The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

320 vaccinated against Hepatitis-B
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Jan 20 — As many as 320 persons were administered hepatitis -B vaccine at a camp organised by the Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise) Ladies Association here today.

According to a spokesperson, the third dose will be administered on June 23. The association has taken up advertisement in local dailies for extending the benefits of the camp to the maximum number of city residents.

The work has been taken under the guidance of Ms Nishi Soni who took over as President of the IRSLA last year. The association regularly takes up welfare measure for Chandi Kusht Ashram, Institute for the Blind, Old Age Home, Nari Niketan and the Deaf and Dumb Society.

Besides this, the local chapter of the association has adopted Manouli in Ropar under the Apna Gaon Yojna since 1995. It runs a homoeopathic dispensary in Sector 37.

Seminar on eye care and donation
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Jan 20 — The Eyecare and research foundation convened a seminar on ‘Eye care and eye donation’ in collaboration with Shishu Niketan School on school premises here today.

The Member Administration, Central Administrative Tribunal, Chandigarh, Mr J. L. Negi, lauded the work of the foundation under the chairmanship of eye surgeon Dr Jagjit Singh Saini, who motivated the students about the concept of eye donation after death.

Dr Saini, who is also the president of the Eye Bank Association of India, informed that almost 7 million donor eyes are needed all over the country. Last year only 15,000 donor eyes were available. In the city itself, nearly 200 transplant operations are done every year but almost 7500 patients are visiting the cornea service every year.

Earlier Justice J.L. Negi inaugurated an exhibition at the premises and gave prizes to the winners of essay and poster competition on eye donation. The guest of honour, Director of Rock Garden, Nek Chand, spoke about the virtues of eye donation. He also released a brochure ‘Eye care’.

The function was attended by eye donors, transplant recipients and doctors.

SPORT

School shines in football
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Jan 20 — When anybody talk of football in city, the name of Sanjay Public Senior Secondary School, Sector 44, crop up. Briefing newspersons here today, Mr T.R. Sethi, one of the directors, told that it was only three years back that they decided to lay emphasis on soccer. He said school students brought laurels to school by winning numerous trophies and gold medals in various inter-school tournaments. Two boys of school Kalarjit and Harish Chander represented Indian schools team in the Asian School Football tournament held at Bangkok. The Sanjay School team lifted the state sub-junior football tournament for under-16 in August last year, and won the Pre-Subroto Mukerjee football tournament in inter-school meet held in July last year, the school team represented UT in the Subroto Mukerjee Cup held in Delhi. Mr Sethi said Ranjit Rana, the football coach, was providing rigorous training to boys. He added that a 25-bed hostel was functioning at the top floor of the school.

Mr Sanjay Sethi, another director, said their main focus was in under-14 section. He said apart from football, school also stressed on other sport. Six wrestling medals were won in inter-school meet in under 14, under-16 and under-18 section.

The school hosted senior league football meet. Four football players in under-17 section were selected by the School Games Federation of India for a national match in Jammu.

ADMINISTRATION

Appeal to check stray cattle menace
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 20 — The Assistant Commissioner-I, Mr Ashok Vashisht, has appealed to the people residing in the colonies and villages adjoining the city to cooperate with the Municipal Corporation to check the menace of stray cattle and other animals roaming on the roads.

A 65-year-old labourer, Faqir Chand, had succumbed to his injuries at the PGI on Wednesday after being brutally attacked by a bull few days earlier. Mr Vashisht pointed out that a survey carried out recently has revealed that there are about 1900 domesticated animals in the four MC villages of Badheri, Butrela, Ottawa and Burail. Besides, there are thousands of stray cattle and pigs all over the city and in Mani Majra.

Even if the entire staff of the MC is put on duty to catch the stray animals, it is not possible to solve the problem, he said. Moreover, it is not possible to forego the important task of sanitation for the sake of catching stray cattle.

Meanwhile, the Mayor, Mr Raj Kumar Goyal, when contacted, said that a meeting will shortly be called to look into the incident.

MC bodies’ chiefs’ poll ‘unconstitutional’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 20 — Certain BJP councillors met the MC Commissioner, Mr M.P. Singh, today and alleged that the election to the top posts of at least three of the sub-committees held yesterday were “unconstitutional”. They pointed out that the nominees were declared elected unopposed without the quorum.

The councillors who met the Commissioner were leader of the opposition, Mr Des Raj Tandon, Mr R.L. Arora and Ms Ranjana Shahi. Mr Tandon brought to the notice of the commissioner that the election of the chairman of one committee and deputy chairperson of three others were approved even as there were three members present instead of the required quorum of four. These are Water Supply and Sewerage Disposal Committee, Environment and City Beautification Committee and Legal Affairs Committee.

The Commissioner reportedly told him that the proceedings of the election held yesterday had yet to be placed before him. He would get it thoroughly examined to ensure that the same had been held in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Discrepancy if any, would be sorted out, he assured them.

He further told them that the quorum was not required since only one person had filed nomination for various posts and the presiding officer could declare them elected unopposed in view of that. But the councillors on their part maintained that it was the first meeting of the sub-committees and meetings were only called to conduct any business. In these meetings also the business of holding elections was conducted, they said.

Senior BJP councillor, Mr R.L. Arora, pointed out that as per Regulation 75 of the Act, “No business shall be transacted at a meeting of the sub-committee unless at least more than half of the members of the committee are present.” In the meetings held today to elect the chairman and deputy chairman, business of conducting election was transacted without the quorum of four. He further said if the nominees were to be declared elected unopposed the secretary, MC, could have done it, and there was no need to call a meeting. He alleged that the constitution of the committees was unfair because most of the BJP councillors had been given representation in only one committee. The House, while giving the Mayor the power to nominate members to these committees, had specified that each councillor should be included in at least two sub-committees.

Ms Ranjana Shahi said, “The Congress Mayor has made the sub-committees a laughing stock which will jeopardise the development work in the city. What is the credibility of these elections when the Mayor following a resolution has already convened the special meeting of the House on January 29 to consider the dissolution of these very committees? How does Congress propose to take work from the committees of which it could not muster the mere quorum even at the first election meetings held today?”

The Mayor, Mr Raj Kumar Goyal, on his part maintained that the candidates had been declared elected unopposed as per the Act and the number of members present did not matter. The quorum was required only when a business was transacted and conducting elections was no business. The legal opinion on the issue also clarifies this, he added.

Former mayor and BJP councillor, Mr Gian Chand Gupta, maintained that a meeting could not be called to order without the required quorum and the proceedings of the same were also not considered valid. Since the election was unconstitutional and against the regulations of the Act, the same should be dissolved, he added.

The BJP councillors had earlier moved a resolution seeking dissolution of the committees constituted by the Mayor and had sought that the same be constituted afresh by a sub-committee of five members to be appointed by the House. Alleging underrepresentation to BJP councillors and misuse of the powers given to the Mayor by the House , they had asked for convening a special meeting. The Mayor has called the same on January 29.

Mr Gupta further added that the officers of the MC should not succumb to any pressure. They should ensure that the election to these committees were held in accordance with the regulations contained in the Act , he opined.

US Rotary team visits MC office
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 20 — A five-member Rotary GSE team from the USA, led by Mr Earl Hale, today visited the Municipal Corporation office to acquaint themselves with the functioning of the office and to share their work experiences with the officials and councillors here.

The five members of the team were Mr Earl, a retired Army Officer; Mr Jimmy Powell; city planner Mr John Edwards; Ms Christina, an attorney and Mr Harold Roach. They are visiting the city under the Rotary Exchange programme, wherein four professionals of a rotary district under a team leader visit India and a group later goes from here to the USA to understand the culture of the place.

The MC Commissioner, Mr M.P Singh, talked about the work of the Corporation and the role they play in managing various services which touch people’s lives.

Later, in an open discussion the officials and the councillors answered various questions addressed to them about the functioning of the Corporation in various states of the USA. The delegates pointed out the need to adopt strictness while imposing fines for littering.

Mr Gian Chand Gupta asked them about the taxes which are imposed on the common man in the USA to generate revenue for the development works. Mr Harold listed the taxes levied there such as the tax of Real estate, goods and tax on goods and equipment. He further pointed out that paying more taxes in the USA only means better public services and hence people do not hesitate to pay the same.