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| Thursday, March 15, 2001, Chandigarh, India |
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PEC likely to be upgraded
to IIT level Chandigarh, March 14 Following the proposed
upgradation, the PEC will enjoy more flexibility and autonomy
for better utilisation and management of funds available with
it. MHRD guidelines says such institutions also gets a wider scope to generate
their own funds by way of consultancy and industry-institutions interaction,
among other aspects. Due to the upgradation, the college’s funding
agency will not change, as all these years PEC has been a
Centre-funded institute with the funds being channelised through the
Chandigarh Administration. The funds will come directly to the PEC. It
a meeting of the college’s acting Principal Prof R.S. Gupta and the
Joint Secretary, MHRD, it was suggested that the PEC should move the
case for an increase in seats in Information Technology (IT)-related
disciplines to trade off the loss on account of such slashing and for
optimum utilisation of the resources available at PEC. At was also clarified in the meeting that the upgradation will not bring about any change in the reservation in services policy being followed by the institute. PEC is one of the 67 category II level institutions which are to be upgraded into category I on the lines of the IITs and IIMs. The first institute to be upgraded in this scheme has been the Roorkee Engineering College. These 67 technical institutions in the country have been identified as category II level institutions compared to the IITs and IIMs, 15 of which have been placed in category I el institutes. This upgradation follows recommendations of an interim report of the special task force on Human Resources Development in IT chaired by Union Minister for HRD Prof Murli Manohar Joshi. The task force was established in pursuance of the declaration of the Prime Minister at the First National Conference of IT Ministers held in New Delhi in July last year. One of the terms of reference for this special task force was to draw up a plan to optimally use the existing infrastructure of the IITs, RECs, other engineering colleges and educational institutions to double their student intake from the next academic year and triple it in the next two years. The
report further states that “a package of measures may be undertaken
in all these institutions for their (Category II level) upgradation to
category I level. Such upgradation will cost only a fraction of what a
new IIT would cost.” Till now the college which has been working
as a Department under the Chandigarh Administration will be virtually
free from any day to day control of the government and also be
de-affiliated from Panjab University. The PEC will then conduct its
own examinations and confer degrees on the students. |
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Major items on MC agenda
passed by F and CC Chandigarh, March 14 However, the items pertaining to the use of open spaces adjoining hotels and publication of quarterly newsletter were deferred. The members approved the recarpeting and strengthening of roads in main bazaar, Mani Majra at an estimated cost of Rs 15.27 lakh; internal roads of Shanti Nagar at a cost of Rs 6.50 lakh and Pipliwala town of Mani Majra at a cost of Rs 7.56 lakh. However, the estimates for strengthening of Mansa Devi road from main bazaar to UT boundary; from dispensary to police station Mani Majra (old Ropar road) and the road from railway crossing to police station, Mani Majra were not considered, because the estimates of all these roads exceeded the money allocated under this head for the said purpose. Besides this, the estimate of Rs 6.02 lakh was passed for strengthening of Road Samadhi Gate to Dehra Sahib and gurdwara to Main Bazaar, near Kila Mani Majra. However, the estimates of strengthening of two other roads in Pocket No 2, 3 and 6 were deferred as the same were The rough cost estimate of Rs 12.33 lakh was also passed to widen and strengthen roads leading from causeway to Railway Station road, Industrial Area, Phase-I, since the intensity of traffic on this road will increase following the closure of road from Madhya Marg to Industrial Area due to the construction of Chandigarh-Ludhiana link. The members passed an estimate of Rs 18.87 lakh for a deep bore tubewell for providing domestic water supply to the residents of rehabilitation colony, Phase-III, Mauli Jagran. The members felt that once the tubewell was installed, complaints of low water pressure in certain pockets would be sorted out. To maintain the beauty of the City Beautiful, the committee decided against giving permission for holding functions in parking areas and other concrete areas. This, according to them, lead to blocked traffic, thereby causing inconvenience to customers as well as pedestrians. However, they recommended that permission be given to hold functions in undeveloped green belts at double the rates fixed for open spaces. This would help check the misuse of these places. Now for holding social functions in such belts, the residents will have to dish out Rs 600 per day for an area upto 2000 square yard and Rs 1,000 for a 4000 square yard area. The item pertaining to transfer of as many as 13 V-3 roads in the city to the Chandigarh Administration as a one time measure was also approved. |
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Shady defence deals Chandigarh, March 14 Terming the exposure as “shocking” and “ “shameful”, the residents were unanimous in their opinion that exemplary punishment should be given to those found guilty in the revelations. Demanding resignation of all those indicted by the exposures for a fair probe, a noted security analyst, Major-Gen Himmat Singh Gill (Retd), was of the opinion that the inquiry committee must have senior and internationally-renowned retired defence officer as one of its members. Holding the Ministry of Defence responsible for the alleged corruption in the defence deals, General Gill cautioned that probe should not be an eyewash like the Kargil Review Committee, in which the uniformed officers and retired defence officers hardly had any role to play. In fact, the probe should cover all aspects of the controversial defence deals signed in recent years to get at the bottom of the truth. A columnist and a nominated councillor of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh(MCC), Major-Gen Rajinder Nath (Retd), urged a high level “positive” probe into the allegations. The duration of the panel, comprising scientists, defence officers, bureaucrats and even politicians, should be time-bound and its terms of reference should be specific. In fact, he wanted that the technocrats and not the politicians and bureaucrats should have the final say in the selections of the defence equipment. It is failure of the democratic system where the corruption rules the roost, commented Prof K.C. Kaistha, who holds the Baba Prithvi Singh Azad Chair at the Department of Sociology, Panjab University, here. Immediate legal reforms so that the guilty did not go scot-free were the need of the hour, he said. Advocating “summary trials” and “time-bound” inquiry, he wanted public condemnation of the guilty and conclusive punishment to them so that the faith of the public was restored in the judiciary and the rule of law. Mere statements by the government that the law will take its own course and the guilty will be punished is not enough, he added. Going a step further, Mr D.K. Uppal, Director of the World Wide Registration and Training Counselling Services, wanted the inquiry commission to be headed by a retired Chief Justice of India and submission of the report within a period of 90 days. The inquiry should not be an “eyewash” like previous inquiries and it should be ensured that it was implemented in a “time-bound” manner. To dissuade the accused from playing havoc with the security of the country in future, their entire property should be confiscated and punishment such as life imprisonment awarded so as to deter the public men from indulging in shady deals, he added. |
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The consumer has the right to know On March 15, 1972, John F. Kennedy, the then US President, prevailed upon the US Congress to give its approval to the Consumers Bill of Rights, spelling out four rights — the right to safety; the right to be informed; the right to choose; and the right to be heard. The Bill of rights is regarded as the Magna Carta of consumers’ right. In India certain Acts like the Indian Standard Institution (Certification Marks) Act, 1952; the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954; the Drugs and Cosmetic Act, 1940; the Standard of Weights and Measures Act, 1976; and the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practice Act, 1969, are some measures which had been taken by the government towards consumer welfare. A legislation recognising rights of consumers and to provide better protection for them known as the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, came into force on December 24, 1986, and it became fully operative on July 1, 1987. The Act seeks to protect the rights of consumers, namely the right to be protected against the marketing of goods which are hazardous to life and property; the right to be informed about the quality, quantity, purity, standard and price of goods; the right to be assured, wherever possible, of access to a variety of goods at competitive prices; the right to be heard and assured that consumers’ interest will receive due consideration at appropriate forums; the right to seek redress against unfair trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation of consumers; and the right to consumer education. Under this Act a complaint regarding defects in goods or deficiency in services may constitute a cause for redressal. Frivolous or vicious complaints are liable to be dismissed. Orders made by consumer forums are enforceable as if those were decrees. Penalties for non-compliance also exist. Even government departments can be proceeded against. This enactment needs to be constantly monitored in its implementation to enhance “quality of life of consumers”. World Disability Day Under the Act, a central coordination committee is to be constituted to serve as the national focal point on disability matters. Similarly, state level committees are to be constituted. Chapter XIV provides for punishment to the extent of two years with or without fine up to Rs 20,000 for persons who fraudulently avail or attempt to avail themselves of any benefit meant for persons with disabilities. Section 47 of the Act speaks of non-discrimination of disabled persons in government jobs and enjoins that no establishment shall dispense with or reduce in rank an employee who acquires a disability during his service, and no promotion is to be denied to such person. There is also a provision of not less than 3 per cent vacancies in all government and public sector undertakings to be reserved for disabled persons. Out of 3 per cent, 1 per cent shall be persons with visual, hearing and locomotor disability. Bharti Parsoon |
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Thorough study needed
in Nadha area: GSI Panchkula, March 14 The GSI has already submitted a report in this regard to the local Deputy Commissioner, Mr
S.K. Monga. A three-member team of the GSI which carried out inspection of the “trouble spot” observed that the failure of the rock mass had led to the development of rotational movement in the hill, leading to cracks. There is no threat to the town. However, the area falling under the Panchkula extension, the team claims, needs a study all over again in view of the fresh developments. Though nothing can be presumed on the occurrence of cracks and their impact, an assessment of areas, which are proposed for urban development, is very essential before it is deemed fit for construction,’’ Mr
G.C. Bhambry, a Senior Geologist with the GSI, informed. Prima facie evidence, in the report, points out that the weakened bondage of the rocks and seepage of water resulted in the sliding down of the hillock as a whole, approximately by 2 m, and raising of the plain by approximately 20 cm. It is very localised in nature and concentrated around the hillock and adjoining fields. Whatever our findings, these are confined to a study of the damaged area only. A very important finding in this regard is the crack has exposed the failure surface in the area and any long spell of rain is likely to reactivate the movement along the surface again. Another geologist, Mr Inder Singh, informed that such landslides were common in the Himalayan ranges and this particular slide in Nadha was an old one, reactivated and aggravated probably due to seepage of water. Contending that the area adjoining the hillock was the immediate casualty, the third team member, Mr Pradeep Singh, said that the damage could extend further in the field but would remain confined to the foothills only. “This area is not fit for construction since this activity cannot be predicted. However, houses immediately on the crack would go in case such a thing recurs. The others would be safe,” he opined. For a complete analysis, the team says it requires a thorough topographic survey, including study of the groundwater level, rainfall during the past 50 years, the data of floods. “We were not even called in to carry out inspection of the area. Any further involvement would require a formal request by the authorities concerned, asking for analysis,” Mr Bhambry added. Meanwhile, the Haryana Urban Development Authority
(HUDA) is in the process of finalising the details they have gathered over the past week on the cracks in the area identified for development of housing societies. Sources said that their report would be put up to the GSI by Monday. |
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Burglary in Sector 21 Chandigarh, March 14 According to information available from police sources, the miscreants entered the Sector 21-B residence of Mr Ashok Goyal between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. in the afternoon when the entire family was away. It is learnt that the burglars had forced their way by removing the window grills. The owner of the house, has reportedly informed the police that the entire family had left the house at around 2 p.m. It was only when they came back at around 6 p.m. that they found the entire house ransacked. The police was immediately informed and senior police officers rushed to the spot. |
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Jhankaar 2001 from today Chandigarh, March 14 Day two will have the one act plays, classical singing, solo and group competitions along with poster-making, collage-making and on-the-spot painting competitions. |
Why is the city youth distressed? Chandigarh, March 14 According to the figures available from the police for the past five years, of the total suicides and cases of inquest in the city, more than 70 per cent of the deceased were below 30 years of age. The number of males in this category was, however, slightly higher than the number of females (257 males as against 207 females), although the total number of women who reportedly killed themselves was 20 per cent higher than the total number of males who decided to end their lives. The figures point out that over the past five years, the number of youths who have been ending their lives has been on a rise. While only 70 cases of suicide and inquest were reported in 1996 and 71 cases in 1997, the figure escalated to 98 reported cases in the years 1998 and 1999 and 105 during the last year. However, senior police officers admit that the number of suicide cases in this age group could be much higher as many times the families of the deceased avoid reporting such incidents to the police. Police official dealing with such cases also reveal that in almost all cases of suicide amongst youth, the extreme step was taken under depression and the deceased had expressed their desire to end life to a confidant. It is also learnt that the maximum number of cases pertained to those in the age group of 22 to 38 years of age (90 per cent), while in a substantial number of cases, the deceased were in their teenage years. Though the reasons for suicide in cases where the age group of the victims was between 20 to 30 years varied from failure in love affairs, marital disputes, unemployment, teenagers were committing suicides for reasons like poor marks in studies, minor altercation with parents and failure in a love affair. Also, a large number of women committing suicides were doing so because of marital discord (80 per cent). Interestingly, it is also observed that poisoning is fast emerging as the most preferred means of ending life amongst women, to be followed by hanging and self-immolation. Of the 95 cases of suicide by poisoning reported since 1996, 90 per cent were women. It is observed that men favoured hanging and self-immolation to kill themselves, while a large number of teenagers decided on poisoning themselves to death or jumping in the Sukhna Laka ‘‘in order to put an end to their woes’’. Admitting that the figures may be much higher, sociologists and psychiatrists attribute the rise in suicide amongst youth to high aspirations amongst them and the failure to achieve these. Opines Ms Ramona Howell, a sociologist in the city, ‘‘ The dissatisfaction amongst people is increasing day by day. As the society takes on consumeristic overtones, the aspirations of the individuals, specially the youth, rise. However, only a handful of persons are able to work towards the fulfilment of their goals. The remaining who are unable to cope up with failure, tend to take recourse to suicides.’’ Her views are supported by Dr Pramod Kamal, a leading psychiatrist, who says that with expectations going high, people find it difficult to cope with the problems. “People have no social circles and nuclear families provide them with little security and this insecurity over a period of time leads to depression, which can manifest itself in suicide.” Dr Kamal also pointed out that a lot of cases of attempted suicides amongst youth go unreported.  |
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‘Reform consumer relief systems’ Chandigarh, March 14 Consumers are being exploited at every step. There is an urgent need to inform, educate and enlighten the consumers to further and preserve their privileges and responsibilities, opine activists. A consumer movement is need of the hour to ensure that shopkeepers sell quality goods at fair prices, and weigh correctly. The legal advisor of the Punjab Civil and Consumer Welfare Front, Mr Arunjeev Singh Walia, said there is need to reform the working of the consumer courts. As for simple cases the consumer have to wait for three to four years for the disposal. Mr R.K. Kaplash, Vice-Chairman of the Consumer Forum, Chandigarh, said “as the consumers are being exploited at every place, so need to seek effective functioning of government distributing and serving agencies, such as Super Bazar, fair price shops, cooperative societies and other marketing agencies. The President of the Consumer Forum, Chandigarh, Mr H.S. Ahluwalia, said the forum has been set up for receiving complaints of consumers and also provide necessary advice for solutions. We provide free services to the complainants for early redressal of their grievances. The consumer activist and advocate, Mr K.S. Lamba, said the consumer courts were doing good services for the consumer but there is need to simplify its procedure as litigants have to wait for more then three years for compensation. The Administration should increase the strength of the clerical as well as judicial officers for speedy disposal of the complaints. The officer at the various government departments dealing with the public services, like water, electricity, telephone, etc have to work with the spirit of social welfare to settle the complaints of the consumers with mutual negotiations added another consumer activist, Mr Swaraj Arora. |
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Cong demands resignation of govt Panchkula, March 14 The president of the Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee (CTCC), Mr B.B. Bahl, said certain partners of the ruling alliance had put the security and integrity of the country in jeopardy. The defence officials, who had been placed under suspension, had been made scapegoats and the political leaders were being protected, he alleged. Meanwhile, Mr Sunil Party and Mr Subhash Chawla, executive committee members of the CTCC, said Mr Vajpayee should have resigned immediately on “moral grounds”. Meanwhile, members of the district committee of the Communist Party of India (Maxist), Chandigarh, today organised a rally and blocked the highway at The Tribune chowk in protest against the alleged involvement of the NDA Government in a defence deal scandal here. The agitators demanded resignation of the Government. |
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“Probe councillors’ shady deals” SAS Nagar, March 14 Mr S.S. Patwari, leader of the opposition, said the enforcement employees never bothered to collect its dues. A decision by the council to allow transfer the ownership of a kiosk from one person to another after charging a fee of Rs 5,000 was taken to mint money, alleged another councillor, Mr Manjit Singh Sethi. Without naming the councillors, Mr Sethi claimed that they had found nine cases in which certain councillors had got allotted one or more kiosks in the name of their kith and kin. The names of the beneficiaries would be disclosed at the meeting of the civic body scheduled for tomorrow. In a separate statement, Mr N.K. Marwaha demanded that an independent agency should probe in the mushrooming of kiosks in the markets. Talking to mediapersons the councillors demanded that the entire record of the enforcement wing for the last five years be taken into custody to ascertain the loss suffered by the council on account of the illegal kiosks. Three other councillors, Mr Manjit Singh, Ms Harbans Kaur and Mr Manmohan Singh Langh demanded a CBI probe into the racket. On the issue of slashing of water and sewer charges, the councillors said they stick to their demand of total reduction in the sewer rates and 10 to 15 per cent decrease in the water charges. A probe into the purchase of sub-standard sewer cleaning machine has been demanded by the councillors. Mr Sethi said though the work of sanitation by a private contractor was not satisfactory, the council was going ahead with its plans to privatise sanitation in the residential parts of the town. |
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Rs 1 lakh given for blood centre Chandigarh, March 14 This resource centre has been taken up as a joint project by the Rotary Club and the Blood Bank Society, PGI. The meeting held today comes as a part of the ongoing World Rotaract Week celebrations. On the occasion, the Rotaract Club also released a souvenir. Past Rotary International president Mr Raja Saboo and secretary, Blood Bank Society, Ms Kanta Saroop Krishen, lauded the efforts being made by the
Rotaractors. |
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Mayor to meet
Mani Majra residents Chandigarh, March 14 As part of this, the Mayor along with the officers of the civic body will listen to the problems of the residents and try and provide quick solution to their problems or try and get the same redressed within a short time period. The date of the meeting will be intimated well in advance. To begin with, the Mayor’s grievance cell will meet in the sub-office, Mani Majra, tomorrow at 3 pm. The issue of 400 odd residents of the area being served notices for removing extra projections before seeking No Objection certificates will also come up for discussion. |
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Satya Pal Jain’s plea to Governor Chandigarh, March 14 In a letter to General Jacob, Mr Jain also wanted that the flats should be transferred on nominal rates as demanded by the CHB Residents Federation. Since the demand was pending for several years, it demands your personal attention, he added. |
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Hindi workshop at NABARD Chandigarh, March 14 The Principal, DAV College, Malout, Dr D.S. Gupt discussed various problems in written Hindi. The Assistant Raj Bhasha Officer, Ms Sandhya Chaudhary, welcomed the chief guest and Raj Bhasha Officer, Mr Tara Chand, moved a vote of thanks. |
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Navratra mela
arrangements Panchkula, March 14 The chief administrator, Mr S.K. Monga, informed that 25 special buses of the CTU would be started from Sector 17 and Sector 43 bus stands in Chandigarh, as well as those of Haryana Roadways from Ambala, Kalka, Naraingarh, Pinjore and nearby towns. A temporary bus stand would also be established near Swastik Vihar. Over 30 doctors would be on duty, round-the-clock, and two ambulances and a mobile van would also be engaged, besides a retail price shop by Confed and the Food and Supplies department. He said that arrangements were being made for drinking water for devotees, and an information centre. Police would also be deployed to maintain law and order. |
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SSP proposes case against constable Chandigarh, March 14 Sources informed that the SSP, Mr Parag Jain, in a report submitted to the Inspector General of Police, UT, Mr B.S. Bassi, has proposed that police constable Naresh Kumar be booked under Section 304 A of the IPC. Sources informed that Dr Amanjit Singh was arrested by a police party from the Sector 39 police station on August 10, 2000. He was charged with creating nuisance at public place in an inebriated condition. It was while the police was taking him back to the police station after getting the medical examination done that the deceased had mysteriously fallen out of the police vehicle. The police had subsequently claimed that Dr Amanjit Singh had tried to make good his escape and in the process had jumped off the vehicle and hurt himself, which ultimately led to his death. The constable has been accused of being negligent in not preventing the altercation that took place in the police vehicle while Dr Amanjit Singh was trying to jump and later by not taking him to the hospital for treatment. |
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No headway in robbery case Chandigarh, March 14 It is learnt that the police rounded up about 50 youths of the area, but none of them matched the specification of the accused. However, the police has been able to make a computer sketch of the youth and the same is being circulated around. The police suspects the accused to be a drug addict. The suspicion arose on hearing the sequence of events narrated by the victim, Ms Vishnu Devi. She had reported that when she pushed the accused out of the room, he showed no resistance. According to police sources, the youth was in his early 20s and was wearing a kurta-pyjama at the time of the incident. |
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