The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

Slogans follow V-C’s sudden exit from session
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 26 — A large section of Fellows were left amazed here today as the Vice-Chancellor got up abruptly in the middle of a session, following a decision to take the budget in May.

The proposed amount on the functional areas was adopted in principle. However, the budget would come up for discussion later. Fellows were making their views following an adjournment when the closure of the Senate came. Fellows rushed to the well of the house, asking the Vice-Chancellor to stay back and continue the session.

Dr Ram Prakash pointed out that this was the first time that the budget was being printed twice. This was also the first time that the money demanded under new and additional heads was not accepted. Probably, the preparation also saw a delay in time of about two months for the first time.

One member said the sudden walking out of the VC was not decent. A woman member said members were not giving due regard to the chair. Prof J.S.Yadav said inside the house, the VC cut a sorry figure and seemed to be lacking confidence in facing the house. Dr R.D. Anand said the entire system had collapsed.

Prof Puri, talking to The Tribune later, said all items on the agenda had been discussed. The questions of Fellows, who said their issues were not taken up, had came up only a couple of days ago, he said. The house needed at least a fortnight to check facts, Prof Puri added.

The house witnessed anti-Vice-Chancellor slogans following his exit. Prof Hundal addressed the house, saying the Fellows had not been given due chance to make their points. The questions posed at the beginning of the session, were ensured by the house to be taken at the end.

It was decided that the budget would be taken up subsequently. Dr V.K. Bansal spoke on conditions of salaries of vacant posts in the light of budget estimates. However, Fellows made their remarks about the current proposal. Fellows said they were not accepting or refusing the budget but the grey areas in the current proposal needed to be heard.

Dr Ram Prakash pointed out that the minutes of the Board of Finance were not recorded well. The Finance and Development Officer got up to give the explanation, but the whole item was deferred. The budgetary documents needed a re-arrangement.

Dr Deepak Manmohan said the office should seriously go in for a re-look into the matter. Prof Puri said the budget was an issue too serious to be rushed through or be crushed under. Delay had been due to certain complications. The Board of Finance had to meet twice earlier. A time-bound committee would fit the need .

Dr Prakash also hinted at other areas which needed attention. In one of the construction wings, the expenditure in raw materials was Rs 28 lakh. The same branch spent Rs 4.5 crore on payment of salaries. The press faced a loss of Rs 1 crore yearly. One building cost Rs 1,11,320 on its maintenance annually and another one cost Rs 99,000. Who would explain these facts, he queried.

Dr Prakash said the proceedings were often full of errors. The VC said the proceedings were not pucca records but tentative recordings subject to corrections.

Another issue greatly debated was service conditions of teachers in private colleges. A large number of them got resignation letters along with joining letters. Prof Chawla, Dr Raghuvir Singh, Dr Raghuvir and Dr Mohammad Khalid spoke on the issue. Prof Rabinder Nath, Mr Satish Kumar, Mr Mukesh Arora and Principal H.R. Gandhar also spoke on the issue.

A related issue on conditions of colleges also figured in the discussion. Concern was expressed on flourishing institutes using the name of the university without affiliation. Dr Deepak Manmohan, Dean College Development, said no such affiliation had been given by the university to the extent that these centres were not allowed to be even examination centres.

ICU-management needs intensive care
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 26 — Various steps to improve the intensive-care management by using new techniques of diagnosis and treatment, besides new drugs, were discussed on the concluding day of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Update 2000 at Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, here today.

Emphasis was also laid on the need to create awareness on the role of anaesthesiologist in providing anaesthesia services, intensive care medicine, acute and chronic pain management and emergency resuscitation.

Addressing a session on infections, Dr Anjan Trikha of AIIMS spoke on the management of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Dr Pallab Ray of the PGI talked about the logical use of antibiotics and the management of multiresistant organisms in the ICU. Dr Sanjay D' Cruz of the GMCH-32 discussed the possible risk health-care workers faced of acquiring the HIV infection, besides the prevention and post-exposure prophylaxis in the HIV-infection cases.

In the problems of the intensive-care management, feeding of a patient on respiratory support was discussed by Prof Sunanda Gupta of Udaipur. Dr G.P. Durga of AIIMS told the participants about the fluid management of seriously ill patients in the ICU. Prof Raju Chawla of the University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, explained the concept of monitoring oxygenation in intensive care.

Nearly 250 delegates from various parts of the country attended the programme which had work sessions on trauma, cardiology, nephrology, pulmonology and airway.

Prof V.K. Kak, Director Principal of the GMCH-32 and Secretary of the Medical Education and Research, highlighted the role of the departments of anaesthesia and intensive care in any medical institution. He said difficult surgical procedures were possible due to the advancements in anaesthesia-care. In her inaugural address, Ms Vineeta Rai, Adviser to the UT Administrator, stressed the need for providing anaesthesia and intensive care facilities in peripheral hospitals. She also stressed the need for increasing the number of anaesthesiologists in the country.

Meanwhile, in a session on trauma, Lieut-Col A.R. Gupta of the Command Hospital, talked on the role of monitoring of intracranial pressure in the cases of head-injury patients. Dr V.K. Grover of the PGI spoke on the role of anaesthesiologists in the management of patients with cervical-spine injuries.

Prof P. Chari of the Head of the Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care explained the new concepts of the use of inotropes and vasopressprs in critically ill patients requiring cardiovascular support. Dr Yatin Mehta of ESCORTS narrated his experiences of transesophageal echocardiography and its role in treating critically ill patients.

Dr S. Malhotra of the PGI discussed the ICU-management of patients with chest injuries. Dr T.K. Kaul, Dr Suman Kochhar and Dr P.K. Sinha of the PGI discussed the problems related to sedation, radiography and ventilation in the ICU.

Village ‘linked’ to Harappan era
By Bipin Bhardwaj

CHANDIGARH, March 26 — A small village, Chhat, 15 km from here, has claimed its relationship with the Harappan civilisation.

Ancient artefacts and ruins of building structures dug up throw light on the influence of Harappan civilisation in this part of Punjab.

Sources in the department say the ongoing excavation is in the primary stage and three chambers of ancient structures of the Mughal period have been excavated so far. Besides this, one deep well, meant for supplying water to cool two rooms by a cemented drain, has been uncovered.

The excavation in the village by the Department of Archaeology, Punjab, has not only yielded a number of ancient artefacts and remains of building structures, but will also throw light on the expected influence of the Harappan civilisation in this part of the region.

The findings are archaeologically significant and will help the experts in understanding the civilisation during the early Mughal period (circa 1700).

So far the excavated site spreads on an area of 20x20 feet within Banda Bahadar Singh Gurdwara of the village.

Mr Deepinder Singh Dhillon, a resident, says they stumbled on the ancient structures while levelling the gurdwara’s courtyard 10 years ago. The roof of one of the structures collapsed under a tractor’s weight. Curiosity fuelled the residents in digging the entire area.

Mr Ajaib Singh, president of the gurdwara, was the first man who witnessed the site. The matter was brought to the notice of the Archaeology Department, following which permission was sought from the Archaeological Survey of India for the excavation of the village.

Experts are of the view that the place was used as a retreat, luxurious by the standards of that time, by Mughal emperors during summers. To beat the heat the rooms were cooled by water drawn from the well. The water could also be used by them to take a bath in the privacy of the rooms. The nearly 8x8 feet rooms have arched doorways and there is a fountain in one of the rooms. An ancient couplet inscribed on a stone on the wall is illegible and experts are not sure which era it was written in.

A few ancient pottery articles have also been found. Sarhindi bricks and lime paste were used as mortar to construct the structures. Small shelves have been provided to store articles. The width of the outer walls is nearly 76 cm. But the inner walls of the structures are less thick. All masonry has been done with lime.

This village, situated on the Chandigarh-Patiala National Highway No 64, is about 15 km from Chandigarh. It is the second village, after Sanghol, which figures on the Indian archaeological map.

The structures were found buried at a depth of 10 feet on a hillock in the village and the unsuspecting villagers had built a gurdwara over the present site in the memory of Banda Singh Bahadar, an Army chief of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru of the Sikhs.

The sources say the possibility of a conspiracy being hatched here to liquidate of the Guru could not be ruled out. Following the bricking alive of the two younger sons of the Guru at Sirhind, Guru Gobind Singh directed Banda Singh Bahadar to destroy the place and the Mughals were routed at Sirhind.

According to some elderly residents of the village, legend has it that emperor Mohammad Ghauri had plucked the eyes of Rajput king Prithvi Raj Chauhan at this village. The forefathers of Aurangzeb also used to stay in this area, they add.

Till 1947 this area was a well known centre for making glass bangles. It was predominantly a Muslim area before Partition, say the residents.

Mr Inderjit Singh Sandhu, Director of the Department of Archaeology, Punjab, however, says further excavations can yield structures from the Harappan civilisation. At the preliminary stage, the structures unearthed so far are only 300 years old, he adds.

Rally by Pind Bachao joint action panel
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 26 — The Pind Bachao Joint Action Committee organised a protest rally against the proposal of the Punjab government to develop Anandgarh city in Mullanpur Garibdass here today.

Residents from more than 35 villages participated in the rally. Delegates criticised the move of the state government. While terming the plan as ‘anti- farmer’, they demanded the immediate withdrawal of the idea about the new city. On the occasion bhog ceremony of Akhand Path was also organised.

The committee was against the move to develop New Chandigarh mooted by the Beant Singh government, and was now committed to opposing the Anandgarh proposal.

The committee also passed three other resolutions at the well attended rally. The Pind Bachao Joint Action Committee demanded the establishment of a Notified Area Committee in Naya Gaon, Sohana, and Mullanpur Garibdass on the pattern of Zirakpur. The committee members said that civic bodies were the necessities for the multi dimensional development of the areas.

Farmer leaders were also critical of the Central and state government on the issue of the financial budget. They demanded rolling back of the prices of fertilisers, diesel, petrol, LPG and pesticides.

The present gathering also condoled the Anantnag massacre. They sought appropriate arrangements for the security of the minorities in the valley.

Mr Ravi Inder Singh, MLA from Morinda constituency, Mr Dhian Singh Mand from SAD (Amritsar), and Mr Gurbakash Singh Brar, President of the committee, were among other speakers on the occasion.

CHANDIGARH CALLING

Sea world at Kids Karnival

Don’t regret that you are not near the sea or that we don’t have a good aquarium in Chandigarh. Our kids have not seen the sea plants and animals except having seen them in books. The actual sight of the water world in Chandigarh — is it incredible. To feel, to enjoy and to learn one should be at the Kids Karnival organised by Karsun’s, the organisers of Corporate Gifts show and Beauty & Health show in Delhi. The Aquafresh Underwater Utopia is a unique tunnel entrance that leads to a huge world of water.

The Aquafresh Underwater Utopia showcases greenish, quivering seawater which has wealthy surprises of octopuses, frogs, crocodiles, sea fishes, sea horses and many more species (see picture). When one walks through the passage of aquafresh it gives the feeling of being in the sea, one is covered both the sides with an aquarium-like structure, the blue-green soothing ambience makes one feel relaxed. The visitors keenly observe and admire the beauty of residents of the water world. The sight of blue water and the silvery sand is equally pleasing. Not only is one mystified by the beauty of water-world that one gets to see normally on Discovery Channel but one can show their kids the replicas of water animals and plants. The wish to see these things in reality is like a dream come true when you are at the Kids Karnival in Parade ground which is here till March 26.

The next destination for the Karnail is Ludhiana, where it will be held from March 30 to April 2.

Dangerous stretch: The stretch of road from the roundabout separating Sectors 44 and 43 to the the roundabout near YPS School, SAS Nagar, has become a virtual death trap.

Encroachments on both sides of the road by marble dealers, coupled with dumping of construction material on the one side of road for laying the storm drainage pipe has reduced the width of the road considerably with the result that it had become a driver’s nightmare. And placing of barricades, apparently to slow down the fast moving traffic, has worsened the things.

In the absence of streetlights in the area, this particular stretch has become accident-prone as was evident when two teenaged girls were crushed to death by a fast moving truck recently

Will the authorities, which have been busy widening the lesser important roads turn their attention to this particular road and convert it into a dual carriage-way as has been demanded by the residents since long.

Interactions: The practise of the police holding interactions with the public is a laudable step but some of the resident welfare societies are of the view that in the absence of sector-level committees the very purpose of such meetings is defeated.

The erstwhile sector-level committees had a large representation from each sector and the deliberations were attended by officers of the administration besides the police and all the points raised by the people were redressed on the spot. In case there were any problems, the complainant knew whom to approach.

Another point raised is that many of the people who attend the meetings are “favourites” of the officers of the area or enjoy political patronage. As such the problems faced by the common man are left untouched. The meetings should be held regularly and without prior notice so that the real picture is brought in before the officials visiting a particular area in the city.

Surprise visits to various departments and sectors of the city by senior officers, preferably incognito, should be the order of the day. Moreover, feedback from the aggrieved person should be sought regarding the problem.

Axe on dhobis: The Haryana Urban Development Authority has taken the initiative and launched a tirade against illegal settlements in the township. This attempt to please the people and give in to their demand of removing these, it seems, has backfired since they are all worked up about HUDA taking a strong stand in the case of dhobis who have served them for years on end.``They must concentrate on removing anti-social elements rather than sharpening their knives on the innocents,’’ they claim. But the big question before officials is, ``Who decides about the social and anti-social elements of society?’’. There are, however, no answers.

Humane cops!: The SAS Nagar police is all set to acquire a humane face is what the newly appointed Deputy Superintendent of Police Mr S.S.Gill has promised. After taking over early this month he has called a meeting of the residents of the town and has invited inputs from members of the public.

He warns the cops to shed their anti-people attitude. Asking the cops to be vigilant and responsible Mr Gill says the effectiveness of the beat constables will be gauged by the public itself. Surprise checking at short notices in the town are also on the anvil.

Abhinet is 25: Why do we project Abhinet's mature theatre as "amateur theatre"?

Abhinet has covered a quarter of a century presenting soul-stirring, conscientious and meaningful drama.

Guidance has come from Chandigarh's doyen of drama and the allied fields of literature — novels, short stories and literary criticism, Dr Virendra Mehndiratta.

The 25th anniversary of Abhinet was celebrated with authentic accounts of sustained theatre-work done by it. Satyendra Taneja, C.L. Ahuja, Atamjit Singh and Mehndiratta gave an objective account of the state and status of non-commercial theatre on Saturday.

Presiding over the main session at the Lajpat Rai Bhavan auditorium, Kamaleshwar Sinha of Visva-Bharati summed up the quintessence of the theatre-related work of Mohan Rakesh, Swadesh Deepak and Atamjit Singh, among others.

Fruit vendors: The Estate Office, Panchkula, has finally brought to book the erring fruit vendors who did brisk business at the Sector 7 roundabout. After removing them from their “stations”, the office has stationed a personnel of the department during peak hours of business — from 5 pm to 8 pm — at the site to ensure they don’t return. However, since old habits die hard, these people have found a way out of the trying times — they return to “their” place just after 8 pm and stay on till about 10 pm, pocketing whatever comes their way.

— Sentinel

READERS WRITE

Pinjore Garden toilets locked

Recently, my friend and I visited Yadvindra Gardens in Pinjore. The visit to the place was enjoyable but as we turned towards the toilet to answer the call of nature in the middle of the garden, we found toilets (both he & she) locked. Thinking that the lock must be there for some reason, we went to another toilet located inside the garden near the entry gate but found that it was also locked.

The unpleasant site and foul smell at these public (in)conveniences was depressing as many people had, on finding these locked, eased themselves in the nearby places, mostly on the marbled floor itself as well as along the walls. In the whole garden or near the toilets, we failed to find any notice regarding temporary or permanent closure of the toilets. A third toilet outside the walled garden near the parking area was also found locked.

Arun K. Bakshi
Chandigarh

Fee hike and YPS

This has reference to the protests being shown by parents of students of YPS Patiala regarding the proposed fee hike by the board of governors. This is not entirely a commendable step. My ward is also a student of YPS. I am quite aware of the quality of teaching imparted to the students and other activities being conducted in the school. Games are compulsory for all and the emphasis is on the overall development of the child.

In YPS, the children are given fruits/biscuits, lunch and milk during working hours. There are no separate charges for it. During all school functions, including monthly parent-teacher meetings, tea and snacks are served to the parents. All such expenses are covered in the monthly fee only. Teachers and other staff also expect a fair rise in their emoluments.

I am not justifying the proposed fee hike, but it is my appeal to all the parents concerned to listen, discuss and settle the issue of fee hike with the management amicably.

Let us not meddle in the sphere of academics and be a guilty party to any fall of educational or other standards of YPS.

Col V.S. Battu (retd)
Mohali

Public phones

I appreciate the concern that Chandigarh Tribune dated March 18, highlighted with regard to the state of affairs of bay phones i.e. coin operated telephones at various spots in Chandigarh. The most pathetic position is at the ISBT — no telephone is in working order despite the fact that this is one of the very important spots where a working local telephone is a must.

The telephone authorities think that they had completed their work by just installing a telephone local box but hardly bothered or concerned about its smooth functioning. The best course would be if these public call boxes are installed only after fixing responsibility on someone at the spot. For instance, the public call box (telephone box) installed at the bus terminus should be installed at its previous spot i.e. near the newspaper/magazine seller. And the responsibility should be fixed with the vendor of this magazine seller.

For this ‘responsibility’ he can be compensated by way of some incentive to him. Once this is done, the public call box will definitely function normally. I can give a example. A similar local call box has been installed at the Panjab University campus near the Student Centre and this box has been installed within the precincts of a stationery shop and the responsibility of its smooth working has been vested with the proprietor of this shop. This is working well. This type of arrangement can work well and in the interest of the public.

Ujagar Singh
Chandigarh

COMMUNITY

All-religion protest march
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 26—To protest against the killing of 40 Sikhs at Chatti Singhpura village in Jammu and Kashmir, the Central Coordination Committee of all Gurdwaras and the Sikh Institutions organised an all-religion protest march here today.

The march, led by the chairman of the committee, Mr Gurpartap Singh Riar, started from a gurdwara in Sector 34 and marched through various parts of the city before culminating at the Chandigarh Housing Board Chowk in Sector 17.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Riar urged the Sikhs living in the Kashmir Valley not to leave their homes as it would send wrong signals to the Sikhs living in other parts of the country.

Later, a delegation submitted a memorandum to the Punjab Governor and the UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen JFR Jacob(Retd). Demanding protection to the minorities in the valley, The memorandum listed eight other demands.

The Governor, who personally received the memorandum, while deploring the killings of 40 Sikhs, termed it as a heinous crime against innocent civilians. He urged the authorities concerned to apprehend the culprits and bring them to justice.

Violence had no place in civilised society, he said while urging the authorities to pay adequate compensation to the bereaved families.

In the memorandum, the committee demanded a compensation of Rs 10 lakh from the Central Government and Rs 5 lakh from the Jammu and Kashmir Government and job to the one member each of the bereaved families. An inquiry by a retired Judge of the Supreme Court, sealing of the international border, adequate protection to the families of the minorities, armed training to them and the immediate arrest of the culprits were the other demands highlighted in the memorandum.

250 Rotarians attend conference
From Our Correspondent

ZIRAKPUR, March 26 — More than 250 representatives of various Rotary Clubs of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan elected Mr Dharmvir Garg of Bhiwanigarh new leader of the RI District 3090 for the year 2000-2001 at the 26th Rotaract District Conference which was held here today.

Named the Conference of the Millennium, it began with the National Anthem. The election was held under the chairmanship of Mr R.N. Bhardwaj, District Governor of the RI District 3090. Mr Jasbir Singh Malaur, a Haryana MLA and Mr B.B. Midha, were the guests of honour.

Earlier, Mr Kewal Garg, President of the Dera Bassi Industrial Association, lit a lamp to inaugurate the function. He also released a souvenirs of the Rotaract Club of Dera Bassi and Rotaract Club Dera Bassi Blue Moon.

The chief guest said young rotarians were playing a vital role in helping the down-trodden and undertaking activities like mass marriages of poor girls, besides holding eye-operation, blood-donation and other camps.

Various Rotaract Clubs were also given prizes and mementoes for outstanding social services.

Kamaljit Malhotra presented film and non-film songs. Mr Kewal Garg donated Rs 21,000, while Rs 11,000 were donated by Mr Gurmail Singh, a social worker, to the host club.

Besides residents and sarpanches of the area, Mr S.P. Arora, Estate Officer of Chandigarh; Mr Jagjit Singh Dalli, President of the Dera Bassi Municipal Council; Mr Bhupinder Singh Saini, President of the Rotary Club of Dera Bassi; and other local Rotarians were also present.

CRIME

35 arrested under special drive
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 26 — The police arrested 35 persons, including a hotel manager, under various Sections of the law under a special campaign against the anti-social elements during the past 72 hours.

According to the police, Luwise, a Nigerian national, was arrested and a fake Rs 100 note recovered from him.

The police arrested 10 persons under the Excise Act and recovered 879 pouches and 18 bottles of whisky from their possession yesterday.

The police said eight persons — all residents of Kurukshetra — were arrested mainly from Sector 17. While Sheela was arrested with 100 pouches of whisky, Kammo was held with 95 pouches. As many as 100 pouches were seized from Raj Kumar from the Circus Ground in Sector 17.

Pala Ram was held with 100 pouches, the police said, adding that Ratina was also arrested with 100 pouches. Similarly, 120 pouches were recovered from Prem Chand and 150 pouches from Papu Ram. Kaka Ram was held with 100 pouches.

Meanwhile, Lal Singh, a resident of Maloya Colony here, was arrested with 32 pouches. A resident of Nagal village in Moga district was nabbed with 18 bottles of whisky from the Attawa Chowk.

Three persons — Rakesh Singh, Bikram Singh and Nankeena — were arrested on the charges of begging.

The police nabbed six persons while moving in suspicious circumstances. While three were arrested from the Sector 17 market, two persons were arrested from Sector 24 and one from the Sector 10 Market. Similarly, 10 men were held for creating nuisance for causing obstruction in a the public place. They are Lachman, Om Parkash, Rajinder, Jawahar Singh, Jassa Ram, Hira Lal, Dharambir Singh, Roshan Lal, Rishi Pal and Dalip Kumar.

Four persons were arrested for not informing the police about sub-letting their houses. While Satyavir Giri(tenant) and Ramesh Chand (landlord) were held from Khudda Lahora village, Bhagwan Dass (landlord) and Geeta Ram (tenant) were arrested from Dhanas village.

Similarly, a manager of Sector 22 pub — Suresh Kumar — was arrested while serving liquor to Raghbir Singh. The latter was also arrested.

Separate cases have been registered against them.

The police has arrested two city residents on the charge of outraging the modesty of a Sector 22 resident.

In her complaint, the woman alleged that Jasbir Singh and Gurmeet Singh, both residents of Sector 22, forcibly took her in their car when she had gone to Government High School, Sector 28, for taking her examination on Saturday. They also tried to outrage her modesty and later left her at the Sukhna Lake, she alleged.

Both accused have been arrested. A case was registered against them.

BUSINESS

More jobs for ex-servicemen
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 26 — The Punjab Ex-Servicemen's Corporation (PESCO) is planning to tie-up with multinational companies for establishing commercial ventures to provide greater post-retirement rehabilitation opportunities to ex-servicemen.

PESCO Chairman, Maj-Gen U.S. Sidhu (retd), said this was among several other proposals put forward in the corporation's board meeting held here this month.

The tie-ups with multinationals would be particularly, in the field of information technology. Ex-servicemen would also be encouraged to establish commercial ventures in agriculture, floriculture, poultry and transport as well.

It was also recommended that PESCO's rubber factory at Dera Bassi be given preference for the supply of uniform items and accessories to government departments. Placement of orders to the factory by government departments should be automatic rather than through the present tender system, he said.

A proposal to make the state government's loan schemes for ex-servicemen more attractive by increasing the capital subsidy from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000, was also put forward.

Maj-Gen Sidhu said after a recent meeting with the Director General resettlement (DGR) at the Army Headquarters, the DGR had recommended that the Ministry of Defence should accord priority to PESCO while procuring ordnance items and clothing.

He also said while an Army order to supply 3,000 pairs of uniform, worth Rs 13 crore, was almost complete, another order from the Master General of Ordnance for the supply of 1.5 lakh pieces of uniform items and snow goggles to the Defence Ministry was underway.

Increase in the salary of security guards provided to different organisations on commercial basis was also on cards. Maj-Gen Sidhu said a minimum hike of Rs 500 in the salary was being considered. The ration money linked with the salary would be paid separately as demanded.

The Chairman also said with PESCO bagging the contract to provide security guards at C-DoT exchanges in Punjab, about 1,500 ex-servicemen were able to get re-employment.

Better institutional working stressed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 26 — A training programme for general managers of district industries centres, Haryana state, and Chandigarh was yesterday organised by Regional Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (RCED) on behalf of the Office of the Development Commissioner (Small Scale Industries), Government of India. Different modules were covered by the expert faculty for Panjab university during the five days training programme. The experts spoke on Emotional Intelligence and Communication Skills & Interpersonal Relations, stressing the need for these skills for achievement of the set individual goals.

The need for better institutional networking for promotion and improving the effectiveness of the Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojna (PMRY) Scheme was stressed by Mr. Sukhbir Singh, General Manager, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Mr. R N Yadav, Assistant General Manager of Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and Mr. S P Singh, Director, Khadi and Village Industries Commission, Government of India, Haryana Regional Council.

Participants were given useful tips for identifying and selecting the right type of prospective candidates for PMRY by Dr. J S Saini, (Sr), Faculty of TTTI and Mr. S Paramjit Singh, Principal Consultant of RCED.

Exhaustive interactive session was held with the senior officials of the banks and financial institutions discussing about different problems faced by the general managers of the district industries centres in Identification of beneficiaries for the PMRY scheme. The interactive session was with Mr. G D Gupta, Chief Manager, State Bank of Patiala, Mr. S P Singh, Manager (Priority Sector), Punjab & Sind Bank, Mr. M Ananda, Manager (Rural Development), Syndicate Bank.

Mr Shri Kulmohan Singh, Additional Director of Industries, Government of Haryana was the chief guest at the valedictory function and the special guest was Ms. Asha Jairath, Joint Director of Industries, Government of Haryana. Mr Kulmohan Singh stressed the need for development of rural-based micro enterprises. He further suggested organising entrepreneurial awareness programmes in all academic, technical and professional institutions for instilling interest among the youth towards self-employment.