These units have been built touching "lal dora" of almost all 22 villages of the UT. On the other hand, when the villagers, because of the growing size of their families, try to build a house outside "lal dora", it is demolished, and all civic amenities, including water and power supply and sewerage, are denied.

Their organisation, Pind Bachao Committee, had been raising its voice over this continuous discrimination, but without being heard.

Mr Angrej Singh, President of the committee, maintains that there are more than 1.64 lakh voters in colonies built by the Administration outside "lal doras" over the years. Not only that, he says, most of those living in these colonies have been indulging in various illegal activities, including pilferage of power and water.

"The Administration admits that there are more than 45,000 kundi connections in the Union Territory. This discrimination must end," asserts Mr Angrej Singh.

The most recent cases have been of Kanthla, Karsan, Madrian, Faidan, Shahpur, Bajwara and Bajwari villages. Earlier, 17 other villages had gone the same way. Their total land was acquired and the original residents were left fending for themselves. The money they got for their land was peanuts.

Mr Angrej Singh says that original domiciles or villagers want an honourable rehabilitation as is done in the case of "migrants". Agriculture had been the main avocation of the original people of all 47 villages of which 22 remain while the remaining 25 have been acquired. Each originally domicile family should be given at least one commercial plot of one-kanal each

The practice of acquisition of land under Sections 4, 6 and 9 be discontinued and instead the Deputy Commissioner, the Land Acquisition Officer and the farmer concerned should sit together and fix the market rate and the compensation should be paid to the farmer immediately.

Jobs should be reserved for original domiciles. Grant of three-phase power connections to villagers, special loans, reservation in housing board dwelling units, reservation for tenants of both residential and commercial property, unemployment allowance to villagers, old-age pension for senior citizens, no municipal taxes on villagers, including in the corporation for the first 25 years, extension of ''lal dora'' of all villages, formation of a special committee of all 22 villages and planners and separate plots for dairy farmers are the other demands of the villagers.

SPCA gets new office
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 27 — The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has decided to shift its administrative office from the Sector 22 Veterinary Hospital to the Sector 38 (West) hospital of the organisation from September 1.

In a press note issued here yesterday, the society said a new building had been constructed in the hospital for this purpose and all programmes and activities would be launched from there. The objective of the exercise was to ensure better coordination between the administrative and hospital staff under one roof, the press note said.

Stress on sex education
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Aug 27—The need of imparting sex education to students in educational institutions was stressed at a seminar held in Hans Raj Public School, Sector 6, here today. The seminar was held as part of the golden jubilee celebrations of the Panchkula branch of the Family Planning Association of India (FPAI) which organised a programme on "Participatory Learning in Adolescent Sexuality''.

The chief guest, Mrs Nina Puri, President of the FPAI, said the population in the 10 to 24 years age group was 1.5 billion and the voluntary organisations had failed to pay due attention due to this group, especially in the face of rising crime, abortion, drinking, rape and changes in social behaviour. She said the elders should enlighten the adolescents and youth about sexuality and awaken them to the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases.

The Financial Commissioner and Secretary to the Government of Haryana, Public Health Department, Mrs Komal Anand, was the guest of honour. In her address to students of Bhavan Vidyalaya, Army School, Hans Raj Public School and DC Model High School and delegates of the FPAI from the branches of Panchkula, Mohali, Chandigarh and Yamunanagar, she spoke of the different programmes her department was running to give sex education in schools and colonies.

At a declamation contest held on the occasion, Veenu Gill of Hans Raj Public School came first, Harpreet of DC Model High School stood second and Jasmine Singh from Army School came third.

Police to bring out newsletter
tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 27 — To cement police - community relations, the Chandigarh Police will be the first police organisation to bring out a newsletter which will act as a handy reckoner for the public and will contain all requisite information about the force.

Titled COPS Newsletter, the news-sheet will be a monthly to begin with and will be out next month. The information sheet will contain details of ongoing crimes, various prohibitory orders in force, the crime graph besides the name, designation and telephone number of the officer to be contacted in an emergency or for specific grievances.

Mr C S R Reddy, SSP, while confirming that the department had decided to bring out the newsletter said its launch had been delayed due to their preoccupation with making arrangements for the parliamentary poll.

" It will basically be a communication link with the public and an effort on their part to make the people aware about the functioning of the police. It will act as a medium of soliciting the help of the city residents in helping the force to ensure that the city not only remains beautiful but crime free", he said while elaborating on the idea behind the novel venture.

The newsletter will contain details of important cases worked out by the police with the active assistance of the public, the good work done by samaritans, the punishment given to police officers besides the good work done by their personnel.

Mr Reddy said information would also be given about the schemes being run by them and whom to contact in case one wants to avail these schemes. Similarly, the people would also be educated about the importance of passing ion information about any unlawful activity and the presence of shady characters in their neighbourhood.

The need for obeying traffic rules, in view of the fatal accidents in the past, would be stressed. Besides,the offences for which a person could be challaned and the quantum of fine would also be displayed. For the convenience of the public, information about forthcoming traffic diversions on account of functions or other public utility services for the coming month would be printed in the previous edition.

The newsletter would also have write-ups abut the modus operandi of various criminal gangs that are operative in the city and its vicinity and the precautions to be taken to prevent any untoward happening in their locality. The importance of sharing any information with the beat staff of the sector would also be stressed.

The SSP said that a section would also have names, photographs and the last known address of known criminals who have the tendency to commit the same crime again. A similar procedure would be followed in case of those criminals, who are out on jail after securing bail or are on parole, and are known to have gone to their old ways.

He said there would be articles by professionals who will advise the public about the steps to be taken to secure their vehicles and houses against theft and burglaries.

Mr Reddy said the scheme had found a positive response from various industrial and business establishments like the PHDCCI, CII, and the FSSI, about support by way of advertisements so that the sum incurred in bringing out the newsletter regularly can be sustained without much burden no departmental resources. Some of the entrepreneurs had also offered their services for bringing out a regular programme to be screened through the cable networks of the city. A meeting in this context was held today, he added.

The residents would also be asked to send in their contributions, and suggest ways to make policing more effective and people-friendly. The newsletter would be distributed to the residents through the beat staff personnel, he added.

RCH training project begins today
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 27 — The training plan for the reproductive and child health (RCH) programme, aimed at reducing the maternal mortality rate and also the utilisation of maternal and child health services, will start here tomorrow. The training would not only include community doctors, paramedical staff and social scientists but also social organisations and college principals. This was revealed by Dr M.P. Minocha, Project Director, RCH, here today.

Spread over four days, the training programme would provide training in various areas like insertion of IUCDs, laparoscopic sterilization and male scalpel vasectomy at the General Hospital, Sector 16.

The RCH programme, one of the largest programmes aided by the World Bank, was started by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, in October, 1997. This is a five-year programme and would run till the year 2002. Prior to this the government used to run a similar project under a scheme called the child survival and safe motherhood and the mother and child health (MCH) programme.

In fact, experts point out that most of the targets set by the Government of India under the scheme have already been achieved in the city.

But this year the project has not begun with any targets in order to focus not primarily on numbers but awareness about the RCH programme.

A source revealed that with a grant of almost Rs 50 lakh for this project to be implemented here, the RCH could become one of the major tools to educate people about family planning, sexually transmitted diseases and mother and childcare.

Surprisingly enough it is only this year that the RCH programme includes the issues of reproductive tract infection (RTI) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The project has also included the problems of adolescents this year in order to target a sexually active age group.

With more than 48 per cent of women having delivery complications in the city and and only about 4.3 per cent of them aware about STDs and RTIs and over 12 per cent of babies being born here weighing less than 2.5 kg the RCH programme needs to be spearheaded to change perceptions about women and child health.

Kansal too promises UT status
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 27 — "We will work to retain Chandigarh as a Union Territory, on the proper rehabilitation of slum dwellers, ownership rights to occupants of tenements in a pocket of Mauli Jagran and Sector 52 and provision of basic civic amenities in all labour colonies," says Mr Ravi Kansal, candidate for the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat and President of the local unit of the Lok Shakti.

Releasing his election manifesto here this afternoon, Mr Kansal said that he would also work for the extension of the lal dora, reservation in jobs for original domiciles of Chandigarh and provision of water and power connections in agricultural farms in the Union Territory.

Accusing both Mr Pawan Bansal (Congress) and Mr Satya Pal Jain (BJP) of their failure to work on anything substantial for the people of Chandigarh, Mr Kansal said that he would also ensure rationalisation of sales tax on a par with other states in northern India, amendment to the Adulteration Act and building bylaws so as to permit double storeys instead of single-storey booths. All rehri workers would get their regular licences. Similarly, rickshaw workers and others engaged in informal trades would also get licences and special facilities would be provided for drinking water and toilets at rickshaw stands.

Mr Kansal said that he is likely to benefit because of severe internal fighting both in the BJP and Congress in the coming elections. He also claimed that he would benefit from the Dhawan factor as the votes he polled were both anti-BJP and anti-Cong and would automatically come to him.

He also accused the BJP of misusing its position as a ruling party and said that the use of plastic flags, batches and banners was in violation of the norms and guidelines of the Election Commission of India. He also alleged that BJP activists had been collecting money from traders in the name of party funds.

Bansal for raising I-tax limit
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 27 — The Congress candidate for the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat, Mr Pawan Bansal, said here today that he would strive to get the income tax limit raised to Rs 1 lakh. He was addressing a meeting of trade union leaders in Sector 22.

Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, a former Chief Minister of Punjab, said that both the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal were communal parties which were exploiting religion to their benefit. She said the people were fed up with these parties and wanted a change. Describing Mr Pawan Bansal as a thorough gentleman and an intellectual politician, she appealed to the electorate of Chandigarh to make him successful in the September 5 poll. She was addressing an election rally held at Sector 40 last evening.

Besides, Mr Bansal also addressed a big election meeting in Mani Majra which was attended by office-bearers and members of various residents welfare associations. Mr Bansal stressed the need for involvement of the resident welfare associations in further development of the city. He criticised the Chandigarh Housing Board for inefficient service because of which allottees had to suffer. He advocated the need for providing housing to urban middle class at reasonable price.

Late in the evening, he addressed a meeting at Mauli Jagran. This morning he visited Palsora Colony.

SNIPPETS

Ex-servicemen to vote for BJP
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 27 — The local unit of the Indian Exservices League, which met here today under the chairmanship of Brig Sant Singh, appealed to the ex-servicemen and their families to support the BJP candidate in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.

According to Major Prem Singh, Secretary of the unit, the decision was taken after most of the participants were of the view that the attitude of the Congress during the past 50 years had been mostly anti-defence forces and it deliberately brought down the status and prestige of armed forces.

Further, the Congress allowed annexation of one-third of Kashmir by Pakistan, besides allowing China to occupy more than 2000 sq km of the Indian territory. Besides, the Congress was opposed to one rank one pension to ex-servicemen and their widows. More recently, the speakers said, Congress blocked the issuance of an ordinance entitling serving soldiers to exercise their right to franchise through proxy voting.

On the other hand, the speakers held that the BJP gave a sterling performance during its 17-month rule by sanctioning liberal benefits to war widows and disabled of the Kargil war. It has allowed substantial benefits to war widows and ex-servicemen.

Major Prem Singh also said in his note that the formation of the so-called political wing of the IESL was unconstitutional and misleading as the IESL had nothing to do with it.

Conference on gastro problems
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 27— The Department of Super-specialityof Gastroentero-logy at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, will on august 28 and 29 hold an update—CME programme in gastroenterology to discuss the recent advances in the gastrointestinal and nutritional disorders.

The two-day session will also hold discussion on various diagnostic and therapeutic modalities to benefit the common man. Papers will be read out on various related issues, including alcoholic liver diseases, role of nutrition in liver diseases, medical and surgical management, diagnosis of antibiotic associated diarrhoea and surgical management of hypertension.

In a press note issued today, Dr B R Thapa,organising secretary of the Update-CME Gastro '99, said there will be more than 300 delegates from the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu Kashmir, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

The programme will be inaugurated tomorrow by Dr N K Ganguly, Director-General, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi.

ISDN facility for Panchkula
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 27 — The Integrated Switching Digital Network (ISDN) facility that enables simultaneous transmission of video images and data has been provided for residents of Panchkula also, the telecom department said today.

A new OCB exchange has been commissioned that will allow transfer of data at a fast rate. This will help in the present-day advanced technological needs in the business besides being of help to doctors and professors. Banks can also use the ISDN for transferring data to various parts of the country and abroad . Applications can be given to the Commercial Officer (Value Added Services) in Sector 8 here.

ISKCON followers organise path
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 27 — The week-long Srimad Bhagvatam path organised by the local body of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) at Hare Krishna Dham, Sector 36-B, concluded last night. Thousands of devotees thronged the temple during this period, according to Bhakti Vinod Dasa Prabhu, President of the local body of ISKCON.

A play was presented on the pasttime of the Lord by the children of devotees and thereafter prasadam was distributed.

ISKCON will celebrate Krishna Janamasthami on September 3. The following is the nagar kirtan procession schedule: On Aug 28: from Sanatan Dharam Mandir, Sector 15-B (5.45 a.m.); Aug 29: Panchkula township, Sector 5 (6 a.m.); Aug 30: Gaudia Math, Sector 20 (5.45 a.m.); Aug 31: Terraced Garden,Sector 33(5.45 a.m.); Sept 1: Sector 40-C market (5.45 a.m.); and Sept 2: Sector 22-C (5.45 a.m.).

Sharma's assurance to ex-servicemen
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 27 — The BJP candidate for the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat, Mr Krishan Lal Sharma, said here today that the would make every effort to get the one-pension-one-rank scheme implemented, besides getting housing bylaws simplified. He was addressing an election rally in Ward 17. Among others who addressed the rally were area councillor Ranjana Shahi and city BJP President Dharam Paul Gupta.

Dr Anwar Ali, convener of the Minority Cell of the BJP, organised a special meeting at the Sector 29 Dargah Sakhi Sarwar where, among others, Mr Satya Pal Jain, Mr Gurpartap Singh Riar, Mr Kewal Krishan Addiwal and Mr Dharam Paul Gupta, addressed the rally. Mr Jain said that the BJP was demanding votes on the basis of its performance.

Mr Sharma was weighed against coins in the Industrial Area, Phase II, and also in the Sector 35-D market. Prabhat pheris were taken out in Sectors 35, 43 and 44.