& V I C I N I T Y
Wednesday, March 24, 1999
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C H A N D I G A R H & V I C I N I T Y |
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Wednesday, March 24, 1999 |
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Operated tiger back in enclosure CHANDIGARH, March 23 — Bittu, a three-year-old tiger, who underwent an abdominal hernia operation at Chhat Bir Zoo last month, was released in its enclosure yesterday. A Tamil
film with Punjabi flavour Book
on blood donation released Brave
attitude was her hallmark
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BJP-SAD leaders held Roma
artistes for Khalsa celebrations Debate
on ‘outside’ tutors’ services 21
get artificial limbs ‘Involve
senior citizens’ in public health system Demand
to pass women’s Bill |
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Ex-DC held
guilty of irregularities CHANDIGARH, March 23 — A former Deputy Commissioner of Chandigarh, Mr K.K. Khandelwal, has been held guilty of diverting employees of various departments under his control to his personal staff, making appointments in violation of procedures laid down in the Prisons Department and spending more than Rs 1 crore on the furnishing of his office and residence. A vigilance inquiry was ordered by the Administrator of Chandigarh, Lieut-Gen BKN Chhibber (retd), in September last year on the basis of a large number of complaints about alleged irregularities in the office of the Deputy Commisssioner-cum-Estate Officer. The inquiry report held that Mr K.K. Khandelwal had 46 persons, including 16 peons, five drivers, besides clerks, stenographers and assistants on his personal staff. Besides, there was no available record of 16 persons appointed by him in the Department of Prisons. The department has neither any record of their appointment letters nor their addresses. They used to draw their monthly salaries on the basis of their name figuring on the muster roll of the Department of Prisons. There were no representations, protests or any resistance from any one of them after their services were terminated soon after the repatriation of Mr K.K. Khandelwal to his parent state of Haryana. The vigilance report held that no one in the Jail Department, including the Jail Superintendent, had ever seen any of these 16 persons. The only thing available on record was their names. The inquiry held that though there was staff shortage in departments under the administrative control of the Deputy Commissioner-cum-Estate Officer, he shifted employees from Estate Office, Municipal Corporation, Prisons, Marketing Committee, Fire Services, Civil Defence, Home Guards and Cooperative to his personal staff. Not only that, even vehicles were provided to stenographers, assistants, private secretary and others in violation of norms. After reversion of Mr Khandelwal, at least five members of his personal staff were reverted to their parent departments in Haryana. Some, who were temporarily employed in violation of the recruitment rules, had their services terminated. The inquiry also reportedly held that funds from various departments, including Rural Development, Cooperatives, UT Red Cross and Pollution Control Board were diverted and used to make purchases of fancy office equipment, including peripherals, computer accessories, software, printers and other equipment. For example, a laptop worth Rs 80,000 was purchased from the funds of the Pollution Control Board. Similarly, funds of UT Red Cross were used for installation of close circuit TV sets at the Estate Office. Red Cross funds were also used for buying vehicles for which there were no drivers. Similarly, attendance punching machines were purchased from Red Cross funds but no punching cards were prepared for the employees. As a result, the machines purchased at cost of Rs 75,000 each have been lying in the stores. A lamination machine purchased was given to a private contractor. On verbal orders, the Regional Computer Centre supplied software and other equipment worth Rs 8 lakh. In the absence of any administrative sanction or written order, the payment has been held up, the inquiry said. The inquiry also held that several fancy office gadgets purchased during the tenure of Mr Khandelwal were not available with the Estate Office or the Department concerned. Funds of the Panchayat Samiti were used to buy furniture than being spent on development in rural areas. The inquiry also held that during the tenure of Mr Khandelwal, 30 vehicles valued at Rs 70 lakh were purchased. Nearly Rs 2 lakh was spent on a personal telephone system that worked between the residence and office of the Deputy Commis-sioner. Of 90 chairs procured from the Central Jail, Burail, only 15 were available in the store. The carpets and curtains worth Rs 7 lakh were purchased. The inquiry committee also pointed out that in spite of full security provided to the Estate Office and Estate Officer besides other officers, six men of a private security agency were deployed at the Estate Office without any written order. These private security guards who worked for several months, also could not be paid anything as there was no document to support their appointment or contract with the Estate Office. The inquiry also held that some of the costly equipment with high maintenance cost was never put to use after procurement. In some cases, purchase committees were constituted even after supplies had been received to get post-sanctions for the purchases already made. Sources in the
Administration said that the Administration was
considering the report before initiating any action on
it. A physical verification of all purchases made and
their availability in the Estate Office, Marketing Board,
Cooperatives and other Departments have already been
made. The verification reports also show several
discrepancies, the report added.
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‘Errors’
in CBSE maths paper CHANDIGARH, March 23 — A lot of students who appeared in the Class X mathematics paper of the CBSE on March 20 in the city have alleged errors in question numbers 7, 22 and 24. The parents of these students have demanded grace marks for the questions. The Regional Officer-cum-Joint Secretary, CBSE, Mr Y.P Katyal when contacted said the board had adopted a new policy to look into the mistakes in question papers, if any. Giving details, he said Principals of all schools under the purview of the Regional Office had been directed to send all such complaints to the head examiner concerned, the list of whose names had already been provided to them. They have also been asked to send a photo copy of the same complaint to the Regional Office and the other to the head office. Later, these complaints would be examined at a meeting of the subject experts, including the paper setter at Delhi and the final outcome would be taken into consideration at the time of evaluation. The head examiner of this office would be one of the representatives at the meeting. He, in turn, would instruct all other head examiners in the subject about the revised marking so as to avoid any discrepancy. Heads of few schools in the city have also pointed certain errors in questions 7, 22 and 24. In one of the questions,
the required proof does not yield the desired result,
said a teacher. Mr Katyal said all such complaints from
the city and other outstation areas would be sent to the
head office, where a decision would be taken with regard
to evaluation.
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City girl is
Gladrags Mega Model CHANDIGARH, March 23 — At 19, city girl, Anchal Kumar has seen it all — name, fame and money and more so — after being chosen the Gladrags Mega Model for 1999 at a contest held in Mumbai on March 12. She received her prize from cine star Sharukh Khan at the glittering contest held at the Turf Club. She is also the official model for a clothes store in Mumbai for the entire year. Anchal is elated at her success at the contest, while Mrs Sharan S Kumar, who has taken her daughter’s success in her stride without creating any noise about it, says she was never in favour of Anchal taking to the glamour world though Anchal’s father prodded his daughter to indulge in her favourite pastime of looking gorgeous. After her husband’s phone call from Mumbai at 2 a.m., informing her of Anchal’s success at the contest, Mrs Kumar had a good night’s sleep and it was business as usual at her boutique. “It is allright she has won. Even if she hadn’t there would have been many such opportunities and may be, better ones,’’ she opines philosophically. Anchal is a blend of beauty and brain and she has certificates to prove her academic credentials and excellence. Among the toppers in her school, she began with Vivek High School, Sector 9, and went on to join St Stephen’s in Sector 45, she secured about 90 per cent marks in her plus two examination. She is now in her second year of graduation at Miti Bhai College in Mumbai where she has been rubbing shoulders with the likes of Raveena Tandon and Karishma Kapoor, her mother adds. Mumbai has become a home away from home for this pretty lass who has been residing in the city for the past three years to pursue “serious modelling’’. She tried her hand at acting when she was chosen for training at ABCL right after her class X examinations and has three music albums to her credit. These are “Yaaden’’, “Mitran Da Saah Rukda’’ and “Tu hi meri Chahat’’. Besides, she has a number of advertisement campaigns under her belt, the latest being those of Sunsilk shampoo and Hero Ranger, a bicycle. Her mother says: “Producers in Bollywood are beginning to take notice of her and one or two have even offered her roles in films. It won’t be long before she gets a break in movies. I am happy for her even though I wish she had treaded the line she had first chosen — to become an IAS officer.’’ A brilliant student who
has learnt to glide gracefully on the ramp and strut like
a peacock, Anchal began her modeling career, featuring in
an advertisement of face tissues, at the age of 17. She
has come a long way since then and will be on the plane
to Los Angles on March 29 to represent Glad Rags in three
international contests.
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Reservation at PGI: special meeting
convened CHANDIGARH, March 23 — The issue of reservation against faculty posts at the PGI has reared its head once again. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Association of PGI employees has petitioned the Union Health Ministry seeking major modifications in the advertisement inviting applications to fill nearly 140 faculty posts at the institute. A special meeting of the governing body of the PGI, headed by the Union Health Minister, Mr Dalit Ezhilmalai, has been convened to discuss the petition of the association, sources in the Union Health Ministry pointed out . The meeting is likely to take place in the first week of April. This new development will delay the process of filling the posts once again. The selection committee that interviews and appoints faculty members had just been formed on March 16. Now after the special governing body meeting, any decision that is seen by the general category candidates as “unfavourable “ will result in another long winding litigation, said a source. A long winding litigation on the same issue had ended in April last when the Supreme Court had said that there would be no reservation on single cadre posts at the PGI. The PGI authorities, before advertising the posts, had sought the opinion of the Department of Personnel, Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), to interpret the judgement of the Supreme Court. An advertisement was inserted in leading newspapers across the country after the Department of Personnel sent its interpretation. The department also sent a rota system to be followed for reservation against faculty posts. Following the same pattern the PGI advertised the posts on a singular basis. Under this advertisement all posts of professors, additional professor, associate professor and assistant professor were advertised separately for each department. The contention of the general category doctors has been that, say for example a professor in medicine cannot become a professor in surgery, or say, cardiology. Thus these have to be treated as different cadre posts and cannot be clubbed. The SC\ST Association has claimed that posts of professors, additional professors, associate professors and assistant professors, should be considered under separate cadres, respectively. A spokesperson of the association said that the PGI authorities should have made reservation in each of the cadre. For example say a certain number of posts of professors could have been reserved without specifying the department. In case a suitable candidate is not found among the reserved category then the posts can be filled by the candidate under the general category. “We are not asking the PGI to compromise its high academic quality and experience in case of reserved category applicants,” said the association spokesperson. Reservation against faculty posts had been okayed in 1984 by the then governing body of the PGI. For the first time an advertisement, exclusively for reserved category, was issued during the prime ministership of Mr V.P. Singh. Since then the matter has been debated and finally decided by a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in April last year. Now, once again the
special governing body will discuss the issue that has
rocked the PGI all these years. |
Operated
tiger back in enclosure CHANDIGARH, March 23 — Bittu, a three-year-old tiger, who underwent an abdominal hernia operation at Chhat Bir Zoo last month, was released in its enclosure yesterday. Bittu moved about in the
enclosure without any visible signs of limping. The
operation, according to the zoo director had been a
success. Three layers of the week muscles had to be
stiched back during the oeperation conducted by Prof D.C.
dablania of the PAU and Dr Vinod Sharma of Chhat Bir Zoo.
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A Tamil film
with Punjabi flavour SAS NAGAR, March 23 — After Manekpur Sharif, it was time today for Dara Studio, SAS Nagar, to perform every time “lights” and “action”. The set of a marriage scene, the beats of the “dhol”, the “bhangra” dance and even the costumes were definitely all Punjabi, but the song-track blaring out of the loudspeakers was South Indian! On the sets of a Tamil film, being shot in the city, a Shiva Shakti production, except the language the rest was all covered with dollops of Punjabi flavour. “The film is yet untitled. It is a purely emotional-love story in which the heroine is from Punjab, studying in Madras. So we planned to shoot almost 40 per cent of the film in Punjab and Chandigarh”, said V. Gawthaman, the director of the film. Talking about his first directorial debut, and the touch of Punjab in it, Gawthaman, who has worked as an associate director with the likes of E. Ramdass, Balanand and R K Selomani, said, “In Tamil Nadu, Punjabi dances are highly popular. And Punjab for us is Bhagat Singh and Lala Lajpat Rai and also good food and lively culture”. Evidently so, since all South Indian actors on the sets were dressed up in false beards and moustaches, complete with colourful turbans and lungis. The lead star cast of the film is being played by Murali, one of the top-ranking Tamil stars of today and Simran, who was seen in the successful ABCL production “Tere Mere Sapne”, opposite Arshad Warsi. “I am not the top actor of the Tamil film industry, but we are seven or eight of us who are doing lots of films”, said a modest Murali. Having done more that 90 films in his 20-year career, Murali said, while commenting on the difference between the Bombay film industry and the South Indian film industry, “We are very cool. All of us make good money, have made a good name for ourselves, so what more do we want? We like to work everyday from seven in the morning to 10 in the night”. The ‘cool’ attitude was apparent with the whole crew sitting and eating together, and no difference between the hero-heroines and the so-called extras here. On the kind of adulations and public support given to South Indian actors, Murali said, “Tamilians are crazy about film stars, and almost revere them like gods. But then this kind of support keeps away things like mafia from our industry”. When asked about taking the natural course of most South Indian actors ending up as politicians, he said: “I would never be interested in politics. I live in an airconditioned house, own an airconditioned car and earn good money. What would I know about people living on the streets, or the middle class? So I will not be able to justify my getting into politics, and working for the people”. But why are most South Indian stars so stout? Laughingly Murali said: “My kind of colour and physique do very well in our industry. And since most South Indian films are hero-oriented, they are not too fond of chocolatey heroes. But want a ‘man’ on the screen. I have three children in real life and I am still playing the role of a college guy in films”. In the cast is also
Punjabi film star, Yograj Singh, who was awarded the
National Award for Punjabi film “Kacheri”.
Punjabi film actress Neena is also starring in the film.
The film will also be shot in Amritsar.
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Book on
blood donation released CHANDIGARH, March 23 — A book detailing everything about blood donation was released by the Advisor to the UT Administrator, Mr Jagdish Sagar, here today. The book “24 carat Z-gold” has been brought out by the Blood Bank Society, Chandigarh with financial support from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. It carries all information on how frequently blood can be donated, historical reasons for donations etc. All subjects are accompanied by informative illustrations. The idea is to educate the
youth and members of the public about blood donation and
its various aspects, said the Secretary of the Society,
Mrs Saroop Krishen. The data and the book have been
compiled by Mrs Niti Sareen.
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Prizes given
for work in Hindi CHANDIGARH, March 23 — The meeting of the Town Official Language Implementation Committee was held at Kisan Bhavan here today. While presiding over the meeting, Ms Surender Paul Kaur, Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, North Western Region, emphasised that more official work should be done in Hindi. Reports of various central offices were reviewed at the meeting which was attended by representatives of various central government offices, undertakings and corporations. The chief guest also honoured first eight position holders of the Hindi writing competition organised at the town-level. Mr Manish Jain of Semi Conductors Limited, Ms Rajni Devi from the PGI and Mr Sanjay Kumar Singh from the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory were honoured for securing the first, second and third positions, respectively. Mr Vijender Kumar from the ATAT, Ms Mini Mathur from All India Radio, Mr CK Dubey from the Wireless Battalion of the CRPF, Mr Manoj Kumar from the Transport Battalion of the ITBP, Mr Vinod Bhardwaj from the office of the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Mr Piush Bhatt from the Archaeological Survey of India and Ms Sangeeta Garg from the CSIO were honoured for getting the consolation prizes. Prizes were also given to the heads of those offices where maximum work was done in Hindi during 1997-98. While Mr AS Chhina, Commandant of the Transport Battalion of the ITBP was given the first prize, Mr MP Singh, Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, was awarded the second prize. Ms Mahua Chatterjee, AG, Haryana was given the third prize. Mr Satinder Singh, Joint Director of the Intelligence Bureau, and Mr Balram, Deputy Director of the Labour Bureau, got the consolation prizes. In the boards, undertakings and corporations category, Mr IC Sharma, Special Secretary, BBMB, and Mr Anil Khurana, Chief Regional Director of HP, were awarded the first and the second prizes, respectively. While Mr BC Bhardwaj, Regional Director of the ESIC, was given the third prize, Mr PS Saini, Regional Director of the NTC, was given the consolation prize. Similarly, in the
training, research and production offices category, Mr DK
Bhagat, General Manager of the Ordnance Cable Factory,
was honoured with the first prize. Mr BS Sethi, Director
of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory and Mr S
Mohan, Director of the CSIO, got the second and third
prizes, respectively. |
Brave
attitude was her hallmark CHANDIGARH, March 23 — One of the brave spirits whose name has recently been engraved on the scroll of the famous is that of Shaifali Choudhary, the first woman chopper pilot of the Indian Air Force. She lost her life while trying to save her colleagues from drowning in the Brahmaputra on March 24 in 1996. Her third death anniversary falls tommorrow. She was honoured with the Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak posthumously by the President of India for her valiant effort. Shaifali struggled current and violent wave threatening to overpower her courageous and saved her colleagues. An exhausted Shaifali, with little stamina to save her life, was swept away by a strong current when she was only five feet from the shore. Bravery and a magnanimous attitude were her hallmark, evident from an incident her father, Mr Virender Singh, narrates “Owing to bad weather, ailing defence personnel at the border picket could not be airlifted by two helicopters which made persistent efforts. Shaifali volunteered her services and managed to airlift them to a hospital in her `Chetak’, helicopter.’’ A student of Government College for Girls, Sector 11, she had admitted in a letter to her elder sister, Seema,``When I was in college, I was no extra-ordinary student and did not know what career I would settle in. All I knew was that I would have to do something to prove a lot to the world.’’ The college principal, Mrs Vijay Lakshmi, says,``We at GCG see her as one of our best students we sent out into the world. We hope the college and the world gets more persons like her.’’ Being a philanthropist, she had pledged her entire body after death for the welfare of humanity. In her poem ``Bed Of Life’’ penned early in life and also the lead contribution in Sagini ‘96, an air-force journal, she speaks of her desire to give away her eyes, limbs, organs and even the last drop of her blood to save a precious life. She wished her ashes be scattered ``to the winds to help flowers grow.’’ She ends the poem with the lines, ``If by chance you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word for someone who needs you.’’ Her family regrets that they could not fulfil her wish to donate parts of her body. They said ``it was all forgotten in our hour of grief and it was too late when her body arrived from Tezpur”. Her father has written to the President to seek a pledge from all serving defence personnel to donate organs. Her memory lives on at the sleepy Lodana village in Buland district of Uttar Pradesh. Shaifali, to build up her strength for the training that would follow once she joined the forces, would plough the field. Her samadhi has been made at her native village and a memorial is also proposed at the place. Meanwhile, the villagers
observe her birth and death anniversary every year with a
fair and women of the village sing songs in her praise. |
9 BJP-SAD
leaders held CHANDIGARH, March 23 — The police today arrested nine leaders of the BJP-SAD alliance for obstructing the general public from meeting the Adviser to the UT Administrator, Mr Jagdish Sagar, during the visitors’ hour and staging dharna outside his office and creating hindrance in the official working by raising slogans. According to information, a delegation of the alliance went to the office of the Adviser to apprise him of the working of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) in “violation” of the Act. The agitators reportedly wanted the Adviser to immediately intervene, alleging the committees of the corporation had been recast against the provisions of the Act. The Adviser assured them that he would look into the matter but told them firmly that no intervention could be made immediately in the face of an agitation. Not satisfied with the Adviser’s assurance, the agitators — Mr D.P. Gupta, BJP president, Mr Gurpartap Singh Riar, SAD president, Mr Parbh Dyal, a BJP worker, Mr Des Raj, Ms Ranjana Shahi, Ms Harjinder Kaur, Mr Rajinder Kumar, Mr Mohinder Singh and Mr Gian Chand Gupta, all councillors — had an argument with Mr Sagar following which they sit in dharna outside the office of Mr Sagar and raised slogans against the administration. Efforts by guards of the Adviser to evict them failed and more police force and senior police officials, including Mr C.S.R. Reddy, reached the spot and the nine were arrested. A case under Section 341/34 of the IPC has been registered against them. They were produced before the magistrate in the evening where they refused to be let off on bail and were remanded to judicial custody till April 3. Meanwhile, two lady councillors alleged that they were “manhandled” by the male security guards of the Adviser. It was only on their requests that the magistrate ordered their medical examination which was conducted at the Government Hospital, Sector 16, they alleged. The medical examination of Mr Rajinder Kumar was also conducted. Mr Riar and Mr Gupta alleged that the Administration was playing a partisan role and allowing the civic body to function in an “illegal manner”. They demanded the removal of Mr Sagar for his alleged partisan role in letting the civic body function in “violation” of the Act. Meanwhile, the Congress councillors — Mr Sunita, Mr Raj Kumar Goyal and Ms Kamlesh — while condemning the behaviour of the alliance councillors, alleged that it was due to frustration that the alliance was resorting to such a behaviour. It is learnt that the BJP
would launch an agitation from tomorrow on the issue. |
Roma
artistes for Khalsa celebrations CHANDIGARH, March 23 — On the occasion of the Khalsa tercentenary celebrations, the Indian Institute of Romani Studies will organise a dance and music concert by Roma artistes on April 11. This was revealed at a press conference at Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, today by Dr W R Rishi, a scholar-diplomat who set up the institute at Panjab University, Chandigarh in 1973. Dr Rishi, a diplomat who has worked in the Indian Embassy at Moscow, and the Indian High Commissions at Singapore and London, and a Padmashri awardee, today talked about the Romas, known as Gypsies of Europe, largely settled in eastern Europe, and known to be the descendent of the Rajputs and jats of North India. “Do not call them Gypsies”, said Dr Rishi, who explained that though the Romas left India about a thousand years ago and were also forced to live non-sedentary lifestyle, they still “hate to be called Gypsies”. Later a tour of the Nehru Romano Kher, the Nehru Roma House and Museum, on the school premises was also undertaken. The three-room library-cum-museum has a collection of some rare Roma books, journals and photographs. One of the rooms has been dedicated to St Sarah, who, according to Dr Rishi, is Goddess Durga and Goddess Kali. Pictures on the wall depicted how in the month of May every year, Romas get together for a fair to pay homages to their goddess, and later immerse her in flowing waters. Dr Rishi, who is also the author of a multilingual Romani dictionary, also disclosed that the Romani language “can be called a dialect of the Punjabi language”. This year, at the concert, world renowned Raya and her troupe, along with Iris Brikley, the famous exponent in Spanish Flamenco dance from Germany, would perform at the open-air theatre of the Shivalik Public School complex, Sector 41. The first and second
International Roma Festivals were held at Chandigarh in
1976 and 1983, respectively. |
Debate on
‘outside’ tutors’ services CHANDIGARH, March 23 — Can the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of a government school engage the services of another teacher of a government school to conduct tuition classes outside school hours? The issue has been raised by students, parents and teachers of a government model school here where they said that the services of a teacher from outside were requisitioned to conduct “special tuition classes” for more than a month before the start of annual examination this year. The Principal of the school, Mrs Surinder Duggal, justifies the conduct of “special tuition classes in economics” on the plea that the result of the plus one class in September and December examination was “very poor”. The parents, feeling concerned, raised the issue at the PTA meeting where it was decided to engage the services of a teacher from Sector 40 government school to conduct classes before school hours. The parents were asked to pay a nominal fee to the teacher concerned. Some students and parents, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that they had no choice but to attend the special classes. Some of them maintained that it was not only in economics but some other subjects also where teachers of the school were engaged in tuition business. Another teacher, they alleged, has been holding special classes in English. The normal rate for such special classes is Rs 100 per child per month. Some parents and students say that conduct of such special classes is without the sanction of the department as the service rules did not permit a teacher to run tuition classes. A lecturer in a government school said that “if this practice of paid tuitions in a school of an awarded Principal is to be allowed, let the authorities privatise and commercialise the schools. What is the need of burdening the state exchequer by paying hefty salaries to teachers for the actual work which is to be done by an outside tutor inside the school premises,” she said. Some students maintained that because of the paid special classes, even the class in charge was changed. They claim that unless the school and classroom has proper atmosphere, such extra classes cannot work magic. The students and parents
wanted that there should be a uniform system and
authorities should have same rule for all. |
Shop told
to compensate client CHANDIGARH, March 23 — Defective knitting of a silk cloth has cost a cloth dealer dear before a consumer court.. Mrs Sunita Khullar, in her complaint against M/s Bangalore Silk and Saree, Sector 17, had said that she had purchased two silk suits from the shop on February 27, 1997. The suits were got stitched from a tailor in Sector 34 after paying the required stitching charges. She alleged that one of the suits was found to be defective after it had been worn only twice. The thread knitted in the cloth forming the design had started giving way. When the defect was brought to the notice of the shopkeeper, he refused to replace the suit. Even a legal notice in this regard brought no response. After the issuance of notice, the shopkeeper failed to appear before the forum and it was therefore proceeded exparte. During the course of the proceedings, the defective suit was produced before the forum and on its examination, the allegation of the complainant about the defect in the cloth was found true. The forum also observed that the suit looked to be almost new. The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum -II, comprising president Mr R.P. Bajaj, and members Mr H.S. Walia and Mrs Kamlesh Gupta,therefore held it to be “a clear case of sale of defective cloth by the shopkeeper.” They directed the shopkeeper to refund a sum of Rs 650 as the cost of the cloth plus 50 per cent of the stitching charges i.e Rs 175, besides the cost of the case which is assessed as Rs 250. Refund for car In a complaint regarding non-refund of booking amount of a Cielo car, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-II has directed the dealers and the manufacturers to refund the amount along with interest and costs. The complainant, Mr K.S. Randhawa in his complaint had contended that M/s DC Daewoo Motor India Ltd and its dealers M/s Saluja Automobiles were delaying the refund of the booking amount of Rs 31794. The complainant also placed on record a letter from the financier to the company where it was stated that it had no objection to refund the booking amount to the complainant. The forum, therefore, held
“the opposite parties guilty of deficiency in
service in not having refunded the amount within
time.” Besides ordering the refund of Rs 31794 along
with interest stipulated in the agreement, from the date
the complainant deposited the amount, the forum also
imposed costs of Rs 1500, including compensation. |
21 get
artificial limbs ZIRAKPUR, March 23 — As many as 21 physically disabled persons were provided artificial limbs under the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes Component Plan, introduced by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), at the Nevedac Prosthetic Centre (NPC) here today. The 21 handicapped beneficiaries include four women. Out of these, some have lost both their legs, some both arms and a few one limb each. The corporation is spending about Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 on each of the beneficiaries to provide them artificial limbs like legs, feet, arms and hands . Equipment such as tricycles, wheel-chairs, electronic hearing machines etc were also provided to the disabled. Mr Ajit Singh, Senior Regional Manager, HPCL, said that under the component plan, HPCL is running various schemes such as employment generation, health, education provision of drinking water and sanitation for the welfare of the weaker sections in a number of villages adopted by the HPCL all over the country. On this occasion, the Managing Director of Nevedac Prosthetic Centre, appreciated the efforts of HPCL to rehabilitate the disabled. Mr Krishan Kumar, Senior P
and A Officer, and Mr Ashit Bhatia, Manager of the HPCL,
Chandigarh, were also present at the function. |
‘Involve senior citizens’ in
public health system CHANDIGARH, March 23 — Besides much else, Chandigarh is also an unexplored repository of talent, expertise and experienced administrators and academicians coming from diverse disciplines These are the persons, who after retirement, have settled here. No effort seems to have been made ever either by the Union Territory Administration or the political executive and bureaucrats of the two states, Punjab and Haryana, to tap this source with rich experience and make use of this “reference” humans to gain a better and promising future. Some of them, of their own, have formed informal social nets. Several others are wont to do but have resource constraints. The concept of non-government organisations has also grown roots. But most of NGOs still look up to the government for material support. It is high time both sides, the available “bazurgs” (old hands) and the “bureaucrats” joined hands to supplement mutual efforts to make for the present generation a secure, healthy and meaningful future. There are any number of options available—what can be done, where, by whom and how. It is in this context one has to see the existence of the Regional Institute of Public Health (RIPH) which was operationalised in May, 1995, by a 24- member governing body. This comprised representatives of four institutions — Punjab University, Punjab Agricultural University, Post-graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, and the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare. Associated with it were the two states (Punjab and Haryana) government and, of course, the Chandigarh Administration. Professionals drawn from such subjects as epidemiology, nutrition, women and child health, demography, communication science, law education, development administration, social work, health economics are all there working for a better tomorrow. Operating from rented accommodation in Sector 16, the RIPH has an annual budget of Rs 6 lakh, made available, by a benevolent donor. The focus of activity of this institute is “health systems research” with a multi-disciplinary participatory approach to deal with health problems in a cost-effective manner. The moving spirit behind this venture is Dr Satnam Singh, a trained resource person in public health from the University of California, School of Hygience and Public Health, Berkely, USA. He has served the World Health Organisation from 1962 to 1983. His last posting was as Director, Development of Comprehensive Health Services in South-East Asia regional office of WHO in New Delhi. Facing odds, and working tirelessly to tie up with the bureaucrats and political executive, in Chandigarh, New Delhi and elsewhere, it transpires that the RIPH has a blueprint of what it intends to achieve but is restrained by paucity of money and lukewarm responses. The RIPH had its second general body meeting in Chandigarh on March, 20. It was held after a gap of over three-and-a-half years. The report of Dr Satnam Singh provides a peep into the institute’s “activities and problems” and how even promised action never took off the ground despite the pros and cons discussed at lenght at different levels. The institute may not have achieved the “success” it had hoped for in the five chosen fields: solid waste management, nutrition, school health, road safety and containment of substance abuse. But insight gained will make anybody sit up, pause and think. The reference to “interaction” with the authorities and powers that be in the report makes a depressing reading. Remember (old timers will do so) in 80s, when Chandigarh did not have a civic body, there was an organisation called: “Federation of Sector Social Welfare Association”, which over a period of time has withered away and the municipal corporation having taken over most of the functions has replaced it. It is still finding its own feet. The institute’s interaction in integrated child development schemes or in the field of nutrition etc only shows how there are dark patches of poverty insensitiveness ignorance in this island of plenty and prosperity. Just one example will do to show how much the institute is concerned and how little people know of what is happening in their own families: the Directorate of Health Services in Chandigarh has a school health unit, which is invariably considered a “punishment” post by doctors deputed there. This wing, the institute observed, virtually worked in a vacuum, isolated from the rest of the health wing. The only activity recorded being the number of schools visited for “clinical” examination and treatment and if referral was needed the guardian of the child would be informed. It was observed, says Dr Satnam Singh, “nearly two lakh under privileged population suffered from severe anemia, infestation with intestinal worms, stunted growth, pulmonary tuberculosis, and scabies”. Why can not there be a meaningful involvement of parents, teachers and local health system in school health services. Sure, Chandigarh like other places, has rotaries and lions and the like. But grassroot organisations, identifying with the people, are few. Therefore, Chandigarh needs an “inter-sectoral policy review” involving the government and the ones who were once in the government (even private) service, who are willing to devote time and attention. Such people, if organised and inspired, will do things voluntarily without expecting financial returns. Road safety has been another area of interest to the institute. Its efforts at conducting “epidemiological research” around accident sites has not met with success for lack of response from proper places. Even the first multi-disciplinary group constituted in June, 1996, with Inspector-general of Police, Chandigarh as Chairperson has folded-up and instead we have the once again bureaucracy dominated UT Safety Council. The Chandigarh Administrator has recently written to Punjab Chief Minister to find ways to fund the RIPH. Even the WHO Regional Director, Dr Uton Muchtar Rafei, wrote to Punjab Chief Minister on January 16 seeking his support, moral and material, for at least two projects: essential drug programme to make available all time good quality medicines at affordable prices at every level of the state health system; and two, strengthening health services in one district by placing a health system research team in staff position, under technical guidance of the RIPH Chandigarh. Dr Satnam Singh is not the
one to give up despite being fed on only promises,. He is
persistent in his objective. Therefore, let Chandigarh
set a new trend, a new path, by involving senior citizens
in social safety nets rather than just celebrating the
“idea” of Chandigarh as an extravaganza or
allowing “elders”to be playmates of grand
children or play golf. |
Demand to
pass women’s Bill CHANDIGARH, March 23 — The Punjab Istri Sabha, in collaboration with the Red Cross Society, Punjab, today held the culmination meeting of the celebrations of International Women’s Day, at Red Cross Bhavan, Sector 16. The meeting, which was attended by women panches and sarpanches of UT villages, began with a condolence resolution and a two minute silence for Mrs Champa Mangat Rai. On the occasion, which was punctuated by songs and dances, several resolutions were passed. The six resolutions passed today included a resolution by Sheila Didi, President, Punjab Istri Sabha, Chandigarh unit, demanding that the Bill giving one-third representation to women in Parliament and Legislative Assemblies should be passed in the present session of the Parliament. In her inaugural speech, Mrs Oshima Raikhy, President, Punjab Istri Sabha, highlighted the gains accomplished by women through prolonged struggles. Mrs Balbir Kaur Dhanwant
was the guest of honour of the day.
|
CHANDIGARH, March 23 — A former Senior Deputy Mayor, Mr Prem Sagar Jain, was elected Chairman of the House Tax Assessment Committee of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC), election for which was held today. The election of Mr Jain was unanimous with the SAD-BJP alliance boycotting the election. The Senior Deputy Mayor, Mr Kanhya Lal Sharma, was elected Deputy Chairman. Ms Shanta Abhilashi of the BJP did not take part in the meeting. Mr O.P. Goyal of the BJP was elected Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee and Mr R.S. Kailey Deputy Chairman. Mr Des Raj Tandon of the BJP stayed away from the meeting. While Maj-Gen Rajinder Nath (retd) will be Chairman of the Arts, Culture and Sports Committee, Mrs Saudamini Bambah will be the Deputy Chairperson. Ms Abhilashi and Mr Gian Chand Gupta did not attend the meeting. With the election to six of the nine committee over it is now clear that the councillors of the ruling group and nominated councillors, who had been elected chairmen and deputy chairmen of majority of committees, would be calling the shots. The elections to the
chairmen and deputy chairmen of the three committees
— the Water Supply and Sewerage Disposal Committee,
the Electricity Committee and the Apni Mandi Committee
— are slated to be held tomorrow. |
CHANDIGARH, March 23 — An employee of the UT Engineering Department, Dhir Singh, and his wife have been booked for presenting forged documents to claim service benefits of Dhir Singh’s dead brother. Gajjan Singh, a brother of Dhir Singh, had died in a road accident a few months ago. He was unmarried. Dhir Singh and wife, Manjeet Kaur, hit upon a plan. Manjeet allegedly presented herself as Gajjan Singh’s wife while their children were presented as Gajjan Singh’s children before the authorities. The couple then managed to take a few lakh rupees as service benefits of the deceased, besides pension benefits, among other things. Mr Rattan Singh, a resident of Badheri village, lodged a complaint. The Economic Offences Wing of the Chandigarh police investigated the matter and registered a case under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120—B of the IPC. Forged permit A man was nabbed while running a commercial vehicle on a forged permit. Avtar Singh, owner of the vehicle (CH-01-A-3435) allegedly produced a forged permit during a checking carried out by the traffic police and the transport authorities. A case under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120—B of the IPC was registered. Car stolen A Maruti car ( CH-01-W-5977) owned by Mr K.K. Gaur of Sector 45 was stolen from his residence. A few days ago similar attempts to steal at least two cars from the same locality were reported. Woman injured A woman, Sudesh Kumari, of Sector 40, was injured when her scooter collided with a cycle in Sector 38. Meanwhile, in a separate incident a resident of Mauli Jagran village, Harchand Singh, was nabbed while carrying 12 bottles of whisky. ZIRAKPUR Theft in gurdwara Unidentified persons broke into the gurdwara at Bartana and took away the donation box and some other articles on Monday night. The donation box reportedly contained about Rs 12,000. The box was later found in broken condition in a garden near the gurdwara building. This is the second theft in the same shrine in 10 days. Earlier a donation box, two amplifiers and some articles were stolen. The Lohgarh police has not registered any case so far. DERA BASSI Car theft A Maruti car
(CH-01-E-5215) has been reportedly stolen from the house
of Mrs Meenakshi Sharma. The complainant is a resident of
Adarsh Nagar, Dera Bassi. The police has registered a
case in this connection. |
‘Check
unbridled competition’ CHANDIGARH, March 23 — At a two-day national seminar on “Swadeshi today” organised by University Business School, Mr R.K. Garg, Chairman, Steel Strips Industries, while presiding over the seminar, here today opposed the unbridled internal and external competition which was leading to wastage of resources and resulted in depletion of resources. Emphasising that the country was still not ready for a fully “swadeshi” framework, he said that the need was to build it up gradually after overcoming various bottlenecks the industry had to incur while dealing with the government. He was also in favour of an amendment to labour laws to suit the production system. Prof Ashok Mathur from JNU, New Delhi, focused on the four phases of the evolution of the concept of “swadeshi”. It began with Gandhiji’s contribution and the economic basis laid down in the philosophy of Gopal Krishan Gokhle, want on to the planned development and then onto the Narsimha Rao regime of liberalisation with “swadeshi eclipse” and ends with the BJP’s liberalisation with a swadeshi face. The Dean University Instruction, Prof I.B.S. Passi, while inaugurating the seminar, highlighted the role of the government in pursuing the developmental process. Prof B.B. Tandon introduced the theme and said there should be a playing field for the Indian industry and the national economy. Prof P.P. Arya, convener of the seminar, referred to the objectives of the under-developed countries like India to be achieved in terms of removal of poverty, unemployment and avoidance of concentration of wealth in a few hands. Prof R.P. Gupta, Chairman,
UBS, welcomed the delegates to the seminar during which
42 papers, dealing with the various aspects of swadeshi,
will be presented. |
Homage paid
to martyrs CHANDIGARH, March 23 — Political organisations paid homage to martyrs Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on their death anniversary here today. The New Congress Party observed a two minute silence. The local unit of the Lok
Shakti paid tributes to the trio. The Chandigarh
Territorial Congress observed the martydom day by holding
a function in Sector 45. The local unit of the Samata
Party also organised a meeting. |
Phone
subscribers feel harassed CHANDIGARH, March 23 — Due to the absence of any clerk in the local telephone exchange, the telephone subscribers of this town have to wait for hours in vain to deposit them phone bills. Subscribers have been facing this problem for the past five days. People who come from distant villages have to return without depositing their telephone bills. According to the City
Congress President, Mr Prem Singh, the counter had not
been functioning since March 19. |
Ram Navami
celebrations CHANDIGARH, March 23 — The local unit of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) will celebrate the birth anniversary of Lord Rama on March 25 on its premises, according to the local body President, Thakur Bhakti Vinod Dasa Prabhu. The main attraction of the
programme will be the “abhisheka” of Lord Rama
at 11 a.m. followed by a kirtan, bhajans and aarti.
“Nauka vihar” and a drama on the life of Lord
Rama will be performed by children in the evening. |
Tewari to
visit city today CHANDIGARH, March 23
— The All-India Youth Congress chief, Mr Manish
Tewari, will visit Chandigarh tomorrow. He will be
accompanied by Mr Jagdish Chander, Secretary, Indian
Youth Congress(Northern Region), Mr Chander Mukhi Sharma,
President of the local unit of the Youth Congress
Committee, announced today. |
‘Ladle
Gobind De’staged CHANDIGARH, March 23 — The Punjab Theatre and Film Institute, Mohali, in collaboration with the Department of Cultural Affairs, Punjab, today staged a Punjabi play, ‘Ladle Gobind De’, at the Tagore Theatre. The Institute, which has already staged 11 performances of this play, including three at the same venue, performed the play in connection with the Khalsa tercentenary celebrations. A tribute to Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, the play told the saga of their sacrifice at the young ages of nine and seven years respectively, for the sake of the Khalsa Panth. The play, directed by Jassi Dhaliwal and written by Keshav Bhrata, taught about the Khalsa Panth and its foundation. The music was given by the renowned music director H.M. Singh, and the cast included Gick Grewal, Kuldip Handa, Baljit Bala, Baljit Zakhmi, Rimpy Gill and Keshav Bhrata. ‘Ladle Gobind
De’ will also be staged on March 25 at Fatehgarh
Sahib, the place where both Sahibzadas laid their lives.
Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, Minister for Agriculture of
Punjab, was the chief guest. |
Rs 100
crore exports by 10 units PANCHKULA, March 23 — During the current financial year, goods worth Rs 100 crore have been exported by at least 10 industrial units in the district. Disclosing this, the Deputy Commissioner, Ms Saroj Siwatch, said today that 25 large and medium units and 1536 small units had been set up in the district by the end of February this year. The District Industries Centre (DIC), he said, had a target to establish industrial units for 250 unemployed persons under the Prime Minister Employment Scheme to generate self-employment. Under this scheme, Rs 1.40 lakh had been disbursed among 225 unemployed youths. Besides, the small scale
units established by the DIC were provided Rs 7 lakh as
capital subsidy. A sum of Rs 1 lakh was also sanctioned
as ‘generating set subsidy, for the industrial
units.
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