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| Friday,
March 15, 2002, Chandigarh, India
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280 posts of teacher for city Chandigarh, March 14 The UT Home and Education Secretary received a communication in this regard from the MoHRD here today. Out of 280 posts, 25 are of ETT and JBT cadre and primary teacher, besides 253 of trained graduate teacher (for middle and high schools) and 2 of nursery teacher. With this, the number of sanctioned posts of teacher here in the past two years has risen to 555. The MoHRD, however, did not agree to the proposal for creating 38 posts of clerk, ayah and Class IV employee. The Administration has been advised to adjust these posts internally. The demand for more posts had been made by the UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), and it was he who took up the matter with the Union Minister for Human Resource and Development, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi. General Jacob had said that the teacher-taught ratio in government schools of Chandigarh was imbalanced, which was affecting teaching in schools. There were not enough teachers for the proposed and new schools of Phase-III sectors and the UT villages. The Governor had sought 275 posts of teacher for the UT and got the clearance in 2001. The recruitment for the posts is over. |
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Industrial plots, sheds may
soon be freehold Chandigarh, March 14 The occasion was the website launch of the Industries Association of Chandigarh, where Mr Marwaha said the Administration was aware of the problems of local industries and also trying to solve these. He said a prolonged recession had led to the closure of 528 industrial units in the UT alone and the Governor was keen on the conversion of industrial plots and sheds from leasehold to freehold. He also said a meeting of the UT Industrial Advisory Committee, that had not been held for the past 18 months, would soon be convened. Those who attended the function included Mr Kailash Chander Aggarwal, president of the Industries Association of Chandigarh; Mr Subhash Bindra, its vice-president; Mr Mohinder Singh, its honorary secretary; and several others. Mr Aggarwal said the association had about 160 members representing all large-scale and medium-scale industrial units, besides selected small-scale units of Chandigarh. The association represented more than 80 per cent of the capital and labour employed in private sector here. To project its members globally, the IAC has created its own website — www.chandigarhindustries.com. The website is expected to enhance the worldwide market and sales of local industries. Customers worldwide, can reach any member of the association through alphabet-search mode or
product/activity wise classification. Members can place their webpages on this website that has links to individual websites of members. The website also includes information on Chandigarh, the Administration, maps, telephone directory etc. and has links to websites of the Income Tax Department and the Central Board of Excise and Customs. |
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CBI books cop in bribe case Chandigarh, March 14 Cheema, who happens to be a recipient of a commendation certificate for solving a murder case recently, has been booked under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The CBI also carried out searches at his residence. According to CBI officers here, a written complaint was received from Ajay Kumar, who was running a coaching institute in Sector 22. Ajay had been named as an accomplice by P S Lamba in a fake degree case and arrested by Inspector Cheema last month. Lamba had already been arrested earlier for allegedly running a fake degree racket in the city. According to the FIR lodged by the CBI, Cheema had demanded Rs 50,000 from Ajay Kumar for preparing his case in such a manner that Ajay would not be shown as an accused and thereby not be required to face trial in the fake degree case. After Ajay was released on bail, he paid Rs 25,000 to Cheema on March 6 at his house in the Police Colony, Sector 17. Another Rs 25,000 was paid to Cheema through Sudarshan Kumar, owner of Chaudhry Medicos in Sector 15, on March 10. On March 13, Cheema demanded another Rs 10,000 and asked him to deliver the amount at his residence last night. Ajay, however, approached the CBI and later, accompanied by a witness, went to Cheema’s house at about 9.30 last night. Cheema asked Ajay to hand over the money to Sudarshan at his shop. Accordingly, Ajay went to the shop where Sudarshan spoke to Cheema over the telephone. Ajay was told to come again the next morning. Ajay spoke to Cheema over the telephone in the early hours today and agreed to pay the bribe amount to Sudarshan at his shop. Sudarshan accepted the money from Ajay and put it in his shirt pocket after counting and later transferred it to a drawer. On a signal, a CBI team lying in wait nearby rushed in. The money was recovered from Sudarshan’s shop. The CBI team also recovered a large cache of currency from Sudarshan’s shop. The haul included $ 2810, £ 1700 and 150 euros, besides Rs 5 lakh in Indian currency. |
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MoU for computerisation at PGI signed Chandigarh, March 14 Stating this, the Managing Director of NICSI, Mr S.P. Rastogi, told TNS that NICSI would be imparting technical knowledge to the PGI while the PGI would provide NICSI with its expertise in medical knowledge. “We have worked on other hospital projects across the country involving OPD computerisation, medical stores inventory etc, but for the PGI we would be integrating all these domains and creating a complete system of hardware and supporting software which NICSI could than apply in other hospitals providing similar facilities”, he said. Till now computerisation in hospitals had amounted to merely use of computers for making receipts and listing patients, store inventories etc. However, this project would involve creation of a fool proof system involving multiple software backups, hardware redundancy and absolute privacy of nonpublic information. It would also lead to the creation of software involving electronic patient records for capturing all data pertaining to patients, including scans and x-ray reports and making it available at the click of a button. “The PGI will be the sole custodian of all information base that is created. We will be providing technical know how using our domain knowledge in these areas.” Mr Rastogi said. NICSI would also draft tender specifications for the local area networking of the PGI. “There are 2,000 nodes which have to be networked in the PGI and this is something NICSI has had an earlier experience of,” Mr Rastogi said. Evaluation of tenders and supervision of execution of the total project till it is commissioned will be the responsibility of NICSI. NICSI will also be providing the PGI with system requirement specification detailing software and hardware needs for the project. For the PGI, other than the fact that it will be fully computerised and networked within the next two years, this project will lead to the creation of a permanent data base, something which will be done for the first time in the history of the institution along with improving patient care efficiency and facilitating medical research and teaching. The PGI also lacks a fool proof system of record keeping and storing. Sources inform that as much as 40 per cent records are lost in the process. The project is likely to tide over this problem too. The project which was envisaged by the PGI authorities two years ago had failed to take off despite two repeated efforts but the PGI was hoping to be third time lucky. “This is not just about registration of patients etc, its about a marked improvement in patient care efficiency and creation of a data base to help research,’’ a senior PGI faculty member said. |
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JCT employees for lifting
of ‘illegal’ lockout SAS Nagar, March 14 In a letter submitted to the MLA for forwarding to the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, Mr Mangal Singh, Mr Shardha Nand and Mr D.K. Bhardwaj, president, general secretary and chairman of the association, respectively, sought a probe by the government into the affairs of the company. They said such investigation would establish that the shutdown of the factory was being done illegally with extraneous considerations rather than an exigency such as lack of demand in the market, industrial unrest or a natural calamity. The association leaders said in their letter that the Punjab Labour Department had in no uncertain terms told the JCT management that the non-payment of wages was illegal, but to no avail. They said the payment of wages to employees had been stopped unilaterally since June, 2001, workmen were being chargesheeted on frivolous grounds after “distorting information”, panic was being created among employees through “hired goondas” and the residential colony for workers was being put on sale. The letter to the Chief Minister said that in order to accelerate growth in industrial estates, the state government had announced various incentives for private entrepreneurs, including exemption from the payment of sales tax and octroi and assured power supply for a period of more than five years. Punjab Display Devices Limited, which was taken over by the Thapar group, was renamed JCT Electronics Limited. In addition to getting the government concessions, the colour picture tube plant, which was in fact an extention of the old B&W TV picture tube-producing plant, was shown as an independent unit with a view to getting more government facilities. No employees provident fund, the letter said, was deducted from employees’ salaries nor was the employer’s contribution paid to the PF Commissioner for a period of five years. The association leaders said that the factory was an ISO 9002 company earning profits from the date of manufacturing picture tubes. They said that in view of the demand of the product and profitability, the management established a new plant in Baroda with a capacity of 15 lakh picture tubes per annum as compared to 8.5 lakh at SAS Nagar. It had to be noted, the association said, that incentives being given in the form of tax exemptions, etc, were now no longer available here but were being given by the Gujarat Government at Baroda. The association said the decision of the management to close down the local plant might render about 1,500 employees jobless. It urged the Punjab Government to take suitable action to compel the management to stop its illegal activities or find an alternative to save the employees from forced unemployment and starvation. |
New Zealand to take 55,000 immigrants Chandigarh, March 14 New Zealand with a population of just 3.9 million (about 40 lakh) needs more people. Each year about 45,000 New Zealanders migrate to other lands, thus the number of people headed to the island nation are absorbed within the country as it needs people to work. The unemployment rate is low at 5 per cent and is still coming down. The nation offers much more than sheep rearing and milk products, Mr Delamare said while adding that the small-scale industry was welcome and so was the service sector. The latest addition was the general skills category under which English was
mandatory and two-year work experience was required in certain fields. A degree in commerce could add a point to a person’s profile for going to the Pacific nation, he added. The former Minister said English was not mandatory for people applying for business visas. Mr Delamare, who now runs an immigration concern, has tied up with Canam in India to screen people wanting to go to New Zealand. |
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Trade unions hold joint protest Chandigarh, March 14 Workers took out rallies from their factories shouting slogans like, “Down with National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government’’ and “Withdraw changes in labour laws’’ and staged a dharna at the Tribune Chowk. The Chandigarh Administration was attacked for its failure to increase the minimum wages. Leaders of various unions threatened to launch an agitation against the city administration for dragging its feet on the issue. They were addressed by the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) President, Mr Rampal Sharma, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) President, Mr B. L. Bajaj, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions’ (CITU) Chief, Mr Inderjeet Singh Garewal, the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) head, Mr V. P. Wadhera and the All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) Secretary, Mr Devidayal. They said instead of ensuring implementation of labour laws, the administration was giving the employer a right to chuck out workers, which might drive the unemployed to the edge. Retrenchment and lock-outs which were permissible earlier for those employers having 100 workers, will now be allowed to even those employers who employ 1,000 workers. They alleged that the Union and Railway budgets had burdened the people with Rs 11,860 crore of taxes. The union leaders said the NDA Government had been exposed for its anti-labour policies after decided to retrench 12,200 employees of the Central Government. The government, however, had been very benevolent to rich, giving them concessions in excise and other taxes year after year, they said. The leaders criticised the government for selling public sector enterprises in the name of investments and promoting the contract system. |
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4 Congmen responsible
for riots: BJYM Chandigarh, March 14 Mohammed Hussain Kolta, the chairman of the Godhara civic body and Convener of the Panchmahal District Congress Minority Cell, Salim Abdul Gaffar Sheikh, a
Councillor and Vice-President of the District Youth Congress, Abdul Rehman Abdul Mazid Damtia, a Congress Councillor, and Farooq Khan, secretary of the Panchmahal District Congress Committee, were allegedly arrested by the police for provoking the Godhara incident, the BJYM alleged in a statement here today. The BJYM president, Mr Satinder Singh, and its General Secretary, Mr Shakti Prakash Devshali, alleged that Congress leaders were also involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. They termed as ‘childish’, the Chandigarh Territorial Youth Congress Committee President Harmohinder Singh Lucky’s assertion that the BJP had tried to defame the party and its workers. The BJYM duo said the Congress, by giving misleading statements should not try to vitiate communal harmony in the
country. |
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Workshop on waste minimisation Chandigarh, March 14 The meeting was attended by the hoteliers and restaurant owners of Chandigarh. Waste minimisation like cleaner production, improved efficiently, conservation of raw material and energy, better compliance with environmental regulations, improved working environment and better public image, among others, were explained in detail. Adopting waste minimisation as a proactive and positive measure on environmental protection was explained as need of the day. The concept of waste minimisation circles which offer an opportunity to the entrepreneurs to look at his own products and processes from an entirely different angle was discussed among the hoteliers. |
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Awards for excellence Chandigarh, March 14 Announcing the awards at the CII here today, Mr R.K.Saboo, chairman of the Saboo Business Group, and trustee-chairman of the Jan Seva Trust, said the onus for shaping the complete personality of any person lies with the school teacher that in turn shapes up the value system and moral fabric of society. "The contribution of the teachers to society was generally being ignored and therefore, the idea was mooted to recognise them every year", he added. The awards have been named after the father of Mr R.K.Saboo. According to Ms Anuradha Saboo, awards director, there will be four awards this year, the highest being the Lifetime Achievement Award of Excellence comprising a citation and Rs 50,000 in cash. Other three awards are for overall excellence in teaching, for a young teacher, and for teachers working in schools in the slums and rural areas, each carrying a cash award of Rs 20,000 each besides a citation and trophy. The details of the award are being circulated to all schools in the union territory of Chandigarh and last date for receiving the nominations is April 30. An eminent jury shall scrutinise the nominations, shortlist, interview the candidates and finally announce the awards that are expected to be presented at a public function sometimes in July after the schools reopen. |
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Dr T.N. Kochhar dead Chandigarh, March 14 He served in the Himachal State Medical Services in the far-flung areas of the state for 10 years before coming to Chandigarh. Dr Kochhar was known for his holistic approach to illness and used to believe that “a pleasant doctor-patient relationship is more important in treating illness than medicines.” He is survived by his wife, three sons and a daughter. |
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YOUNG VOICE “STRUGGLE for excellence should not end after you have achieved your goal in one field and the success should not make you lazy and lethargic,” says engineer Harpreet Singh. At least success in the field of education did not prevent me from pursuing my dream of becoming a sportsman”, he adds. Many students in Harpreet Singh’s situation would have ignored sports after getting admission in Punjab Engineering College. The reason for this is not very hard to see. The amount of work involved leaves little, or no time, for extra-curricular activities. But Harpeet Singh was determined, to play, and to succeed. |
Constable held for
extorting money Chandigarh, March 14 The Sumo driver, Virender Kumar, complained to the Inspector that a constable stationed some distance away had taken Rs 100 from him on the pretext that his driving licence was soiled and the particulars were not clearly visible. The matter was reported up the chain of command and the constable was arrested. The 100-rupee note was recovered from the constable. Cyclist injured: A resident of Palsora, Karnail Singh, was injured after his bicycle was knocked down by a Marui car in the same colony. He has been admitted to the Sector 16 General Hospital. The police has registered a case. Couple held: The police has arrested a couple from Hallo Majra for bootlegging and seized 45 pouches of Hero whisky from their possession. The accused have been identified as Chander Bhan and his wife, Bimla. A case under the Excise Act has been registered against them. Threatened: A Sector 18 resident, Davinder Singh, has reported that four persons, all inmates of a college hostel in Sector 10, tresspassed into his house and threatened him, besides breaking the wind shield of his car. The police has registered a case. Stolen: A resident of Kumhar Colony, Salim, has reported that his trousers, containing Rs 2,360, have been stolen from his jhuggi. A case has been registered. Vehicles stolen: A Sector 15 resident, H S Bawa, has reported that his Maruti car (CH-03-A-1031) has been stolen from the Sainik Rest House in Sector 21. A resident of the PGI Campus, Amit Jaibad, has reported that his Kawasaki motor cycle (DL-4-SS-7447) has been stolen from the campus. The police has registered cases. PANCHKULA Car damaged: A private bus (HR-37-0235) reportedly hit a car (CH-03C- 5480) belonging to Mr Bhagat Singh and damaged the vehicle. In another case, Gurcharan Singh, who was riding pillion on a scooter, was injured when he was hit by an unknown vehicle near Pinjore bus stand on March 12. Stereo stolen: The stereo of a car (HR-03B- 8394) was stolen while the car was parked at Yavanika. The police has registered a case under Section 379 of the IPC. Assaulted: Devendra Singh was reportedly assaulted by Rajindra Kumar, Chiranji Lal, Gurbachan and Kaka after a dispute over sharing of irrigation water. A case under Sections 323 and 506 of the IPC has been registered. PO arrested: The Pinjore police has arrested Chamkaur Singh, a proclaimed offender since 1997, from Patiala. He was presented before the court of Mr Pushpinder Kumar Yadav, JMIC, and sent to judicial remand for 14 days. |
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