The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

Marathon effort sees Anil, Pushpa through
Chaos on road as public taken unawares; some runners go without food
By Arvind Katyal

CHANDIGARH, Feb 6 — Anil Kumar of CRPF and Pushpa Devi of CISF won the full and half marathon, respectively, in the First Servo Chandigarh Marathon-2000 here today.

Anil became richer by Rs 1 lakh, while Pushpa pocketed Rs 50,000. As many as 102 male runners took part in the full marathon, covering 42.195 km, spread over Chandigarh, SAS Nagar and Panchkula, while 21 half marathon female runners covered 21 km. These runners had come from all over India.

After winning, Anil (26) was relaxed. He said, "Main teesra ya aur peechhe apne aap ko soch raha tha par jab maine apne aage walon ko peechhe mudkar dekhte dekha, tab number one par aane ka khayal aaya."

Anil (chest number 63) had earlier won the Thiruvananthapuram marathon with a timing of 2 hours, 30 minutes. Today he improved the timing to 2 hours, 27 minutes, 35 seconds. Kumar Bura of Sports Medicine Centre, Pune, (chest number 75) got second place with a timing of 2 hours, 30 minutes, 35 seconds. Jahangir Ali of CRPF, Delhi, was third, with 17 seconds behind Kumar. Edabir Singh of BSF, Delhi, (chest number 46) stood fourth. Padam Singh of BSF Camp, Delhi (chest number 77) came fifth.

In half marathon, Pushpa Devi of CISF, Delhi, (chest number 508) maintained lead of nearly one minute from the nearest runner and had a timing of 1 hour 21 minutes, 2 seconds. Beant Kaur of Government Rajindra College, Bathinda, (chest number 530) closely followed her and finished second with a timing of 1 hour, 22 minutes, 20 seconds.

When asked why she could not win, Beant said it was her maiden marathon. She added that she would love to take part in the full marathon. Satya Shama of Mumbai was third, followed by Sharda Chandel of SAS Nagar. Vidya Deoghare of Nagpur was fifth.

Meanwhile, curtains fell on the one-week 6th National Adventure Festival organised by the National Adventure Club (India). Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister of Haryana, presided over the concluding function. He lauded the significant role of the club in promoting the spirit of adventure.

He also gave away prizes to winners of the full marathon and gave the Bharat Gaurav Puraskar to Dicky Dolma and Magan Bissa for 1999 and 2000, respectively, for their outstanding contribution in the field of mountaineering. The award comprises Rs 11,000 in cash, a silver plaque and a citation. The Adamya Sahas Puraskar was given to Hawaldar Kalam Singh and Baba Maninder Paul. It carries Rs 11,000 in cash, a silver plaque and a citation. Mr Ram S. Verma, President of the club, said the Chandigarh Marathon would be made an annual feature and more events would be added next year.

Winners of 10-km quarter marathon for men were Ram Singh (Chandigarh) 1, Balraj Singh (Chandigarh) 2, Devinder Singh (Khanna) 3, Nihal Singh (CISF) 4, Puran Chand (Chandigarh) 5. Winners of 10-km quarter marathon for women were Sunita (Delhi) 1, Swaranjit (Delhi) 2, Jaswinder (Chandigarh) 3, Swapana (Asansol) 4, Chandrika (Cuttack) 5. Winners of the veteran's race were Tara Singh (Yamunanagar)1, Sunder Lal (Hissar) 2, Ashish Roy (Delhi) 3, Raghubir Singh (Yamunanagar) 4, Hira Lal (Faridabad) 5.

About 9,000 sportspersons participated, including 102 in full marathon, 21 in half marathon, 23 in veteran's marathon, 2,645 in quarter marathon and 6,200 in mini marathon. The marathon, which started from and concluded at the Cricket Stadium here, passed by PCA Stadium in SAS Nagar, Garden of Panchkula, Red Bishop Tourist Complex, Sukhna Lake and Leisure Valley.

The club instituted a running trophy named after Sushil Kumar, President of the Haryana Roller Skating Association and Vice-President of the Roller Skating Federation of India, who died recently. This trophy was awarded to Abhishek for his outstanding contribution in roller skating marathon from Shimla to Chandigarh. About 30 roller skaters from different states participated in this 180-km skating marathon.

The marathons were flagged off by Mr A.N. Mathur, Financial Commissioner and Secretary, Finance, Haryana, Ms Shanta Abhilashi, Mayor of Chandigarh, Mr Milkha Singh, President of the Chandigarh Athletics Association, Mr O.N. Marwaha, Director Marketing, Indian Oil Corporation, Mr Pawan Bansal, MP, and Mr Narender Singh, Executive Director, Indian Oil Corporation. Mr Vishnu Bhagwan, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Haryana, released the souvenir of the 6th National Adventure Festival. Ms Vineeta Rai, Adviser to the Administrator of Chandigarh, released the souvenir of the Chandigarh Marathon.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Vineeta Rai appreciated the efforts being made by the club to promote adventure sport. She offered all possible help of the Administration in future activities of the club.

A colourful cultural programme and parasailing by air devils of the Indian Air Force were other attractions on the concluding day. Members of the air devils team were given mementoes by the Chief Minister. Mementoes were given to leaders of various teams from different parts of the country. Mr Sanjay Kothari, Senior Vice-President, presented a vote of thanks.

Sidelights

The two-foot pillars on the roadside from Transport Chowk to Housing Board Chowk had Rath Marathon written on these, whereas, the marathon was sponsored by Servo.
The moment the full and half marathons began, traffic at various roundabouts became chaotic as people were not much aware of any blockade.
At the intersection of Sectors 20 and 30 near Gurdwara Kalgidhar Sahib, which was the break-away point for full and half marathon, some runners had to cross the road, fearing getting crushed under heavy vehicles, as policemen were unable to coordinate well with each other. At the Transport Chowk traffic lights also, policemen were mute spectators. It appeared they were not properly trained for the moment.
A DSP of the Chandiagrh police, Mr Asa Nand, at the gate of the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium, had a tiff with press photographers when they were trying to take the shots of runners entering the stadium.
Coaches of the UT Sports Department and the Panchkula Sports Department did a fine job at various sponging and other posts.
«Even when runners of full marathon were entering the stadium at the climax their run, the so called VIP gate saw bureaucrats leaving in their official cars, causing hindrance to them.
Some runners of half and full marathons had to go without food, though they were seen carrying coupons with them. The policemen at the inside gates of the stadium did not allow them to reach the snack-stalls across the gate.
The route of the half marathon was changed from Sector 7. Instead of touching Sector 8 via Sector 7, it was diverted towards Government Press on Madhya Marg opposite Sector 18. Even the policemen deputed there got confused as they had been told of a different route-map in the morning.

Results of 121 candidates cancelled for copying
Tribune News Service
SAS NAGAR

Feb 6 — The Punjab School Education Board has cancelled the results of the matric examination of 121 candidates of SLS Government Senior Secondary School, Dharowali, Gurdaspur.

A spokesman of the board said the results had been cancelled following a decision of an enquiry committee that investigated complaints of mass copying.

The board will now conduct a re-examination of the candidates from February 21 to 23 at Government Senior Secondary School, Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdaspur, as per the following schedule February 21 (English); February 22 (maths) and on February 23 (science). The timings of the examinations will be from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

The candidates concerned and the Principal, Government Senior Secondary School, Dharowali, and the Headmaster, Government High School, Udhowal, Gurdaspur, have been informed that any of the candidates. desirous of appearing in the re examination should have to pay a lumpsum fee of Rs 400 and contact the head of Government Senior Secondary School, Dharowali.

Such candiadates will sit for the examination under their previous roll numbers allotted to them. No further chance will be given to the candidates., said the spokesman.

PU to host international students' fest
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 6 — Probably for the first time in Indian history, Panjab University will organise an international students' festival from March 7 to 10.

Hectic activities are on for the tabulation of data for the stay and comfort of foreign visitors at the Students in the New Millennium festival (SINM). More than 450 institutes have been contacted the world over. Nearly all Indian universities in addition to the local colleges have been invited for the cultural festival.

The last date for receipt of entry forms for participation has been extended upto February 15. Earlier, this date was February 7. More than 20 entries from foreign lands have already been received, sources said. About 80 institutions have been contacted at the national level.

Sources said efforts were being made to make arrangements for the stay of foreign visitors in local homes. This would give them an opportunity to have a feel of Indian homes. This would also save university the cost of boarding and lodging arrangements. The stay of Indian students would be arranged in the hostels on the university campus or in local colleges if need be.

A committee including Dr Ashok Sahni, DUI; Dr Deepak Manmohan, Dean College Development; Prof V.K. Bansal, Dean Student Welfare; Dr D.S. Gupt and Mohan Maharishi, met earlier this week.

A local principal offered to arrange for the stay of some visitors in her college. At least 40 student volunteers for the festival arrangements have been chosen from the PU Law Department alone. Students of other departments have also shown willingness to volunteer for these services.

One of the reasons for many foreign teams abstaining from the tour, despite showing interest, could be that the hosts would not pay for their travelling and other expenses, it was said.

A decent response to the festival would open avenues for more foreign visitors next time. Mr Dayal Pratap Singh Randhawa, President of the students' council, who visited Europe past year, gave the detail of the preparations.

The main events include plenary sections and symposia. The important issues shortlisted for the events include Non-violence and World Peace, Human Relations, Public Perception of Science and Technology and Relativity, Culture and Civilisation, besides Health and Human Values.

The cultural events will feature debates, declamations, quiz, poetry and elocution. The event will also feature instrumental and vocal music.

Histrionics and one-act plays is likely to be staged at a venue outside the campus. The fine-arts contests will include rangoli, clay modelling, painting and poster-making.

Special arrangements will be made for excursions after the festival. The shortlisted destinations include Agra, Amritsar, Kullu-Manali and Rajasthan. However, students will have to pay for these trips.

COMMUNITY

Villagers protest against Anandgarh project
Our land is fertile, look for barren area, they say
From Tribune Reporters

MULLANPUR ( Kharar), Feb 6 — Residents of the 28 villages proposed to be acquired under the Anandgarh project today decided to form a Sangharsh Committee to launch an agitation against the project. At least five members from each of the villages would be inducted in the committee to spearhead the agitation.

The announcement was made at a rally organised by the panchayats of various villages in the area and representatives of various opposition parties. Resolving not to accept any amount of compensation to be offered in lieu of the acquisition of their land, the villagers denounced the decision of the Badal Government to develop the new city. An effigy of the Punjab Chief Minister was burnt to register their protest against the project.

A common question posed by the panches, sarpanches and inhabitants of the area was: "What is the logic of displacing over 40,000 people and divesting them of their fertile land?" Mr Jagjiwan Lal, Sarpanch of the Tira gram panchayat, said: "We are getting three to four crops in a year from the land thereby earning enough money to keep our kitchen running".

They demanded that rather than uprooting them, the government should develop the city in an area resolved to fight against the Anandgarh project and urged the political parties to join their struggle but without any selfish motive.

Mr Ravi Inder Singh, an MLA of the area, said Mr Badal had opposed the New Chandigarh project conceived during the Congress regime. But now, since relatives of the Chief Minister and senior functionaries in the government had purchased land in the area, to make profit when "handsome" compensation for the land was announced by the government, Mr Badal had allowed the project, he alleged. He said the new project was against the original plan of the Chandigarh and the Periphery Control Act. Instead of developing the new city the government should develop the satellite towns like Kharar, Kurali, Morinda, Dera Bassi, Lalru, Rajpura. Facilities like better transport, better communication network, and the basic facilities of international standards should be developed in the towns.

Mr Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, President of the Pind Bachao Joint Action Committee, said the committee would meet the Prime Minister if their agitation did not yield any result.

Mr Rajbir Singh, Vice-President of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD), Mr Ujjagar Singh Badali, District President of the SHSAD, Mr Sadhu Singh Toder, member of the SGPC, Mr GSJ Jammu, Mr Lal Bhadhur, Mr Nanak Singh, Mr Gurcharan Singh Hasanpur, Mr Gian Singh Dhillon, Mr Jasmer Singh Dhaliwal, Mr Bachan Singh , Mr Sarup Singh, Mr Ravel Singh and Mr Bant Singh Brar also addressed the gathering.

SAS NAGAR

Members of panchayats of the villages which are proposed to be acquired for the Anandgarh project, blocked the Chandigarh-Mullanpur road yesterday for more than two hours. The villagers, led by the General Secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Congress, Mr Jagmohan Kang, demanded scrapping of the project and raised slogans against the Badal government.

The protesters said the project meant displacing hundreds of residents of the area and taking away their fertile agricultural land. He said most of the villagers had small land holdings.

Later, addressing the villagers, Mr Kang alleged that the Badal government had selfish motives behind developing Anandgarh. He said during the Congress regime when the New Chandigarh project was conceived, he had opposed it, leading to its scrapping in 1995. He claimed that the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had opposed the New Chandigarh project and now he had himself initiated it.

He appealed to the opposition parties to unite under one banner to oppose the project in the interest of the inhabitants of the area. He said he had got at least three irrigation dams at Siswan, Perch and Nadha constructed when he was the Irrigation Minister, at a cost of over Rs 50 crore, would now be rendered useless. He also said over 10,000 acres had become fertile due to these dams.

The project, he said, would benefit a handful of politicians and bureaucrats who had purchased land in the area at low prices. However, the Sarpanch of the Mullanpur Panchayat, Mr Deewan Singh, said the opposition parties were opposing the project only for their vested interests.

Bridge to open for traffic soon
From Our Correspondent

MANAULI SURAT (Dera Bassi), Feb 6 — "The Punjab Government will spend Rs 1.3 crore on giving the finishing touches to a bridge over the Ghaggar, near here, so that it can be opened for vehicular traffic soon," said Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance and Planning Minister of Punjab, while laying the foundation stone of the approaches to the bridge here today.

Linking Banur with Lalru, the bridge has been constructed at a cost of Rs 8.5 crore with joint efforts of the state government and Baba Jagtar Singh Tarantaranwale.

A long-pending demand of the residents of this area has been fulfilled after the coming up of the bridge. The construction of a road linking Banur with Lalru via Manauli Surat will also be completed by the end of June. After the completion of the work on the bridge, more than 80 villages of this area will be benefited. Besides, the distance between Banur and Lalru will get reduced by 22 km. Villagers now have to travel from Banur to Lalru via Zirakpur.

The minister said the Punjab Government would lay the Ambala-Kharar highway and construct the Lalru bypass through Manauli Surat. For this purpose, funds have already been given to the Drainage Department of Punjab.

"To provide sufficient drinking water in the state, Rs 85 crore has been given to the Punjab Public Health Department as there is no financial crisis facing the government now," said Capt Kanwaljit Singh.

Those who addressed the public included Mr Sham Singh, Sarpanch; Mr Sukhdev Singh Changera, Mr Balwant Singh and Mr Santokh Singh, Chairman of the Market Committee of Banur.

Manauli residents seek causeway
From Our Correspondent

MANAULI (SAS Nagar), Feb 6 — The residents of Manauli village have demanded construction of a causeway along the phirni of the village as the sewer flows through the residential area. Residents also have to literally walk through the sewer water to cross the village.

With sewer outlets from Chandigarh and SAS Nagar flowing into the village, residents complain of hardships in the absence of any pucca road to certain parts of the locality situated along the phirni or red line of the village. Villagers living along the red line said that children had to cross the nullah while going to the village school.

The village panchayat said construction of causeways was taken up earlier with the district authorities on several occasions but nothing had been done in this direction.

Mrs Surinder Kaur, sarpanch, said that lack of funds with the local panchayat was the main hindrance to construct a pucca road along the phirni. Villagers living across the nullah faced a lot of hardships particularly after rain. Even after a mild shower, the movement of the villagers was restricted.

The sarpanch further added that a causeway leading to the adjoining Premgarh village had become an accident-prone zone. Villagers said that several fatal accidents had occurred during the past few years.

Abandoning engineering for singing
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 6 — Having abandoned his career in engineering, Charnjit Singh in pursuit of his passion for singing, has come out with an audio cassette, Chhodo zamane ko.

Talking to The Tribune here today, Charnjit revealed that he was a third year student at Guru Nanak Engineering College, Ludhiana, when he decided to quit studies to pursue his love for music. He is an alumnus of YPS School, Patiala.

Charnjit joined the reputed Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Pune and spent another two years learning traditional forms. He said that he did not play with local bands for cheap publicity or 'pocket money'.

A hardcore follower of the Indian classical music, Charnjit is continuing his lessons at Chandigarh.

His cassette, however, carries beats in vogue.

"Music is a way of expressing what I have lived and an effective means of communicating with people," the singer said. The classical background is evident in the way the words are set to tappy music.

CRIME

Shopkeeper robbed, beaten up
From Our Correspondent

ZIRAKPUR, Feb 6 — Three youths allegedly broke into a general store in the Zirakpur market on Saturday night, beat up the shopkeeper and robbed him of Rs 12,000 cash. The victim has been admitted to Civil Hospital, Dera Bassi, with head injuries.

The robbers reportedly removed bricks from the rear wall and entered the store. They approached the front room, saw the shopkeeper, Mr Khairati Lal (52), sleeping adjacent to the cash box, hit him twice on his head with iron rods. He also sustained injuries on his wrists while defending himself.

According to Mr Lal, the robbers, who were in their early twenties and clean shaven, asked him to hand over the cash and keys of the cash box or face the bullets as they had a pistol with them.

"I gave them whatever was in my pocket and then asked them to take the rest from the cash box. As they approached the box, I escaped from the shop by lifting its shutter in and raised the alarm. Meanwhile, the trio fled from behind the shop", said Mr Khairati Lal.

Some autorickshaw owners called the police and tried to chase them, but the robbers disappeared in the dark, he said.

A team of forensic experts was called in and the police recorded the statements of Mr Lal. Blood stains were found on the balance and other items in the store. A case under Sections 458 and 380 of the Indian Penal Code has been registered.

Shopkeepers and residents of the area have demanded the arrest of the culprits and vigilant police patrolling during night in the area to avoid such incidences.

This is the fourth similar incident in this area in four months and the police is clueless about all the incidents, says Mr Sunehari Lal, President of the Market Welfare Association, Zirakpur.

Pedestrian killed in road mishap near SAS Nagar barrier
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 6 — An unidentified pedestrian was killed on the spot when he was hit by a vehicle near the SAS Nagar barrier last night.

A case has been registered.

Liquor seized: The police has arrested four persons and seized a huge quantity of liquor from their possession.

While 32 quarters were seized from Surjit Kumar, a resident of Colony No 5, from near Burail village, 12 bottles were seized from Prem Narain of Burail village from near the Sectors 33 and 45 dividing road.

Similarly, Jeet Singh of Rani Majra village in Ropar, and Jang Singh of Bada Samana village of the same district were arrested when they were taking 24 bottles of liquor on a scooter (CH-01-D-7047) near the Sectors 16 and 17 roundabout.

Cases under the Excise Act have been registered.

Arrested: A resident of Dhrera village in Badayun district of UP, Davinder Singh, was arrested by the police on the charge of pick-pocketing from near Jagat cinema in Sector 17 yesterday. A case has been registered.

Homicide case: The police has registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against Jainti Devi, a resident of Sector 52, for not providing medical aid to her husband, Ramesh, who suffered fits leading to his death. The police has registered the case on the complaint by a son of the deceased, Dalip Singh. A cousin of the woman, Raj Kumar, has also been booked in the case.

According to the police, the wife of the deceased believed in tantriks and was getting him treated for his ailment from a tantrik.

Assaulted: Mr Rajiv Walia, a resident of Phase 1, SAS Nagar, complained to the police that he was going in his Maruti car when his car was hit by a truck near the Modella turn. He alleged that the driver of the truck, Naresh Kumar, and other two persons, Diwan Chand and Suresh, both occupants of the truck, assaulted him. A case under Sections 279, 323 and 34 of the IPC has been registered against the suspects.

Abducted: Rohit Garg, a resident of Sector 40, reported that his daughter had been abducted by Sonu, a resident of Sector 40. A case under Sections 363 and 366 of the IPC has been registered.

SAS NAGAR

Fraud case: Mr S.S. Cheema, a resident Karoran village in Naya Goan, who was allegedly cheated by four persons, in a representation to the Chief Justice of India has lamented that the persons who were dealing in property and cheated him had been involved in at least four more cases of cheating and fraud.

At least two of the cases of cheating and forging documents against the suspects, Devinder Singh and Baj Singh, had been registered by the Chandigarh police. The other suspect, Surinder Nandra, was involved in the cases of cheating registered at SAS Nagar police station.

In the copies of the representation sent to the Director-General of Police, Punjab, and senior functionaries of the government, the complainant has sought a check on the nefarious activities of the suspects.

No action: A depot holder of Phase XI, Mr Sukhdev Singh, has alleged that he was beaten up by Punjab police personnel of the Phase XI police post on the directions of some persons over some property dispute. The depot holder, who got his medical examination done at the Sector 32 Government Medical College and Hospital, has blamed the policemen of pressuring him to withdraw his complaint against them to the senior police officials.

DERA BASSI

Two injured: Two persons were injured when a Maruti car rammed into a scooter and a rehri one after another adjacent to the Ghaggar bridge here on Sunday.

The rehri owner, Mr Vinod Kumar of Mubarikpur, was rushed to the PGI in Chandigarh with serious head injuries, while the scooterist, Mr Rajesh Kumar, was admitted to Civil Hospital here.

According to sources, the car (DL-1C-5441) was being driven by some doctor. While going towards Ambala it rammed into the scooter and the rehri and was stopped by passers-by. A case has been registered against the car driver.

Fined contractor’s tender accepted
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 6 — Due to shortage of safai karamcharis in the Municipal Corporation office of the Medical Officer Health for the past three years, the work of cleaning parts of the city is being given on contract through tenders.

Sources reveal that irregularities in issuing tenders by certain officials, who allegedly have a nexus with some contractors, is causing the corporation losses worth lakhs each year. They disclose that the corporation recovers most of these losses caused by these irregularities by imposing new taxes.

Sources add that the contract has been given to Sharma Associates at the rate of Rs 2,700 per person this year, though some contractors have offered Rs 1,600 to Rs 1,900 per person through their tenders. As a result, the corporation will suffer a loss of Rs 9 lakh this year.

Ms Kamlesh, a councillor, had asked the house at the last meeting to conduct an inquiry into the issue of giving contracts but it was hushed up by BJP councillors through loud protest. Following this, some Congress councillors had boycotted the house.

The Mayor had then clarified that tender with higher wages per worker were passed and not those with lower wages as engaging workers for Rs 1,600 to Rs 1,900 per month amounted to their exploitation as per wage board specifications. But many daily wage workers on tubewells and other projects are getting Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,400 per month.

Mr Satish Gathwal, a former commissioner of the corporation, had earlier imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on Sharma Associates, following complaints by residents of Ram Darbar of the filth in the area and the health danger it posed. The matter was brought to the notice of the house by other councillors and the Health Commissioner. Eyebrows are being raised once again as the same contractor has been offered the contract for this year.

LIC's new loan scheme
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 6 — LIC Housing Finance Limited has announced a "sampurna griha" scheme for the "existing borrowers" to purchase computers, television sets, music systems, airconditioners, washing machines, microwave ovens and furniture.

At a press conference addressed by the Director and Chief Executive of LIC Housing Finance Limited, Mr Kranti Sinha, it was stated that another scheme "apna chikitsalaya" provided loans to medical practitioners for purchasing, constructing, repair, renovation or extension of nursing homes, clinics and diagnostic centres.

The "sampurna griha" scheme, meanwhile, provided loans to fresh borrowers for purchasing furniture and household goods. The schemes was announced to "enlarge its product range to cater to the growing needs of the valued clintale".

Giving details of the company's operations, it was stated that the total number of dwelling units financed from inception of the company till December 31, 1999, was 3,94,929. The amount sanctioned was Rs 1,027.25 crore, while the disbursement was Rs 932.25 crore. The cumulative sanctions up to December 1999 stood at Rs 7,010.22 crore and disbursements at Rs 5,982.19 crore.

It was also stated that the company was catering to varied housing needs of the public by offering financial assistance under the individual schemes, including the ones for the NRIs, for the purchase of houses, flats, plots and sites allotted by the development authorities and government agencies.