The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

Muralidharan quits over promotion issue
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 7
Dr R. Muralidharan, Associate Professor in the Department of Endocrinology, PGI, submitted his resignation to the Head of the Department here today. Confirming this, Dr Murlidharan, however, refused to talk further on the matter but sources in the PGI state that Dr Murlidharan has resigned in protest against being rejected for promotion as Additional Professor.

As many as 11 Associate Professors have been recently promoted as Additional Professors and their names were ratified in the last meeting of the PGI governing body on February 27. Three were rejected. Sources close to Dr Muralidharan state that he holds impeccable academic record and oppression by the HoD can be the only reason why he was not promoted.

The PGI Director, Dr S.K. Sharma, however, states that all those whose names were recommended by the group of internal and external experts who had assessed these professors had been promoted. Dr Sharma said Dr Muralidharan had met him a few days back and was visibly upset about his rejection. But an official intimation about his resignation was yet to reach him. According to PGI rules, 75 per cent of the faculty has to be promoted to the next higher category which means that 25 per cent will be rejected. However it is expected that those lowest in the seniority list will be the ones facing rejection but sources in the PGI state that this time the three persons who had been rejected had an exemplary academic record.

Dr K.L. Narsimhan, Associate Professor, Department of Paediatric Surgery, PGI, who also has not been promoted this time was contacted but he refused to comment on the issue.

The resignation of Dr Muralidharan also brings focus on the alleged negative and discouraging role played by some heads of departments for their faculty members in institutes where promotions are based primarily on the recommendations of the heads of departments.

SPORTS

Stars missing, but spirit’s intact
Tribune News Service

Highlights

A seat in the AC lounge costs Rs 5,000 with food and hospitality. PCA expects all 400 will be sold.
All 12 seat corporate boxes have been booked.
Four of the six boxes, with seating capacity of 24 persons, have been booked.
Food, water and public amenities are adequate for general stands and terrace blocks.
Tickets of Rs 500 and Rs 1,500 are left.

Will it rain?

The Director of the local met office, Mr S.C. Bhan, says the chances of rain are very strong on Saturday and the rain-causing system may or may not persist till Sunday. The chance of rain on Sunday is much less than on Saturday. However, at the moment nothing can be said with authority as the system is presently over central Pakistan and is travelling this side. He says the picture will be clearer by tomorrow as exact forecasts are possible for 48 hours in advance.

SAS Nagar, March 7
The absence of batting maestro, Sachin Tendulkar, and the new sensation, Virender Sehwag, will not stop the beat of the ‘bhangra’, the spirit of celebrations and carnival atmosphere as the cricket circus comes to the township on Sunday.

With examinations going on, kids can remain home with mom, while the men will becomes kids cheering the “boys” on the field as India take on Zimbabwe in the second one-day match.

The Punjab Cricket Association secretary, Mr Mohinder Pratap Pandove, says: “It will be a sell-out crowd.” The close finish at Faridabad today will add to the ticket sales and kindle even more interest, he added.

The lucky ones in corporate boxes and the AC lounge will watch the game with the best of mouth-watering dishes and top brands of liquor. But this does not come cheap.

A seat in the lounge costs Rs 5,000. Mr Pandove says during the Test match between India and England in December last year, 360 of the 400 AC lounge tickets were sold. Keeping that in mind it will be sell-out, he added. The corporate boxes provide for exclusivity. The top floor lounge above the pavilion block offers plush sofas.

If the packed house in Faridabad today was an indication, the PCA expects a full house. So if cricket is religion in this country and Sachin is God, the religion will survive even as the most-watched batsman is absent. Of course, he will be missed and so will be Virender Sehwag.

Cricket buffs and even those who will form the crowd of pass holders are already making preparation for the night out as the match finishes by 11 p.m. and it takes another 45 minutes to weave out of the traffic jam and parking blues. And in the boxes it will be time from drinks, cheering and rubbing shoulders with the virtual who’s who of the city as well as the cricket world. It will also be the time to exchange visiting cards and catch up with old-time friends

Already the teams have been conveyed that there is a nip in the air and one-dayer being a day and night game the conditions can get cold. The PCA said all tickets lying unsold at various counters would be available at the PCA tomorrow.

Medical aid for cricketers
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, March 7
Fortis, a healthcare institute, will be providing medical support to cricket players in the forthcoming one-day international tie to be played between India and Zimbabwe at the PCA Stadium, SAS Nagar, on March 10.

Fortis will provide the services of their physiotherapist and paramedical staff along with the physiotherapy equipment during the practice session and the match. A state-of-the-art ambulance will be on stand-by at the stadium during the match.

Fans warned
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, March 7
Warning for all YC cricket fans. Do not venture out of the stadium as you will not be allowed back inside, do not carry water bottles, mirrors, glasses and eatables. According to the Ropar police nothing would be allowed inside the stadium on Sunday during the India — Zimbabwe one-day-tie.

Fans coming to watch cricket on Sunday will be under a watchful security cover as Ropar police plans to deploy about, 1000 cops, including those in plain clothes and for traffic management in SAS Nagar on the day of the match said the SSP, Ropar, Mr G.S. Bhullar. Everyone will be frisked and checked and anyone wanting to go out of the stadium will not be allowed to return back under any circumstances.

Nothing will be allowed to be carried inside the stadium, the SSP said. Besides this the police is carrying out anti-sabotage checks and also taking steps to see that no stampede is triggered off by any mischievous element.

Revenue sports meet opened
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, March 7
The XXXIV All-India Central Revenue Sports Meet began at PU grounds, here this morning. The Governor, Punjab, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), inaugurated it.

General Jacob in his speech expressed hope that sportspersons recruited against sports quota must not be laden with routine official work and desk jobs. He said the idea should be to improve upon the existing skills rather than drowning these players with routine jobs. He also expressed his concern over the poor performance of Indian hockey team in the World Cup.

Mr Ashwani Luthra, Commissioner, Income Tax, Chandigarh, said the Central Revenue Sports had a long history of nearly 35 years.

Earlier, the Governor took a salute in the march past which was followed by colourful balloons. Bhangra by students of St Stephen’s School, Sector 45, enthralled the audience.

Earlier, the tent-pegging show by the Chandigarh Police also thrilled the spectators. Mr P.S. Sarma, Chairman, Central Revenue Sports Board, and Mr S.C. Grover, Chief Commissioner, Income Tax, spoke on the occasion, among others.

The results are: In table tennis men singles’ final: West Zone b South Zone, while in men doubles, East Zone b South Zone. In the women’s section, East Zone b North Zone, while in doubles, West Zone b East Zone. In cricket, North Zone to face East Zone in the final. In men chess final, West Zone b North zone, while in the women’s section, South Zone b West Zone. In lawn tennis events, North Zone to meet South Zone, while in doubles, North Zone to vie with South Zone in the final.

In basketball events, North Zone to face West Zone in the final. In volleyball, South Zone to face North Zone. In bridge, East Zone was at first place. In hockey, North Zone to meet East Zone. In kabaddi, West Zone to face North Zone in the final. In carrom, North Zone will meet West Zone and in the doubles, East Zone to tie with West Zone in the final. In women’s section of carrom events, East Zone to meet West Zone, while in women’s doubles, East Zone will meet West Zone.

ADMINISTRATION

Admn shoots down police proposal to upgrade firing range
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 7
The UT Administration has reportedly refused a proposal by the Chandigarh Police to upgrade the firing range near Sector 25. The police authorities had submitted a detailed report to the UT Home Department listing out several modifications, but the Administration had recently conveyed its inability to take up any modernisation project.

Police sources reveal that the proposal included setting up moving and pop-up targets as well as creating additional buffers for safety. Setting up such targets is significant as it trains personnel to react instinctively against targets appearing suddenly by identifying, aiming and shooting at such targets in a matter of seconds. Apart from a few personnel who have been trained at the NSG centre in Manesar, the vast majority of Chandigarh Police personnel currently lack this training.

Sources say that the proposal has been rejected by the Administration as it is unable to spare the requisite finances, running in several lakh rupees, required for the modernisation of the range.

Sources add that there is also a feeling among certain quarters that there is no requirement for setting up facilities for advanced weapons training here. This is because, sources say, the present requirement is being fulfilled by sending select personnel for training at the NSG centre or the Police Training College in Phillaur. Routine police work in the city does not require that a large number of personnel undergo such training. Another factor in play is that a large chunk of land adjoining the range has been earmarked for the Information Technology Park.

A portion of the range is also expected to be given up for the park. A section of those involved in the IT park project have also voiced concern over the safety aspect of a firing range being situated next to the park. The range was earlier being managed by the Punjab Rifle Shooting Association (PRSA), but passed into the hands of the Chandigarh Administration last year after PRSA decided to set up a new range in SAS Nagar for the National Games.

Police personnel, however, are of the view that the availability of an advanced firing range at hand will do them good. Presently, the level of fire arms training imparted to police personnel is quite basic and leaves a lot to be desired. Weapon firing at ranges is restricted to shooting at fixed targets from stationary positions.

While training schedules are stipulated in police manuals, sources say that very few personnel actually get a chance at live firing at a range.

Although police personnel deployed for VIP security are sent regularly to ranges every three to four months, those posted in police stations, headquarters or as orderlies go for a long time without firing a live shot. Very few personnel get to visit the range even once a year, sources added. Police sources say that in view of increasing attacks at sensitive installations at various places in the country, it is advisable for police personnel to have a high level of weapon training so that they are able to react instinctively and effectively to any attack.

This also raises the issue of weapons equipping the police forces. The vintage .303 bolt action continues to be the basic police weapon, though a large number of semi-automatic rifles have also been inducted into the police.

Experts say that in situations in which police generally operates restricts effective handling of rifles. A smaller weapon, easy to bear in restricted or crowded places is more desirable.

Admn offers old-age pensions
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 7
The Social Welfare Department, Chandigarh Administration, today said it was offering pensions to the aged and also to women who have borne children and live below the poverty line.

These schemes are being implemented following schemes under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) of the Government of India. Persons wishing to apply for such pensions can apply free of cost in the office of Director Social Welfare, Chandigarh Administration, Town Hall Extension Building, Sector 17-C, Chandigarh.

Applicants male or female in the age group of 65 years or above having no means of subsistence may get monthly pension of Rs 200.

The National Family Benefit Scheme offers a lumpsum financial assistance of Rs 10,000 and is provided to families living below the poverty line on the death of primary bread-winner provided his age at the time of death was between 18-64 years.

Under the National Maternity Benefit Scheme a lumpsum financial assistance of Rs 500 is provided to a pregnant woman aged 19 years and above and belongs to a family living below the poverty line upto the first two live births 12-8 weeks prior to the delivery.