 |
|
| Wednesday,
March 6, 2002,
Chandigarh, India
|
|
||||
|
Shoeshine
boys take exam Chandigarh, March 5 For these birds, who call the slums of Sector 25 Janata Colony their home, hardship is only as strong as they allow it to be. Otherwise it is always fun to play with.... And after playing hard for three years, the game today concluded with a note of victory for these five shoeshine boys who took the class V examinations which commenced today. Setting a golden example in their own way, Vinod Arun, Arjun, Sahil and Sumit, had a vibrant tale to tell. “We completed our English paper in less than an hour. We knew everything from fill in the blanks to write opposites. It felt great,” chirped all the birds together, maintaining the rhythm of joy. The sparkle in their eyes said a lot, so did the spring in their walk when they came out of the Government High School in Sector 24, the centre for their exams, which will end on March 20. The first thing they did was treat themselves to a packet of sweets which their mentor Zulfiqar Khan had bought for them. Then came the spree of thanks for Ms Indu Bala Singh (MD, CITCO’s wife), who helped the kids with many formalities, from legal to academic. Said Zulfiqar, “We had missed the date of applying for roll numbers. But the District Education Officer was very supportive, so was Mr S.P. Singh, managing director, CITCO, who actually got children’s affidavits made. The kids can never thank him enough.” Zulfiqar also mentioned about the efforts of Ms Kuldip Kaur, principal of Government High School, where kids attend the makeshift Aasha school. Talking to children reinforced one’s faith in life. Said Vinod, the eldest among them, “We were a little nervous on being faced with children who seemed more confident. Arjun was highly apprehensive. He was so in the grip of fear that he actually started trembling inside the hall. But he regained his poise very soon and he performed very well.” Arjun laughed, saying, “Pata nahi mujhe dar kyoon lag gaya tha. Dar ki to koi baat nahi thi. Geeta didi aur Vikram bhaiya ne hame jamke padhaya tha.” While Arjun, Arun and Sumit showered praises upon their teachers, they stood smiling in a corner. Geeta and Vikram have both been teaching the slum kids for long. It was as much a test for them as it was for the kids. In fact, the parents of kids could also not help getting those jitters. Hoping that the kids fare well in today’s exam, all the parents gave them sweets to eat in the morning. As for preparation, the children are most confident in Punjabi social studies and General Science are a little difficult to
memories, they said, adding that, “But we are determined to make it this time. Many people have hopes from us. We cannot let so many people down,” said Arun. |
|
Online voters list for MC poll Panchkula, March 5 The software programme for this online facility has been created by the National Informatics Centre and the National Information Technology Promotion unit. This approval was given at a meeting of the State Election Commissioner with the Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula, held in Chandigarh today. It is learnt that the programme for preparing the voters list will be given by the Election Commission by March 11 and within 10 days of the schedule being given, this online facility will be made operational. This software, inform officials, has already been successfully test-run. The Deputy Commissioner, Ms Jyoti Arora, confirmed that the State EC had given its nod today. " People will now be saved a lot of inconvenience. Also a total transparency in the system will be evolved through this online facility," she said. The Project Nodal Officer, Mr Rajesh Jogpal, informed that Electronic Voting Machines will also be put to use in these elections. He said other than the online voters list, as many as 12 centres will also be created for the physical checking of voters list in different parts of the district. This facility will enable the voters to view and access the electoral information online, and if need be, file claims, objections and seek alterations on the data, all on the Net. Called the Web Enabled Electoral Rolls (WEER) , will be available on the net in both English and Hindi. |
|
Administrator
gets more fiscal powers
Chandigarh, March 5 The MHA today conveyed the sanction of the President of India delegating enhanced financial powers to the Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh. The MHA, however, has not given powers to recruit and create posts on the plea that recruitment has been banned by the government. All such proposals require the sanction of the Union Finance Ministry. According to the communication from the Union Home Ministry, the powers of the Administrator to approve plan schemes (this means development schemes) have been enhanced from Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore including expenditure sanction in respect of such schemes. The powers of the Administrator for sanction of works have been enhanced from Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 5 crore per project. According to the communication, financial powers of the Administrator, Chandigarh Administration, under Rule 21 of the Delegation of Financial Powers Rules 1978, had also been enhanced. Earlier, sanctions required MHA’s nod thus consuming a lot of time and delaying matters. For normal contract or purchases, the powers of Administrator have been enhanced to Rs 2 crore and for negotiated or single tender contract, power of Administrator has been enhanced to Rs 80 lakh. For the purchase of stores of proprietary nature, the power has been enhanced to Rs 40 lakh and for direct purchase on the ground of emergency the power has been enhanced to Rs 20 lakh. According to an official spokesman these powers are subject to provisions that these powers would be exercised with the approval of Standing Finance Committee and in consultation with the Finance Secretary, Chandigarh Administration, and after following proper procedure. In the past 18 months the UT Administrator, Lieut. Gen. J.F.R. Jacob (retd.), had advocated to the MHA that powers of Administrator, UT should be on a par with those of the Lieut. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar and the Union Home Ministry in concurrence with the Finance Department and integrated Finance Division decided to accept the plea of General Jacob.  |
|
ADVANTAGE
CONSUMERS Chandigarh, March 5 While details of pulse rates on different routes will be provided to the PCO owners shortly alongwith other written instructions, the Nigam will clamp down heavily upon those not adhering to rules like the display of pulse rate for different distances and charging according to the prescribed rates. This apart, the BSNL will install 50 instruments from where one can make national calls using Virtual Calling Cards (VCC), in Chandigarh, Panchkula and SAS Nagar ,by March this year . "Using a VCC, one can make calls any time at discounted rates. This would be specially useful in case of students living in hostels or those who have to make frequent out-station calls as they will be able to make STD calls even in case the STD facility is not
available", said Mr R C Vaish, Principal General Manager Telecom, Chandigarh, while addressing a press conference here today. He said duplicate-bill-issue machine and coin-collection machine will be among the other facilities which will be provided to the telephone subscribers shortly. Another major step in this regard will be a call centre in Sector 34 which would help sort all their queries regarding the BSNL's services, bills etc. ‘‘We will come up with a full-fledged call centre following the integration of services like Telecom Revenue Accounts (TRA) and Commercial. Call Centre is one of the main plans on the agenda for the coming financial year’’, he said. Talking about the aggressive marketing that the BSNL has recently taken to, Mr Vaish said following corporatisation, the Nigam has become customer responsive and is paying special attention to high end and corporate users. "The marketing funds that were allocated around September last, for this circle were almost Rs 1 crore and we are adopting a proper strategy to utilise these", he said. Regarding the response to the Fixed Wire Telephone (FWT) connections on WLL technology, he said of the total around 2,000 connections that BSNL will provide here, as many as 1,100 have already been issued whereas 300 are in the pipeline. The Nigam has also recently started a new scheme for booking of new telephone connections for Rs 840 (installation charges) plus one-third of annual advance rental deposit (which comes out to be Rs 1,000 for Chandigarh and Rs 720 for Panchkula and SAS Nagar). The scheme where subscribers will get an India Telephone card worth Rs 525 free will be valid till March 20. The number of working connections of the BSNL will reach two lakh, said Mr Vaish before March 31. |
|
Now download forms from Admn website Chandigarh, March 5 Members of the public are free to download these forms from the website, print them and use the same for submitting their applications to the departments, organisations or autonomous bodies concerned. The Administration has made it mandatory for the departments, organisations or autonomous bodies concerned to accept such forms. Where a fee has been prescribed for sale of such form the same fee may be taken at the time of the submission of the form by the applicant. But it is not necessary for the applicant to obtain copy of the form from the organisation, department or autonomous body concerned against the prescribed fee. The same can be done through the Internet. Instructions in this regard will be displayed permanently on notice boards in public areas . |
|
NHRC orders not complied with for 2 yrs Chandigarh, March 5 Talking to TNS here today, Capt P.P. Sharma said following “harassment and intimidation”, of his daughter, Mridhu Sharma, by a former Principal, she had been “forced” to leave her job as a teacher in Sainik School, Kunjpura. Following this, a complaint had been lodged with the NHRC in May 1997. In March 2000, the NHRC observed that there were circumstances which “would clearly indicate that due to the various acts of commission and omission committed by the school authorities concerned and more particularly the then Principal, a situation was created for Ms Sharma which was no longer conducive or even safe for her to continue with the job.” The Commission also recommended that the Central Government should reconsider the circumstances under which Ms Sharma had to resign her job and also to consider the question of reinstating her in service with consequential benefits. The Commission further recommended that an inquiry be conducted into the conduct of the then Principal, who “failed to handle the situation appropriately and allowed things to precipitate leading to harassment and mental torture of Ms Sharma.” The Commission has also sought a compliance report within six weeks. Captain Sharma said despite concerted efforts and several representations by him, the Commission’s orders were still to be implemented. He said despite the Commission taking a serious view about the non-receipt of the compliance report from the Central Government, sent a fourth reminder to the government authorities concerned. The government is still to initiate action in this regard, he added. Fearing that the case may be hushed up, Captain Sharma said he had submitted two representations to the Commission seeking a CBI probe into the matter so that accountability of each guilty officer is fixed. He added that he had also written to the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, stating the facts of the case, the delay in implementing the Commission’s orders and his apprehensions. |
|
Political leaders decry communal violence Chandigarh, March 5 Leaders of different political parties including the BJP, appealed to the people to maintain communal harmony in the city. The meeting was attended by Mr Satpal Jain and Mr Yashpal Mahajan from the BJP, Mr Shivi Jaiswal and Mr Devinder Dhillon from the Samajwadi Party, Mr Devi Dayal Sharma from the Communist Party of India(CPI), Mr Mataram Dhiman from the BSP, Mr Rajinder Kashyap from the Janata Dal-Secular, Mr Ajay Jagga from the Janata Party, Ms Harjinder Kaur and Mr N. S. Minhas from the Shiromani Akali Dal. The meeting urged the Central Government to severely punish those who were involved in the Godhra train burning and subsequent communal carnage in the Gujarat and other places in the country. Leaders of various political parties observed a two-minute silence to condole the death of the those who died in the communal violence. |
|
Shiv Sena leaders seek protection Chandigarh, March 5 At a meeting held here today, the party also demanded security for temples in the city. The meeting criticised the National Democratic Alliance at the Centre for ignoring the aspirations of Hindus. |
|
Vulture
catching plan okayed Panchkula, March 5 Officials in the Forest and Wildlife Department here informed that they have also given a consent letter to scientists of the BNHS to catch the birds in the state. It is learnt that the scientists have identified three places in the state — Samlesan and Badi Sher in Morni near Panchkula and in Uchana in Jind. Sources inform that as many as 20 pairs of vultures will be caught by wildlife experts from different parts of the country. Dr Vibhu Prakash, Principal Project Investigator, BNHS, told TNS today, that the birds had been sighted in Rajasthan and Bihar. ‘‘Birds from different places are being caught in order to ascertain if the viral infection that is afflicting these birds is the same throughout, " he said. Earlier BNHS experts and Wildlife officials had done a survey in the state for spotting the white-backed vultures. While 16 pairs were spotted in the jungles of Badi Sher, the birds were also sighted in Samlesan Devi in Morni and in Uchana village. The first Vulture Breeding and Disease Diagnosis Centre in Asia is coming up at Birshikargaha in Pinjore and is a joint venture of the Bombay Natural History Society and the state government. It is learnt that avian experts of the BNHS plan to begin their operation for catching the nearly extinct white-backed vultures, from April. The white-backed vultures, one of the common scavengers, is facing extinction all over the world. It is suspected that these scavengers are dying of a viral infections, but the strains of the virus are still not known. Meanwhile, it is learnt that the construction for the holding and breeding pens has been completed, the construction of pathology laboratory and isolation pens is still under construction. The vultures, after being caught, will be let loose in the holding and breeding pens at the centre Their blood and muscle samples will be tested for the viral infection. Even the diet samples will be thoroughly examined. In case, the virus strikes, the diseased vultures will be shifted to isolation pens and their blood and muscle samples will be examined by a team of pathologists to know the exact viral infection that is leading to the birds getting extinct. |
|
Ex-servicemen’s potential highlighted Chandigarh, March 5 The Governor said in an era of fast changing economic scenario, the corporate sector was fast changing its strategy to survive in the highly competitive environment. In his address, the Chief of Staff, Western Command, Lieut-Gen H.S. Kanwar, highlighted the qualities and professional expertise among ex-servicemen and implored the captains of industry to make use of this potential force. The pool of trained and self-disciplined manpower would act as a force multiplier for the industry, he added. The Director-General, Resettlement, Maj-Gen V.S. Budhwar, said unlike other professionals, majority of the defence personnel retire between the age of 35 to 52. With the ex-servicemen population estimated to be 36 lakh he said that the corporate sector and the armed forces could bank on the vast human resource for mutual benefit. The recessionary trend in the corporate world was dwelled at length by the Chairperson of the Chandigarh chapter of the CII, Ms I.S. Paul. He emphasised that effort should be made to rekindle the entrepreneurship abilities of ex-servicemen, especially in the agriculture sector, which has a vast potential of growth with subsidised credit facilities available. |
|
Making
consumers aware of their rights Chandigarh, March 5 Mr V.K. Kapoor, Deputy Director-General, BIS, in his keynote address urged the consumer associations to come forward and help BIS in making consumers aware of their rights. He said standardisation of consumer products would go a long way in ensuring their quality and to bring quality to the centre stage in the market. “It is necessary to create an aware consumer who with similarly armed brethren can make an effective pressure group”, he added. He appealed to the consumers to watch out for the unscrupulous manufactures. The use of the Standard Mark or its immitation under the BIS Act, 1986 without a valid licence is punishable with imprisonment extended up to one year and fine up to 50,000. Mr Jaidev Singh, Chairman, Consumer Forum, in his opening remarks lauded the role of BIS in consumer protection through its various activities. He explained in detail about various rights of consumers and assured of all help by the Consumer Forum to BIS in creating awareness amongst the consumers. Mr R.D. Angra, Director, BIS gave a detailed account of various activities of BIS. He said the BIS had so far formulated more than 17000 standards nearly 2000 of which had direct relevance to common consumer. He also informed that the BIS had more than 16000 licences in operation for product certification and around 800 for quality system certification. Mr H.S. Ahluwalia, President Complaints, Consumer Forum, Chandigarh gave various examples of complaints received by the Consumer Forum. |
|
Beer’s advocate gets a foreign trip “The company had started a contest for it’s customers during it’s launch here . It was during that time only that I filled some form where I also wrote a slogan about the beer” — is all he remembers about the contest, The surprise , of ourse pleasant enough, was though entirely unexpected was not a first time happening for this city-based Punjab and Haryana High Court advocate. A few years back the family had the opportunity to visit Nepal after his wife who participated in a car rally won return tickets for the Himalayan Kingdom. The Fosters Beer prize , confirmation of which he received last month, provides a four day- three-night trip to Malaysia beginning March 17. The Fostralia Formula Oz global contest ran in India from December 15, 2001 to January 25, 2001 was an online and offline contest. Six winners from India- Deepti Abraham from Bangalore, Anand Sharma from Kolkatta, Preeti Vasudevan from Delhi, Prasad Waghre from Goa and Ansley Savio Remedio from Mumbai were selected among the 200 in the world to get a chance to enjoy a two-week trip to Melbourne, Gold Coast and Sydney, and VIP seats at the Melbourne Grand Prix 2002. All the participants were required to do was log on to and answer a few simple questions. Winners were decided on the basis of a lucky draw. Also to give momentum, offline promotions were organised where consumers at select bars and restaurants, were to look out for the Fostralia Formula Oz coupons. The offline promotions included a consumer to fill out a coupon and drop it into the dropbox at select outlets in the city and through a lucky draw four winners all over India won a trip to the Malaysian Grand Prix. |
|
Employees’ panel office-bearers Chandigarh, March 5 Mr Vimal Gandhi, Vice-President, Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, continues to be the Chairman of the committee by the virtue of being the senior most officer of the Central Government in Chandigarh, SAS Nagar and Panchkula. Mr Gandhi has appointed Mr A. S. Khokhar, Deputy Accountant General with the office of the Punjab Accountant General, Secretary, Regional Sports Board. Mr Bhagat is working as Director, Regional Evaluation Office (Northern Region), Planning Commission, Mr Goel is Information Officer with the Press Information Bureau and Mr Sharma Senior Accounts Officer with the office of the Principal Accountant General, Punjab. |
|
Possession
of plot sought Chandigarh, March 5 The society deposited Rs 14.5 lakh with the Administration on February 28 as 25 per cent of the total land value, according to a press note of the society. The society requested the Administration to soon hand over the physical possession of the land. |
Scooterist killed
in mishap Chandigarh, March 5 3 held Booked Dowry case Stolen Held for stealing toy Gun
metal stolen LPG stolen |
SSIs’ problems deliberated upon Chandigarh, March 5 This was stated Mr N.S. Brar, Director, Industries, Chandigarh Administration, while addressing a bankers’ and entrepreneurs’ meet on ‘Challenges and Problems in Financing SSI’ here today. The meet was organised jointly by the Department of Industries and the Technical Teachers Training Institute. The small-scale entrepreneurs highlighted their problems regarding grant of loans, information, schemes, interest rates, rehabilitation of sick units and deficiency in banking services. They also put forth their suggestions regarding the same. “It is essential that sufficient information regarding policy announcements of the RBI and the government on loans to tiny and SSI units be made readily available to industrialists,” said Mr A.L. Aggarwal, General Secretary, Chamber of Chandigarh Industries. He also emphasised the need for reduction in interest charges on SSI loans. The industrialists suggested that a specialised SSI bank branch in the city under the Kapoor Committee norms be set up at the earliest. They also favoured assessment of working capital limits of SSI units and relief for rehabilitation of sick SSI units as per the recommendations of the Nayak Committee report. The bankers, while explaining various finance schemes for industrialists, described the procedures for these. Among those who participated in the meet were representatives of the Chandigarh Industries Association, the Chandigarh Chamber of Small Industries, the Federation of SSIs, Reserve Bank of India, SIDBI, State Bank of India and Canara Bank. |
|
40 win
product promotion scheme Chandigarh, March 5 |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 122 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Chandigarh, March 5