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| Friday, June 16, 2000, Chandigarh, India |
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Family welfare centre closed due to paucity of
funds CHANDIGARH,
The closure has led to wastage of resources, besides causing unnecessary inconvenience to the residents of the area. Sources reveal that for the past year and a-half, the two-room structure has been lying unused as no part time staff comes here any more. Medicines worth thousands are rotting away in the almirah and drawers and most of them have crossed the expiry date without being used. The centre, which has been converted into a store is being currently manned by a woman attendant in the absence of any doctor. The centre was to cater to the requirements of nearly 35,000 people residing here, particularly the health of the pregnant women and the new borns so as to bring down their birth and death rates. However, presently one of the rooms is being used by the State Aids Control Society, UT for their intervention project in the area. Sudama Singh, a community leader in the colony said that ``we the residents feel cheated for the health centre is not being put to the use for which it was started due to the non-availability of funds.’’ He pointed out the harassment the patients of the area have to face when they go to the nearby MW dispensary in Industrial Area, who refuse to examine them on the ground that it is meant for the industrial workers. All other dispensaries and hospitals are located at a distance of 5-10 km and hence not easily accessible, he added. While showing the expiry dates of medicines, he lamented that had the functioning of the health centre gone on smoothly, they could have been put to better use. He held the Administration and the concerned NGO responsible for their problems. A woman helper also disclosed that the centre was a boon for the residents, and 70-80 patients would visit it daily for treatment and medicines. But now one feels bad to turn away the patients who come with the hope of getting some help. Officials in the Directorate of Family Welfare, UT, maintain that eight such rural family welfare units were started in 1994-95 under the Central Government plan of IPP -VII ( International Planned Parenthood) and grants were to be provided to the NGOs for running the same. At the outset, each of these centres was given Rs 1 lakh for constructing a small building and equipping the same with the required infrastructure. Medicines were to be provided by the UT authorities under its rural family welfare programmes. The officials also helped in the selection of part time doctors, Auxilliary Nursing Mid Wife ( ANM); Lady Health Visitor ( LHV) and a helper. However, they were to be paid by the NGO running the centre. One of the officials pointed out that the centres started having problems once the central government stopped giving grants in 1997. But taking into account the public service they were rendering, the UT Administration continued to provide them the required funds for nearly two more years. Officials further reveal that almost a year back they had asked the NGOs to close these centres as it was difficult to provide them the required finances. While the NGOs running the seven other centres were able to generate finances to run their centres, the one in Colony No: 4 being run by the Jan Shikshan Sansthan was unable to do so. `` The NGOs who volunteered to run these centres should arrange for the finances and not depend on UT authorities. However, if we have some additional finances at the end of the financial year, we will continue to give them some grants, added an official. Since most of these centres were looking into the general problems of patients, they had been asked to charge some nominal `parchi’ fee to build their reserves but since the centre in Colony No: 4 did not do so, they were unable to pay the salaries of the staff and bear all other expenses, added an official. The residents of the colony and their leaders have appealed to the Administration to conduct an inquiry into the functioning of the centre to ascertain the misappropriation of funds received so far. They have urged the authorities to restore its functioning for the welfare of the colony residents and constitute a committee to monitor its functioning with some representatives from the colony. |
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Fortnight-long health campaign ends CHANDIGARH, June 15 — The fortnight-long health awareness campaign concluded today with two camps at Burail jail and Sector 26 Transport Area today. As many as seventeen camps were conducted in various villages, slums and colonies of the city under the guidelines of National AIDS Control Organisation as part of the countrywide programme to create awareness about Reproductive Tract Infections (RTIs), Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and HIV/AIDS and promote health seeking behaviour in the people. Presiding over the camp organised for the jail inmates of Burail jail, Dr Joginder Singh, Director, Health Services, UT spoke at length on the medical and social aspects of HIV/AIDS. The camps were conducted in collaboration with Indian Council for Social Welfare, Chandigarh branch, who have also undertaken an intervention project for jail inmates. More than 600 truck drivers, cleaners, mechanics and other local shopkeepers attended the second camp conducted by Society for Service to Voluntary Agencies (SOSVA) in collaboration with UT State AIDS Control
Society. The correct use of condom was demonstrated by the outreach workers of the NGO. According to Prof Gurdev Singh, Additional Director, SOSVA these truck drivers are being counselled and treated regularly by their team for over six months. The objective is to bring behavioural change through communication and STD treatment. While 20 patients with STDs were counselled and given free medicines, 50 others were treated for skin diseases, 150 others were examined for other ailments. As many as 2000 condoms were distributed free of cost. An exhibition depicting various stages and modes of transmission of HIV/AIDS/STDs was also put up at the venue. Pamphlets, posters, leaflets and stickers were liberally distributed. Meanwhile, during the campaign, as many as 987 persons ( more than two third of whom were females) reported with symptoms of RTIs and STDs, Nearly 9500 persons were counselled individually and in groups. About 200 blood samples were collected for further investigations after taking the consent of the concerned patients. The doctors of Department of Venereology and Dermatology of PGI provided the necessary services of diagnosis and treatment. |
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‘Accelerator to be a boon’ CHANDIGARH, Dr I.M.Govil, Chairman of the Physics
Department in Panjab University, welcomed the guests at the two-day national conference, working for the setting up of a nuclear accelerator at PU. Dr Kak in his address said the accelerator was very essential in the treatment of cancer. He said that over 20,000 patients worldwide had been treated with this technique and the accelerator facility at Panjab University would help patients from the PGI and Government Medical College. Prof A.K Sahni, Dean University Instructions delivered the presidential remarks. |
NRI to set up cricket academy CHANDIGARH, June 15 — Cricket lovers of the region are going to have a unique cricket academy, having facility of day and night play by August this year. The academy, named JR Institute of Cricket Technology, situated 18 km from the Panchkula bus stand on the Panchkula-Barwala highway, is the brainchild of Mr Shanti Swarup Sharma, a non-resident Indian from Dubai. A keen cricket lover, Sharma who is also the President of the District Panchkula Cricket Association, said the proposed academy, spread over an area of 6 acres, will have the best and latest infrastrucural facilities. Initially, it will have three turf wickets and one cemented wicket. The campus will have six flood lights and the trainees will have the benefit of practising under the lights even during the late evening hours. The bowling machine will be purchased from Stuart and Williams of England at an approximately cost of Rs 1.5 lakh. Mr Sharma said during his stay for many years in Dubai, his love for cricket developed while watching world class cricket matches at Sharjah. It was the beginning of a dream, which later possessed him. Moreover, now his son Sunny Sharma who is yet to complete 14 years, was shaping well and had represented Haryana schools cricket team in nationals. “This further motivated me to go in for cricket academy for budding youngsters near Panchkula”, said Sharma. He said that the search for land began about five months ago, when finally he was able to get the 6 acres at a cost of Rs 35 lakh. Sharma said that in the second phase of the academy, a gymnasium, swimming pool and recreational facilities would be created and the work on this project will begin from January 2001. He said the cricketers will be provided ultra modern facilities like Sauna bath, chilled bath and other exercises such as yoga, aerobics for further improving endurance and physical conditioning aspects. Audio-visual techniques such as video clippings of international matches and other helpful aids will be made available to the players. ID Kamboj, another association member, said that the association was always ready to provide help to its players by organising maximum number of matches. RP Chopra, Secretary of the association, who will be providing technical expertise to the academy, said the age group identified will be between 10 to 14 and maximum of 30 trainees to be admitted at the first instance. Mr Sharma said the young
cricketers of the academy will be taken to various countries such as Dubai, UK etc to have better exposure and similarly teams from abroad will also be invited to play with these boys. The low income group trainees will, however, be given extra facilities and for others nominal charges taken, he added. Chandigarh golf
probables CHANDIGARH, Girish Virk, Vikramjit Singh, Bobby Sandhu, Sahir Singh, Maddar Sadi, Navjot Mann, Bunny Sandhanwalia and Karan Sidhu. The association will hold coaching camps and will also send these probables for participation in various categorised tournaments to give them competition exposure. Keeping in view their performance in competition and camps, the final four players will be selected to participate in the National Games. In the women’s section trials will be conducted shortly as during the trials already held the response from amongst the lady golfers was poor, according to Mr D.P. Azad, President, Chandigarh Golf Association. Tribune XI win: Brief Scores: Tribune XI-136 runs for seven in 18 overs (Harish 54, Varun Kaushal 21, Gagan 13, Himanshu 4 for 27). Vipin XI: 35 all out in five overs. Cricket results: Women’s boxing:
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High Court XI beat BRD XI PANCHKULA, The 3BRD team batted first but were bundled out for just 102 runs in 23
overs, thanks to fine bowling by left arm spinner of High Court XI Jatinder Kohli, who claimed five wickets for just 13 runs. JS Sehrawat and Sanjay Sharma scored 26 and 21 runs, respectively, for 3BRD XI. In reply, High Court XI were able to complete the task in 14th over, with Jagjit Singh playing a heroic knock by scoring unbeaten 50 runs, steering his side to victory. Rajinder Kohli was the other scorer who made 30 runs. Mr ID
Kamboj, Director, Technical, District Panchkula Association, gave away the prizes. |
Civic staff adjusted
at SAS Nagar SAS NAGAR, At least six officials, including Additional Executive Officer Amrit Lal Bansal, will now be with the local civic body till further orders. Sources in the department said an order in this regard was issued on Tuesday. The other officials are Mr Vinay Kumar, Assistant Municipal Engineer, Mr Gautam Kumar, Assistant Town Planner, Mr Vipal Ranchal, Section Officer, Mr Sanjay Kumar, Draughtsman and Mr Ranghu Nandan Singh, Additional Accountant. Though it could not be ascertained where the adjusted staff of the Zirakpur civic body would perform duties. It may be pertinent to mention that the local municipal council is already overstaffed. There are around 400 employees with the local council.
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Repatriation of 7
cops ordered CHANDIGARH,
According to police sources, the erring officials are Head Constable Ram Nath, who has been sent to Haryana and constables Ishwar Singh, Jasbir Singh, Malkit Singh, Raghbir Singh, Swarn Singh and Rashpal Singh, all of whom have been sent to Punjab, their parent state. It may be recalled that the department had taken a serious view of the ongoing racket of subletting houses and had formed a team to verify the allotment in various sectors of the city. |
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MCC okays 67 sites’ auctioning CHANDIGARH, June 15 — At a stormy meeting of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) here today, the civic body okayed the auctioning of 67 commercial sites in Mani Majra. The meeting, however, deferred the auctioning of 136 booths in various parts of the city. It was decided to approach Chandigarh Administration regarding conditions imposed by the administration while transferring the property to the civic body. Earlier, the Congress councillors accused the Road Committee Chairman, Mr Gian Chand Gupta (BJP), of changing the priorities set by the previous road committee. Ms Satinder Dhawan (Congress) alleged that work schedule, which was to start in her ward was changed at the eleventh hour. To this Mr Gupta replied that roads were already good shape in Ms Dhawan’s ward and roads which were in a bad shape had been taken up first. The recarpeting of the V-3 road between Sectors 31, 46 and 47 on the eve of Home Minister L.K. Advani’s visit in April without the prior permission of House also generated a lot of discussion with Congress members alleging that bypassing the House would set a bad precedent. Ultimately, the agenda was passed despite opposition from the Congress members. The issue of Mayor, Shanta Abhilashi’s letter to councillors to maintain the dignity of the House was also resented by the several members, who wanted the Mayor to withdraw it. But the Mayor, while saying that it was not her intention to “hurt” the feeling of the members, did not oblige the members. The Congress members also came to the well of the House alleging discrimination with them regarding the selection of the questions and their other demands. The meeting okayed the rough cost estimates of parkings, roads in in Pocket
no 1,2 and 3 on the Chandigarh-Kalka roads amounting to Rs 107.72 lakh. Similarly, the estimates for the construction of 22.5 MLD capacity sewerage treatment plant and other works for the Mani Majra and Rehabilitation Colony in the Mauli Jagran, near Raipur Kalan, was also approved. |
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