Part-time lecturers still underpaid
By Chitleen K Sethi
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov19 — The Chandigarh Administration seems to be sleeping over the matter of payment of salaries to teachers who are employed on a temporary and part-time basis in the affiliated colleges of Chandigarh. In spite of guidelines laid down by a UGC notification dated December 24,1998, regarding the pay package for these lecturers, the Administration has yet to begin the process of implementing it.

There are more than a 100 such teachers in Chandigarh working in the various affiliated colleges of the city and more than a 1,000 in Punjab. These teachers have been employed in accordance with the UGC preconditions and most of them have been working in these institutions for years. These teachers claim that they work the same amount as the regular teachers do but are paid very less in comparison. Those employed in the city's government colleges are going through something even worse. They have not been paid their salaries for the last two months as a part of the process of college implementing the Administration's orders to recover the overpayment made to them.

This order of the DPI (colleges) to recover salaries is based on the number of lectures, a part-timer takes in the college. But there also seems to be a controversy regarding what is considered to be one lecture in a college. In some colleges each lecture is of 55 minutes duration while in others it is of 45 minutes. "But the UGC notification is clear in its guidelines. The pay package is based on the number of teaching hours being put in by these lecturers and not the number of lectures." On top of that, these lecturers are given extra work loads for which they are not paid anything extra," says Mr Charanjit Chawla of the SGGS College and a fellow of Panjab University.

Mr Gopal Krishan Chatrath, a Panjab University fellow, gives a list of the Supreme Court decisions regarding the pay package of these lecturers. Following is the list of Supreme Court decisions regarding part time teachers employed in colleges — AIR 1994, SC 265: Vijay Kumar and others vs State of Punjab states that part-time teachers should be paid the minimum of the basic pay scales along with the dearness allowance; AIR 1987, SC 2049: Bhagwan Dass vs State of Haryana states that if the part-time Adult Education Instructors are performing duties which are similar to those performed by the ones who are regular, then they too have to be paid accordingly; AIR 1992, SC 677: Karnataka State Private College Stop Gap Lecturers Association vs State of Karnataka states that part-time lectures are entitled to the basic pay scale plus the dearness allowance. Moreover ,efforts should be made to regularise those who have completed three years of service.

"We are the most pitied lot in the college. We are made to go to clerks each month and give a list of the number of lectures we took in the month and wait till the middle of the month to get our pay, " says a part-time lecturer. 

UGC notification dated 24.12.1998: Page 12,Clause 1200: part-time teachers: The minimum qualification for the appointment of part time teachers should be the same as that of a regular teacher and selected by a regular constituted selection committees. The part time teacher can be appointed on a contract appointment if only for a short period or as a permanent half time or proportionate time employee against half/proportionate salary of the scale (and should include proportionate increment, dearness allowance and any other permissible benefit). Page13,Clause1500: workload The direct teaching hours should be as follows: Lecturers/Senior lecturers/lecturers selection grade: 16 hours a week Readers/Professors:14 hours a week Basic pay grades wef 1.1.1996: Lecturer: 2200-4000 has been increased to 8000-275-13500 Lecturer Senior Scale: 3000-5000 has been increased to 10000-325-15200 Lecturer Selection Grade/Reader: 3700-5700 increased to 12000-420-18300 Calculating from the above guidelines even if the lecture in the college is of 45 minutes duration (in practice it is of one hour duration), in case of a lecturer taking less than two periods a day, he\she is entitled to be paid Rs 4,000 along with half of allowances permissible and in case a lecturer is taking more than two classes a day, he/she is to be paid Rs 8,000 along with the allowances permissible. But the DPI (colleges) issued a notification on July 18,2000, to the government colleges of Chandigarh that the part-time lecturers who teach 20 lectures or less in a week are to be paid Rs 2,200 and those who will teach more than 20 lectures a week will be paid an amount of Rs 3,500pm.

Bid to marry off minor girls
From Bipin Bhardwaj

CHANDIGARH, Nov 19 — Two residents of Sanauli village wanted brides who were barely out of creche. However, their plans were dashed after they were arrested by the Punjab police at Zirakpur, about 7 km from here, today.

The Lohgarh police received an information that a 35-year-old man and a 17-year-old youth were attempting to marry two sisters, Mamta and Chinna Kumari, aged 10 and 13, respectively. The policemen rushed to the spot and caught the accused when they were adjusting their achkans.

The “grooms”, Naib Singh (17) and Ghola Singh (35), their father Banarsi Dass, parents of the girls, Hinga Ram and Subhadra Devi, along with Singh Ram, a mediator, have been arrested by the police. Cases under Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Child Marriage Restrain Act have been registered against them.

Earlier, some persons noticed a marriage party approaching their village. This surprised them as they were not expecting a marriage ceremony in the village. They got suspicious and asked members of the marriage party about the place from where they were coming.

In the meantime, the news spread in the surrounding villages and villagers, social workers and sarpanches gathered at the spot. They informed Ms Amarjit Kaur Bhullar and Ms Lajwanti Kaur, heads of the Istri Akali Sabhas of Chandigarh and Dera Bassi, respectively, about the attempted child marriage.

Later the police was informed and the marriage ceremony was stopped by villagers. Mr Sampuran Singh, head of the Lohgarh police post, and his team reached the spot and caught the accused.

Mr H.S. Bhullar said Banarsi Dass, a resident of Ganeshpur village near Raipur Rani, had arranged the marriage of his sons, Naib Singh and Ghola Singh, with Mamta and Chinna Kumari who is also called Pinky. The girls are daughters of Hinga Ram, a resident of Sanauli village.

The barefoot “brides” with heena on their hands were rather quiet in the police post. Pinky, a Class VI student of Government Middle School at Gajipur, said she had been asked to get married as her father was ill. “My teachers also advised me not to get married at such an early age, but I was helpless,” she said, while holding back her tears.

Wrapped in a shawl, Mamta, a Class IV student of Government Primary School at Sanauli, looked shocked. The father of the “brides” said they were to be sent to the house of their in-laws some years later.

Parents of the “grooms” and the “brides” said they did not know anything about the Child Marriage Restrain Act.

Fire in Sector 34 furniture market
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Nov 19 — A fire broke out at the furniture market, Sector 34, in which a shop was gutted while another was damaged, here this morning. The fire reportedly erupted because of a short circuit. Property worth Rs 3 lakh was damaged, however, no injuries were reported. Sources in the police said that no case has been registered.

The fire started at around 9a.m. Three fire engines reached in time and were able to control the fire. Eye witnesses point that a welding work was going in a neighbouring shop and the electrical connection for the welding work was allegedly taken through a kundi connection. The shop which was gutted in the fire was closed at the time of the incident. The electric sparks reached inside the shop through the opening over the shutter of the shop.

Mr Roshan Lal Gupta, whose shop was damaged said, ‘‘I suffered a loss of about Rs 2 to 3 lakh’’. He said the material which was saved has become useless as the smell of burn will remain in the foam. He said by the time he reached the shop, the fire brigade had controlled the fire.

The neighbouring shop, a PCO, was also damaged. Mr Khem Raj Gar, its owner, said, "My two STD machines, a fax machine and telephone instruments got damaged due to the heat". The STD attendant who was at the shop during the incident, had to break the front window panes of the shop to save the equipment. Mr Garg said the equipment which was damaged, were not insured. Mr R. K. Singh said he had an insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh only.

17 held under special police drive
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Nov 19 —In a crackdown on anti-social and drunkard elements, the police arrested 17 persons from different parts of the city, last night. On the second day of a special drive, nakas were set up to check those who drive under the influence of liquor, besides rash drivers. Action was also taken against those who stay in the city without informing the police.

During the six-hour drive, the police raided hotels, pubs, guest houses, restaurants, dhabas, parks and other public places. Sources in the police point that the raids were carried on the basis of intelligence reports on the activities of anti-social elements.

Dr Sagar Preet Hooda, Assistant Superintendent of Police (East), who spearheaded the drive said the drive would continue in the coming days. He said the drive was started to check the activities like drinking at public places during the night. The police had arrested 10 persons on Friday under the drive.

Thirteen persons were arrested for allegedly consuming liquor at public places. They were arrested under Sections 1, 14 and 61 of the Excise Act.

The police also arrested two persons from Bihar for allegedly living as tenants at Colony No 4 without informing the police and violating the orders of the District Magistrate, UT, Chandigarh. Umesh Kumar and Briju Kumar, both of Gaya District, were booked under the Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.

The police also arrested Banke Lal, a resident of Indira Colony, Mani Majra, while he was creating nuisance at a public place under the influence of liquor. He was booked under the Section 34 - 5 - 61 of the Police Act.

Councillor's car set on fire
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Nov 19 — Adding fuel to the controversy over the showdown between groups of councillors projecting their candidates for the post of President of the SAS Nagar Municipal Council, Mr Manjit Singh, councillor from Ward 11, today alleged that some unidentified persons set his Maruti Zen car (CH-O1-V-7131) afire at his Phase 7 residence last night. He also alleged that the miscreant were sent by the opposite group of councillors. A complaint in this regard had already been made to the police. Mr Singh said they noticed the fire when a rear tyre of the car burst after catching fire. A portion of the bumper and the tyre was badly damaged. He said someone poured kerosene on the vehicle and set it on fire. The police had registered a DDR and was investigating the matter.

READERS WRITE
Charge of bureaucrats

This has reference to the report ‘Charge of bureaucrats’ in Chandigarh Tribune of November 11. It is an accepted fact all over the world that a ‘generalist’ bureaucrat is an all-round officer with multi-faceted and diverse skills. This gives him a macro view of the situation which he is able to tackle with a creative and all-encompassing approach. This is not the case with a specialist technocrat who confines himself to a specified and narrow technical field.

VIVEK SHARMA
Panchkula

Encroachments

Government land worth crores from Sanauri Adda to Safabadi Gate and Sanauri Adda to Chhoti Nadi by-pass in Patiala has been encroached. Sanauri Adda is a busy and perhaps the biggest commercial area of Patiala city. Most of the big wholesale dealers of pipes and cement have their establishments in this area. Yet it happens to be one of the most neglected areas. Slum-dwellers and wood-workers have occupied large chunks of land illegally. Almost three-fourths of the road from Sanauri Adda to Safabadi Gate has been encroached by slum-dwellers who have built pucca houses with reinforced cement concrete roofs.

Tonga-drivers have occupied land belonging to the Improvement Trust and the Municipal Committee. Even a court order to remove the tonga-stand has not proved effective. It is high time the officials concerned pay attention to the situation in these areas.

ABHISHEK SEKHRI
Patiala

NRIs’ properties

I am a Non-Resident Indian living in Britain for the past 40 years. I visit India every year to spend my holidays. I have been an elected member of the London Borough of Hounslow (UK) for the past 12 years. At present, I am holding the office of Mayor of Hounslow as a representative of the Punjabis living in Britain.

I congratulate the Punjab Government for their decision on NRIs’ properties. It is a step in the right direction and I am sure it will go a long way in attracting heavy foreign investment for the development of Punjab. It will further strengthen our ties with our motherland.

I congratulate the Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, for leading his Cabinet in arriving at this wise and a correct decision.

RAJINDER SINGH BATH
Hounslow (Britain)

CHANDIGARH CALLING

HOW do you describe a man who loved life and is no more? 

Squadron Leader Anil Sharma lived his young life to the fullest, till he met his end in the Mi-8 crash in the border area of Kutch, last Sunday. He belonged to SAS Nagar. An early matriculate, an early pilot, an early Squadron Leader, an early Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) and an early martyr. Anil always seemed to be in a hurry.

The ever-smiling Anil, or Neelu as his family and friends called him, loved singing, dancing and flying. He must have flown most of the choppers besides a couple of fixed wing aircraft including Mi-17, Mi-8, Cheetah, Chetak, Kiran, HPT-32 and Iskra, in the Indian Air Force. Flying was his passion, his joy. So, next time you look up and see a cloud in a hurry, you know who the guiding angel behind it is. Farewell Anil, may you rest in peace.

Make it attractive

After years of canvassing by successive MPs representing Chandigarh, the Central Government granted go-ahead to the conversion of leasehold residential property in City Beautiful into freehold. Consequently, the UT Administration notified the scheme in 1996 which was to cover plots up to 500 sq yards. Though the long-pending demand of the city residents was acceded to, the conditions imposed for conversion were too stringent to meet, especially the one on completion certificate for the buildings raised thereon.

The obtaining of completion certificates is a tedious and time consuming process. As a result few have opted for conversion as of now. It will be in the fitness of things if the grant of sewerage connection is treated as completion for the purpose of conversion. Of course, a cut-off date can be thought of as Lt Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), Administrator, Chandigarh Administration, recently did in the case of plots allotted to defence officers in various sectors so as to make the conversion scheme attractive. Only it should be ensured that the plot is free from any encumbrance, legal or financial. Will the powers that be spare a thought for this?

Simple remedies

He calls himself a rural surgeon. For someone who has always worked in the adverse field conditions of Udhampur, Dr K.C. Sharma, has devised innovative methods to overcome problems he has to face while practising in the rural areas. He was here last week to attend the Annual Surgeons Conference. Now whereas the entire world is using prolene and marlex mesh for repair of incisional and inguinal hernia, Dr Sharma uses something as basic as a mosquito net. “The cost of mosquito net is miniscule as compared to other options. For example a six by 11 cm piece of prolene costs Rs 1000. Marlex costs Rs 300 and mosquito net only Rs 0.30 for the same size. Not only is it easily available, post-operatively, there are no side-effects.”

And what about results ? “ They are as — and at times even more — effective as the more expensive options. Our results of acceptance of mosquito net mesh are on par with marlex and prolene.” says Dr Shrama.

Dr Sharma, who has now worked for as many as 35 years in the rural areas, has other cheaper and user friendly options up his sleeve. For example, the rural doctor uses 10 per cent haldi solution instead of betadine as a disinfectant.

And realising that it is difficult for four people to carry a stretcher up and down the narrow paths in the hills, he has devised a stretcher which can be carried by two people. As they say, necessity is the mother of all inventions.

Great gains

After storing junk furniture in its basement for long, the Black Partridge (Haryana Emporium in Sector 17) finally managed to dispose it of on November 15 when it held the auction of furniture and other products. Among the products sold away at throwaway prices were wooden screens, carved chairs, side racks, cane furniture, stools and many other decorative items. Though hardly any revenue was netted on the day of the auction, the emporium employees were happy after having got rid of the scrap. And as is said — somebody’s loss is somebody’s gain, the junk dealers of the city had a great time on the said day.

Acting as potential buyers, they dictated terms. So a Rs 3,000 side rack was taken away for just Rs 100, and a Rs 4,000 screen was sold to them for a meagre Rs 360. And that was not all the gain these junk dealers had. They picked up the stuff from the Emporium and went and sold the same at Sector 17 Plaza, after increasing the price three times. Smart operators!

Abjectly inhuman

Employees of the Municipal Corporation could do well to treat the wandering animals a little humanly. A live example of their harshness was witnessed the other day near the Sector 19 church.

About 10 MC employees were seen pushing a stray cow into the van quite ruthlessly, much to the misfortune of the animal which was bruised at various places in the process. The Tribune lensman Parvesh Chauhan has captured the human apathy in his print which is published here. The animal is seen tied with ropes and the MC workers are also seen pulling the cow by the tail.

Is the PFA or the SPCA listening?

Mad traffic

Residents of SAS Nagar seem to care two hoots for the traffic safety rules.

Jumping of traffic lights and driving two-wheelers without helmets are only two of the gross violations of traffic safety rules in the township. Though the traffic light jumping is a common sight, it is more serious at the traffic lights near the Punjab School Education Board and near the Sector 61 housing complex of the Chandigarh Housing Board.

Will the Punjab Police, more “famous” for other feats than managing the traffic, care to teach a lesson or two to the erring drivers so that the traffic rule-conscious motorists could have a sigh of relief?

No glow

The glowworms, which provide flickers of light and hope at night, are fast disappearing in and around Chandigarh, according to field studies carried out by the Environment Society of India (ESI).

The decline in their population is due to the increase of builtup area, habitat loss and extensive use of pesticides and chemical fertilisers.

Another factor which reduced their number is the long dry spell during the monsoon months this year. Besides, the rainfall during September this year was 33.2 mm as compared to 97.1 mm during the corresponding period last year.

Glowworms were seen more in nurseries than in the gardens and the leisure valley. Their lighted flights have lent enchantment to the landscape of Chandigarh.

Roundabout

Driving on the road separating Sectors 31 and 32 has now become a motorists’ delight, thanks to its carpeting recently. The Municipal Corporation rose to the occasion only after the shabby condition of the road was highlighted in the press. This road earlier was full of potholes and deep depressions, putting the motorists’ driving skills to test.

Although all roundabouts on this road have been mended, the one near SD College, Sector 32, has been surprisingly left as it is — full of uneven and sunken patches. All four roads near this roundabout are still full of potholes, some of them quite deep, which are dangerous and hazardous for the vehicular traffic, especially during the night. Will the Municipal Corporation mend this roundabout too, so that it becomes as smooth as the other parts of the road.

Powerless

Officials of two circles of the Punjab irrigation department housed in SCO 407 and 408 in Sector 35 have been functioning without electricity for the past more than nine months. These circles are headed by two Superintending Engineers.

Officials of these circles reveal that during peak summer months they led a miserable life without fans and water coolers, let alone ACs.

The power supply to these circles was cut off when a Patiala court ordered attachment of their expenditure head. The court resorted to this stringent action when the government did not make payment of the bills of a contractor. The payment runs into lakhs of rupees. Until the government releases the payment of the contractor, power supply to these circles cannot be restored.

Shortage of funds forced senior officers of the irrigation department to resort to several funny decisions. For example, there were not enough funds to pay the salary of the staff. No wonder class IV employees, especially work charged staff, were given the option of living without salary for a couple of months or get Rs 70 per month less in their salary. The employees resorted to the latter course.

Again, this is the only department which does not have even a single regular Superintendent Engineer eligible for promotion to the post of Chief Engineer. No wonder an Executive Engineer has been given the charge of Chief Engineer.

Again, this is the only department where an SDO gets more salary than those who are holding the charge of Superintending Engineer. No wonder a large number of Executive Engineers have filed petitions in the Punjab and Haryana High Court for the redressal of their grievances. The petitions of some other Executive Engineers are in the pipeline for filing.

Novel bonding

India’s cultural might has impressed the German photographer Heidi Sabrautzky so much that she does not want to go back. Heidi, who is jointly putting up an exhibition of her photographs with a local artist Pimi Khanna at Alliance Francaise, was quite sad about the fact that she only has one more year to go before her visa expires. The photographer has given up textile designing at home and has been camping in India since 1994. During her stay here, she has extensively captured the contrast of India in her prints on Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh.

On Friday (when the exhibition went on view), Heidi seemed happy about the fact that she met Pimi Khanna. The two struck upon a very novel idea of recreating each other’s culture. So where as Heidi has photographed India, Pimi has reconstructed the historical beauty of five German towns. Heidi is now planning to work on the North Eastern part of the country.

—Sentinel

COMMUNITY

Accident-prone points identified
From Our Correspondent

SAS NAGAR, Nov 19 — Do death of people in road accidents here interest the PUDA authorities? The answer seems to go in the negative if one goes by the fact that they have taken no remedial action in connection with accident-prone points.

After the Punjab and Haryana High Court had taken suo motu notice of the incidence of fatal accidents on roads, the AGP (Traffic) took a round of the town and pointed out four accident-prone points to the local Municipal Council.

The AGP had informed the civic body on the telephone that there was a depression on a road near Ambwala Chowk, grass on footpaths and roadsides, the road dividing Phases III B2 and VII had big potholes and slabs were lying on the road berms and the road area near Jhota Kut Colony in Sector 71 had become slippery because of slush from the area as it lacked a proper disposal system and debris were lying on roadside.

According to council officials, only two of the four points had to be rectified by them while the other two were the responsibility of PUDA.

The council rectified a depression in the road near Ambwala Chowk and also grass of footpaths and roadsides was being cut. Council officials said that they had written to PUDA on September 15 to take action regarding the other two points.

Surprisingly, when this correspondent met PUDA officials in this regard on November 17 the JE concerned, Mr Ravinder Sharma, was not even aware of the contents of the council’s letter.

PUDA officials said that when the road dividing Phases III B2 and VII had been widened, the contractor, who had been assigned the work, had not taken care of the road level. Kerb channels were laid at a higher level than the road. As a result rain water collected on the road which led to its caving in and also potholes at various points. The payment of the contractor had been withheld by PUDA authorities. Officials said since they had no funds for maintenance, the road would be handed over to the council authorities for repair.

As far as the problem linked with Jhota Kut Colony was concerned nothing could be done till the area was got vacated from encroachers.

‘Strengthen cooperative institutions’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 19 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has given a clarion call to cooperators and heads of the various cooperative institutions to further mobilise their efforts to bring about socio-economic revolution in Punjab.

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating a building of the Punjab State Cooperative Bank, constructed at a cost of Rs 8.96 crore in Sector 34 here, Mr Badal said maximum population should be brought under the cooperative umbrella to ensure that every person derived benefit from various schemes launched by the government.

Complimenting the bank for launching various schemes such as revolving cash credit, sehkari bank bima yojna and special settlement scheme 2000, Mr Badal expressed the hope that the new schemes would alleviate the financial problems of the common people.

He said the government had decided that the land mortgaged by the farmers for agricultural loans would not invite the imposition of any stamp duty on the execution of the mortgage deeds. Mr Badal also honoured oldest depositors of the bank, including Mr G.S. Aujla, Mr Dalip Singh, Ms Amrit Kaur, Mr Dev Raj Mehta, Mr Amarjit Kaur and Mr Amarjit Singh.

Mr Ranjit Singh Brahampura, Cooperation Minister, informed that the building was fully-airconditioned with five storeys and has a covered area of one lakh square feet.

GOC-in-C visits family of Capt Atul
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 19 — The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lieut-Gen Surjit Singh, today visited the family members of Capt Atul Sharma, who was killed in a gunbattle with militants in Baramula District of Kashmir a few days ago.

According to a statement issued here, the Army Commander visited the residence of the martyred soldier in Sector 32 here to pay his tributes and express his condolences.

Captain Sharma was the sole male member of his family. his father had died and he is survived by his mother, Sudesh Sharma, and sister, Ruby.

Bansal inaugurates mercury lights
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 19 — For the convenience of the residents, the local MP, Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, inaugurated the mercury lights in the garden between Sector 15 C and D yesterday. On the request of Mr Sat Pal Sewak, President of the Welfare Society, Sector 15, Mr Bansal announced to give a grant from his discretionary quota for the purchase of a truck for lifting garbage under the supervision of Yuvsatta. Modernisation of the Sectors 14 and 15 markets, installation of ultra-modern fountains in the green belts of Sector 15 A, B, C and D were the other announcements by Mr Bansal.

S.V. Shenoy
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 19 — Mr S.V. Shenoy, Senior Regional Manager, Punjab National Bank, Regional Office Chandigarh-B (Punjab), has been promoted as Deputy General Manager. His posting is awaited.