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| Saturday,
July 27, 2002, Chandigarh, India
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Need to educate cholera carriers Chandigarh, July 26 The feeling of safety amongst the people outside slums may be ‘’misplaced’’ as a large number of these carriers were working in house holds as maids, in catering business and other fields in the city, a Senior Lecturer and
Epidemologist, Dr Amarjeet Singh, told Chandigarh Tribune here today. Dr Amarjeet Singh, however, clarified that there was no need to quarantine these people and easiest solution would be to administer them an antibiotic course. The danger is also not immediate as these people have been carrying the bacteria for years but did not spread it in the city but precaution was required to contain any flare up. The Chandigarh Administration, however, has not activated its Health Education Wing yet, to educate the people about dangers and precautions of these diseases. However, the biggest challenge would be to find them out as conducting medical test on each would cost a lot, he said. The people were advised to get their maids and servants from these areas dewormed and take precautions to avoid the spread of bacteria, said Dr Amarjeet Singh, a lecturer in the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32. He and another lecturer Dr N. K. Goyal were leading a team of 40 internee doctors in the Sector 52 Rehabilitation Colony to conduct a house-to-house survey to trace gastroenteritis and cholera cases. The survey team, also from the Community Medicine Department has taken upon itself to educate the people to remove the causes, like house-flies, which carry the bacteria from one place to other. The team was also informing the people to keep food and drinking stuff covered to be kept out of flies’ reach. Information gathered from the sector confirmed that a large number of the people are working in the catering business and precaution was required to avoid the bacteria passing on to others. Members of the Social Welfare Society of Sector 52 said they were going to the people in its area to educate them to wash their hands before touching food stuff either as a caterer or as a maid. Dr Amarjeet Singh said the carriers do not show symptoms but could be the cause of spread of these diseases. He said the team was gathering information to create a baseline structure for a survey which may cover an unusually high number of liquor vends in the colony, smoking habit, anaemia amongst women and drug addiction among others. |
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SAD, SP for administrative probe Chandigarh, July 26 The Shiromani Akali Dal councillor, Ms Harjinder Kaur, the Samajwadi Party President, Mr Shivi Jaiswal and the Janata Party president, Mr Ajay Jagga, said an administrative inquiry would do justice to the hapless people 1,800 of whom were affected by the Municipal Corporation’s water supply. An inquiry by the corporation was against natural justice. The three joined by the Shiromani Akali Dal (led by Ms Harjinder Kaur), President, Mr N. S. Minhas, criticised the Congress councillors for skirting the issue of owning responsibility for the ‘’lapse’’ and instead indulging in bad mouthing the opposition parties. Addressing a press conference, they produced an affidavit submitted in a court by the Chandigarh Administration Chief Engineer, Mr Puranjeet Singh, expressing MC and Administration’s inability to check waterlogging near the Sector 39 waterworks. They said the Congress councillors should have checked the facts before launching an attack on the opposition parties. They alleged that this waterlogging poses the danger of spread of malaria apart from contaminating water of the whole city. Opposition leaders asked whether the Congress councillors even knew about the fact that this waterlogging was there and posed an environmental and health threat to the whole city. Ms Harjinder Kaur said the Mayor seemed to have forgotten democratic norms on a problem of such a magnitude involving matters related to the Chandigarh Administration, she did not call a meeting of councillors to jointly take up issues with the Chandigarh Administration. She said a rehabilitation policy was required to improve the condition of slums in the city, which have again and again been hit by some disease or the other. Ms Harjinder Kaur’s joining hands with a non-ally party might send a signal that SAD’s ally BJP had failed to effectively take up the public issue. Mr Jaiswal said all non-Congress parties had been approached for a joint front to help the affected people. |
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PU plans panel on complaints Chandigarh, July 26 This has been recommended by a committee constituted by the Vice Chancellor. It was constituted following recommendations by a committee earlier where it was decided that only complaints accompanied by affidavits be considered. The university house differed on the issue. The members who attended the meeting of the committee this time included Prof M.M.Sharma, Principal A.C.Vaid, Mr Ashok Goyal, Principal Tarsem Bahia, Prof Charanjit Chawla, Prof R.D.Anand and Prof Paramjit Singh, the Registrar. The committee has recommended that only signed complaints be taken up for consideration which should be accompanied with an up-to-date address. All complaints will initially be marked to the VC who will refer it to the committee. The committee then will decide whether an affidavit as per legal requirements was required or not. After full discussion, the person who filed the report will be called and asked to depose. On serious charges, the university will appoint a commission which will submit the report to the Vice Chancellor. It has also been recommended that in case the Vice Chancellor gets any vital information against ‘anyone from any source’( even anonymous), he can refer it to the standing committee for verification. It was earlier proposed that all allegations should be accompanied by an affidavit. The recommendation was not cleared by the university Senate following difference of opinion on the issue. The university move was seen as a step in the direction of checking baseless complaints that were often circulated. However, it is felt that ‘baseless rumours or complaints’ would continue unabated till the time person concerned succeeded in hiding his identity. Constitution of a standing committee is seen as a positive step which would streamline the process of handling individual complaints. Each party would have a decent opportunity to state their facts till the committee felt that an affidavit was required. |
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Saluting
Kargil heroes’ bravery Chandimandir, July 26 The day is observed to commemorate India’s resounding victory in Operation Vijay which was launched to evict Pakistani intruders from the rugged heights of Mushok, Drass, Kargil and Batalik areas of Jammu and Kashmir. Military operations had formally concluded on this day three years ago when the Indian Army’s relentless assault forced the Pakistani’s to withdraw. Lieut-Gen S.S. Mehta laid the wreath on behalf of all ranks. A former Army Chief Gen V.P. Malik (retd) led the veteran war heroes to lay wreaths. The former heroes, included Lieut-Gen Ranjit Dayal(retd), Major-Gen R.S. Mavi(retd), Air Vice-Marshal M.S. Dhillon (retd) and Brig Sant Singh (retd). Floral tributes were also paid by Honorary Captains M.S. Gill, M.S. Shekhawat, Jaidev Sharma and Hav Satpal Bhatia. In the evening a candle light ceremony was also held at all stations in the Western Sector, including Chandimandir where, candles were lit in all family quarters and prominent places in the unit lines and at “Veer Smriti” followed by a “bara Khana” in the unit lines. |
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Pak has no ‘baby nukes’: Malik Chandigarh, July 26 Suggestions have been made by certain defence experts and the issue was raised in a leading weekly magazine that Pakistan possessed baby nukes which could be used to destroy Army formations and cause other incisive strikes. General Malik said there was no deterrent from any quarter as was being claimed now. This rhetoric of a deterrent has been heard before also and this is only politically motivated. The General refrained from commenting when asked if India should have attacked Pakistan as was being suggested by some experts about three months ago. He said: ‘‘I cannot says anything on this.’’ When asked if India had any such baby nukes, the General, after a brief pause, said ‘‘I cannot comment.’’ On cross-border infiltration, the General, who now lives a retired life in Panchkula, said, reports suggest that partially the movement into India has stopped. Speaking on the recent moves by Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf, the former Indian Army Chief said funding of Madrasas and all steps taken by Musharraf were good for Pakistan. But all terrorists who have come into India have to be curbed. |
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3 yrs on, Vijay Divas is a damp squib Chandigarh, July 26 It has been just three years when the Indian Army forced the Pakistanis to vacate the icy heights around Kargil, Drass and Mushok. Already the Chandigarh Administration and also the neighbouring District Administrations in Panchkula and S.A.S. Nagar have forgotten the sacrifice of the hundreds of jawans and officers who laid down their lives during the war which had people glued to TV screens and made heroes out of several youngmen of the region. Till last year there had been impressive functions to mark Vijay Divas with schoolchildren taking out prabhat pheris, and honours bestowed upon widows and family members of the martyrs. This year the bureaucracy-laden administrations forgot all about Vijay Divas, probably lost in their own air-conditioned comfort or in the files. When reporters asked the Chief of the Western Command, Lieut-Gen S.S. Mehta, about his reaction to this civilian cold shoulder, said: ‘‘What can I say for the actions of others.’’ The hurt was visible in his eyes but as a true A senior officer said actually with the Army deployed on the border the civil administration should have been in the forefront in observing the day and making the families feel that they are not alone. In 2001 the Punjab Governor, Lieut Gen J.F.R.
Jacob (retd) had organised a ‘‘at home’’ for war widows, war veterans, ex-servicemen and decorated soldiers of the Raj. In several city school two -minute silence was observed, to pay homage to the martyrs. In the year 2000, the first anniversary of Vijay Divas the Punjab and Haryana Governments along with the Chandigarh Administration and the Western Command had organised a huge function. Thousands of city residents had gathered to light candles at night in the Parade ground led by the two Chief Ministers Prakash Singh Badal and O.P. Chautala and also General Jacob. The media had lapped up the euphoric feeling with thousands of men, women and children holding out lit candles with tears in their eyes. This year the General is in United Kingdom on a private visit and candles remained until and feats of heroes unsung. |
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MCC wants admn to take back ‘extra’ staff Chandigarh, July 26 The Commission, a recommendatory body to decide the allocation of funds between the municipal body and Administration, met the Mayor, Ms Lalit Joshi, the Municipal Commissioner, Mr. M. P. Singh and senior officials of the Chandigarh Administration and the 29 councillors. The issues of “extra’’ employees and heavy deficit to the corporation were raised by the Mayor in a memorandum to the Chairman of the Finance Commission, Mr. K. S. Baidwan. The Mayor said the Chandigarh Administration had transfered to the corporation as many as 2000 more employees than required to perform the duties with the corporation resulting in a loss of Rs 15 crore per annum. Mr Baidwan was accompanied by Mr Desh Bandhu, a member, Ms. Sumati Mehta, the member secretary, and Mr D.K. Rastogi, Deputy Director. The representation was given in a separate meeting between the Mayor and Mr M.P. Singh and the Commission members. A meeting of councillors and commission was held later where cutting across all party lines, the councillors took a united stand of transferring funds as per the workload, restoring the Rs 13 crore cut in the grant-in-aid, transfer of revenue generating departments and corporation’s limitations in immediately increasing sources of revenue. The commission is believed to have asked for increasing the two per cent tax on commercial property. Mr Gian Chand Gupta and Mr Kamla Sharma from the BJP, Mr Jitender Bhatia from the Chandigarh Vikas Manch, Mr Subhash Chawla, Ms Kamlesh and Mr Chander Mukhi Sharma made forceful presentations before the commission to save the municipal body. The commission members, though quoted to have been impressed with the presentation, asked councillors and the corporation to improve its resources through property tax and paid parking. The Mayor’s memorandum said the corporation was not in a position to come to a zero-deficit budget as it had bulged to Rs 32 crore and even if the whole plan money of Rs 28 crore was to be spent to fill the gap, the deficit would still be there. Councillors seemed to have rejected suggestions for improving finances through fresh taxes by giving a break up of the local population with the real capacity to contribute. The commission was told that 25 per cent of the city comprised migratory and labour class people and 60 per cent of government employees of the lower middle class. The commission was also told that the Administration had not honoured the last Finance Commission’s recommendation of matching grants for increasing the water charges by double in 1999. It was also informed that the Administration had four to six time budget for almost as much less work it had and has deliberately created duplicacy of work to retain large amount of funds. The commission was also urged upon to get the corporation funds from the Basic Minimum Service funds of the Central Government. The Councillors said the Administration had created duplicacy of work in road, horticulture, electricity and water supply leading to confusion amongst the people and disproportionate allocation of funds. The councillors said share of taxes was not being given and instead the corporation was being shown to be given a prop of grant-in-aid. Zila Parishad and panchayat representatives also made their representation to the commission. |
Barricades choke parking lots Chandigarh, July 26 Moreover, the men employed by the contractors for taking care of the parking lot usually behave rudely with the visitors. The owner of Tejee Studio, Mr Tejbansh Singh Johar, has complained that men employed by the contractor do not bother about the safety of the vehicles. Most of the times the entrance to the parking lot is blocked by the barricades, which have become a cause of accidents. He adds that he suffered a loss of Rs 12,000 today when his car hit the barricade. A regular visitor to the market, Manpreet, complains that the idea of the Municipal Corporation to provide safety to the vehicles by introducing paid parking system seems to be creating more problems than helping the visitors. The president of the Market Association, Sector 17E, Mr Harvinder Singh Gujral, says the contractors have not been taking care of the problems being faced by visitors and are busy collecting money. Every day there are complaints of inconvenience caused to the visitors due to the barricades. If the contractor fails to remove the barricades, the association will file a complaint against him with the Municipal Corporation and UT Administration, he said.  |
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SAS NAGAR DIARY SAS Nagar, July 26 Sadbhavna march The National Society for the Child Artists, India, will be organising a “Bal Sadbhavna march” starting from Mohali to Gurdwara Panjokhra near Ambala. More than 800 children are likely to participate in the march who will, at the end of the march, pray at the gurdwara for universal peace. According to the information provided by the president of the society, Mr Ajit Salani, the march is part of the two-year-long celebrations of the 500th prakash anniversary of Guru Angad Dev ji. According to the organising secretary, Mr Gurpreet Singh Niamia, the march has been scheduled for August 2 and will be involving schoolchildren from Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh. Resentment Members of the Punjab State General Categories Welfare Federation have decided to protest against the proposed 25 per cent cut in salaries of employees of the Punjab State Electricity Board. Stating the act as one of daylight “robbery” by the government, the president of the Federation, Mr Shayam Lal Sharma, along with Mr Prabhjit Singh have informed through a press note that they were disappointed with the Congress Government in the state which was fast turning into an anti-worker government. The press note also states that the worker community of the state should rise beyond their narrow differences and protest against the government. Appreciated Members of the Semi Conductors Limited Employees Cooperative House Building Society have appreciated the support of the SCL Management in the allotment of the 140 houses to employees last week. In a press note issued by the society today, the members have also appreciated the role played by the builders M/s Sandhu Contractors for having done a wonderful job of building these flat type houses. The press note also states that the builders who had taken up the project in 1999 been very cooperative with the members. Health mela A health mela was organised by the Family Planning Association of India, Mohali Branch as part of the Japan Trust Fund project here today. The camp was organised at Behrampur Zimindara village in Ropar district in collaboration with the Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Eye Hospital, Sohana, and Civil Surgeon, Ropar. More than 250 patients from the village and nearby areas were examined at the camp. The doctors who examined the patients during the camp, included Dr Rachna Dewan, Dr Balbir Chander, Dr Randhir Kaur and Dr Harleen Kaur. Magic shows on health issues were also organised for the students of the senior secondary school in the village. Mr Surinder Singh, population Education Officer spoke on the ill effect of drug abuse. Mr M.S. Dhillon, project coordinator, also addressed the participants while Mr Ashwini Kumar mobilised the young people of the village to attend the camp. |
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Kler records seven councillors’ statements SAS Nagar, July 26 The councillors namely Mr Amrik Singh, Mr Manmohan Singh Langh, Ms Harbans Kaur, Mr S.S. Patwari, Mr Manjit Singh, Ms Manmohan Kaur and Mr Manjit Singh Sethi met Mr S.R. Kler, Deputy Director, Urban Local Bodies, Ludhiana, who is conducting the inquiry. The councillors had complained on July 1 to the Director, Local Government, Punjab, that the June 27 meeting was illegal as the agenda was not read out for discussion. It is learnt that on receiving the complaint from the councillors, the Director told the Deputy Director to enquire into the matter. Mr Kler today looked into the complaint and himself recorded a joint statement which was later got signed by the complainants. Nobody was allowed to enter the room. Even the Executive Officer, Mr Jai Krishan Sharma, in whose room the meeting was held, had been requested to leave. The councillors demanded that the agenda of the meeting should be read out in the House and the proceedings recorded there and then and not at a later stage. It is learnt that the statements of the council president, Mr Kulwant Singh, were also recorded by the Deputy Director. Refuting the allegation levelled by the seven councillors, Mr Kulwant Singh said the June 27 meeting was legal as the items on the agenda had been cleared by 18 of the 26 councillors who had come to attend the meeting. He alleged that the seven councillors were not interested in the development of the town. |
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Seminar on cyber
laws concludes Chandigarh, July 26 The seminar, which saw participants from fields like police, judiciary,
information technology besides administration, was aimed at sensitising government officials of the importance of the growing cyber
crimes. Mr Vakul Sharma, senior cyber law lawyer in New Delhi, demystified the Indian IT Act and the gaps existing in the Act. Mr Piyush Gupta explained the technological aspects of cyberspace and emphasised the immediate need for incorporating Internet and e-mail usage policy in government departments. Software piracy and licensing policy was also discussed in detail. Col P.K.Vasu-deva
(retd) discussed the consumer protection in the cyberspace and the intellectual property rights and copyright protection in the digital age. Brig Sharanjit S. Sahwney examined the various data and network issues, while Mr Umang Sharma shared important aspects on Internet browsing, including do’s and don’ts. Mr
G.D. Singh emphasised the role of ISP in the protection of cyber crimes. A presentation was also given on the security solution from Computer Associates, a US-based software firm. The institute also announced the starting of a diploma in cyber laws and Internet technology, the first batch starting from August 24, 2002. The diploma aims at giving complete
understanding of cyber laws and cyber crime, including the technological aspects. |
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One man’s crusade against dowry Chandigarh, July 26 This 31-year-old man began his journey more than eight years ago. He has travelled 1, 37, 800 km and covered 28 states till date. He says that his best experience has been in Jammu and Kashmir, where he spread the message of universal brotherhood . He arrived in Chandigarh today after a brief stopover at Lalru. He had delivered a lecture on the dowry menace, which was attended by over 100 persons. Bau Sahib says that he had his calling when his sister’s marriage was called off twice after his father failed to arrange the dowry demanded by prospective grooms. “ This was in the year 1992. By mid-1993, both my sisters got married and I decided to do something about this menace. I began my journey in May 1, 1993 , and since then having been spreading this message,” he says. Interestingly, he reveals that he has not heard from his family
members till date. “ There was no telephone in my village when I left home, so there is no way to contact them. But I keep writing letters to them to tell them of my well being, “ he says. He adds that since he is so involved with his work now that he no longer misses them. He says that he travels about 70 km on an average each day. He is now planning to pedal to the Vaishno Devi shrine via Shimla and will then return to travel in Punjab. |
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Assault victim ‘struggles’ to get case registered Chandigarh, July 26 Last night, two groups attacked each other over a petty matter at least one woman received serious injuries besides several others received minor injuries. As per information available, a person identified as Mohammed Arif parked his scooter in front of his house in Sector 56 last night. His neighbours, Bablu, his brother Manoj and his mother Radhashri objected to this and this resulted in an altercation that later turned into a scuffle. After sometime Mohammed Rashid again entered into an altercation with the family and in the resultant scuffle Radhashri received injuries on her head. She was taken to a hospital in SAS Nagar, from where she was referred to the General Hospital, Sector 16, here. There she received eight stitches. In the meantime, the police had already taken three other women said to have received injuries in the incident, to the General Hospital for medical examination. Family members of Radhashri along with others put her into a cycle rehri and took her to Palsora Police Post to register a case against the other party. |
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Awareness generation camp concludes Chandigarh, July 26 Dr Neena Goyal and some other medical experts told the participants about the prevention of cholera and diarrhoea. The women were advised to drink boiled water and avoid cooked food being sold in markets. Mr Sant Prakash, Member Secretary, State Legal Authority, was the chief guest at the concluding function and told the participants about the various legal services available for women. Ms Sharestha Mehta, Honorary Secretary of the ICSW, claimed that the camp was a major success and said more such camps would be organised. Ms Kamlesh Gupta, Chairperson of ICS, presided over the function and Ms. Sudesh Kalra, Deputy Director, Adult Education Programme, Chandigarh, was the resource person. |
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Institute holds workshop Chandigarh, July 26 The institute also organised another workshop in fashion designing and textile designing which was open for all. |
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Man commits suicide Panchkula, July 26 |
Case registered against
Maritime Co. Chandigarh, July 26 Sources in the police said the money was paid in June 2001. Another instalment of Rs 70,000 was demanded from the aspirant for the course. When the father of the aspirant approached the company, he was told that the company was not running the course and that another company was running it. The Senior Superintendent of Police has marked the inquiry in the case after the company officials did not refund the money. A case under Section 406 and 420 of the IPC has been registered. Watchman falls to death: Two persons were found dead in two separate incidents in the city today. According to the information available, a 24-year-old rickshaw puller, Aslam Hussain, was found dead in his house in Beleana village today. According to the police the victim was seen alive at around 10 am today. However, no foul play is suspected by the police. In another case, a chowkidar at Bhakra Beas Management Board office in the Industrial Area here died after falling from the third floor of the building late last night. He was declared brought dead at the PGI. Smack seized: At least 20 grams of smack was seized from Didar Singh, alias Data, at the Sector 39 and 40 dividing road here today. The suspect used to supply narcotics to addicts in the city and neighbouring towns. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against him. The police was on the lookout for him for a long time. Theft: Five separate incidents of theft were reported from the city in the past 48 hours. According to the information available, a car was stolen from Sector 46. The police has registered a case at the Sector 34 Police Station. A theft of Rs 22,000 was reported from a PU hostel. In another case, Barjinder Singh, a resident of Dhanas, complained that his Kinetic Honda was stolen from Sector 17. In another case, Sushil Kumar, reported that 500 litres of mobil oil was stolen from his plot. Power theft: The police has registered a case under the Section 379 of the IPC and the 39 of the Electricity Act against Chama Lal, a shopkeeper of Indira Colony, Mani Majra, for illegaly drawing power through a kundi connection. The case has been registered on a complaint lodged by SDO, Amit Gian. SAS NAGAR One killed: Mahesh Dutt Bhanot, a 65-year-old resident of Sector 70, died last night in a head-on collision between two cars near the Phase VII traffic lights. Mr R.K. Bhanot, Mr Deepak Bhanot and Ms Monica Bhanot were injured in the accident. The police has registered a case of negligent driving against the driver of the other Indica car, Tirlochan Singh. PATIALA 3 held, CDs seized: The Kotwali police today arrested three persons and recovered 2,335 fake indecent CDs from their possession. Disclosing this here, district police chief Paramraj Singh Umranangal said the accused had been identified as Gurnesh Bansal, alias Happy, a resident of Meer Kundla, Raj Kumar and Neeraj, both residents of the Arna Barna chowk in the city. Mr Umranangal disclosed that the accused had been caught red handed while preparing indecent CDs. They said one computer had been seized from them and a case under Sections 420,467,468,471, 294 and 120 (B) had been registered against them. |
Reliance or Tatas to take over PCL SAS Nagar, July 26 According to a press note issued by the Punjab Communications Employee Union president, the selling price of the company will vary between Rs 150 to Rs 250 crore and not at a measly price of 33 to 50 crore. According to the president of the union, the members of the Disinvestment Commission were told that none of the employees will protest against disinvestment of the company in case all their demands were fulfilled by the commission. The Commission, represented by the Chairman, Mr P. H. Vaishnav reportedly assured the employees’ representatives that their interests will be taken care of before any change of ownership was affected. The employees union leaders have also stated that they were very happy with the way the Punjab Government had handled the rest of the disinvestments done in the state and the deal given to the employees and they will be only too glad if Puncom follows a similar example. Regarding VRS, the commission reportedly stated that VRS will be done before disinvestment and only after a demand of the workers to this effect is received. The employees union was represented by the president, Mr Kultar Singh, the general secretary, Mr S.S. Bisht, and the president of the PCL Workers Union, Mr Bhupinder Singh and the general secretary, Mr Kashmir Chand along with Mr Jaswant Singh and Mr Ravinder Singh. |
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