EVENING OPD AT PGI
Staff council meeting fails to end deadlock 
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 27
Meeting the December 2 deadline for starting of evening OPD at PGI, seems to have become an uphill task for the authorities with a majority of the heads of department favouring creation of a separate cadre of General Duty medical officers or else postponement of the date, at the Staff Council meeting, held today.

With most of the heads of department expressing their apprehension over the success of the evening OPD under the present circumstances, the PGI Director, Prof S.K. Sharma is likely to apprise the Union Health Minister, Mr Shatrughan Sinha, of the development. The Staff Council meeting had specifically been called by the Director to discuss the issue of evening OPD, especially in view of the hard stand adopted by the resident doctors over the issue.

With the resident doctors being adamant on not joining evening OPD duty, even the Staff Council meeting has not been able to resolve the issue. “We are all unanimous in our view that if it was not possible to recruit General Duty medical officers immediately then the only option left was to postpone the December 2 deadline, about which there should be no fuss,” disclosed one of the head, present at today’s meeting.

“We all feel that starting of the evening OPD here is an undue demand by the minister, as it will result in ruining the reputation of PGI, as handling of the task by General Duty medical officers will destroy the character of the institute,” remarked a senior doctor. Moreover, even if we are able to compel the resident doctors to join in, what will happen when their vacations begin, so it is advisable to postpone the starting of evening OPD, they added.

Sources revealed that after listening to the views of the heads of department, the Director said recruiting General Duty medical officers would not be possible right away as it involved a lot of funds.Those present at the Staff Council meeting felt that the faculty members should also be consulted, as there had been talk of involving them with the facility.

Meanwhile, the technicians too have expressed reservations about joining the evening OPD. “Since we are already overburdened with work it would simply not be possible for us to take on any further load, unless more posts are created and the vacancies filled up,” said Mr R.K. Khainchi, Chairman, PGI Employees Coordination Committee. He further expressed resentment over the fact that their representatives had not been invited to the Staff Council meeting, and decisions were being imposed on them.

With less than a week left for the deadline of starting evening OPD, the problem of the Director seem to have been further compounded as chances of meeting the December 2, deadline are becoming more and more bleak. 

NACO drive against AIDS from Dec 1
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 27
With stigma and discrimination proving to be the greatest barrier in generating awareness about the killer disease, and its prevention, the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) will launch a two-year AIDS prevention campaign on December 1.

With the theme “Stigma and discrimination” and the slogan of “Live and let live”, the campaign will be launched on the occasion of the World AIDS Day on December 1. The main objective of launching the campaign is to stress on greater community participation and to create awareness on the issue. According to NACO, factors like stigma and discrimination are there because of lack of understanding on the subject, myths regarding transmission, prejudices, want of objectivity and fears related to the illness and subsequent death.

It has also been observed that the apathy and prejudice that people have towards the issue, especially against those living with HIV infection, stem from deep-rooted social fears and anxieties which need to be addressed.

SPORTS

Archers, triathlon squad, too, for National Games
Arvind Katyal

Chandigarh, November 27
The Chandigarh Olympic Association, under whose banner the city sportspersons will participate in the 32nd National Games in Andhra Pradesh from December 13 to 22, has decided to take archery, triathlon, swimming and roller-skating squads, too, to the games. The teams for archery and triathlon contests have been announced, but the swimming and roller-skating selections have run into a deadlock. While the Chandigarh Skating Association is in no mood to send its players to the games, the Roller Skating Federation of India has written to the UT Director Sport to select the team.

The COA, on its own, can also select the team, if need be. In view of the letter to Director Sport, it seems that such a need has arisen. In the city, there are parallel swimming associations, and only the next few days would tell if any team is put forth. Hockey may be dropped from the National Games, as the Indian Hockey Federation has still not approved the synthetic turf in Hyderabad. The Chandigarh Hockey Association is keeping its fingers crossed, as it has already selected the probables.

Golf, a medal sport now, has been ignored by the Organising Committee of the 2002 National Games. Desh Prem Azad, president of the Chandigarh Golf Association, said it was sad that golf, a medal sport in the 2002 Busan Asiad, was not a part of the coming National Games. Last year, Punjab, Delhi and Chandigarh were the medal winners in golf. Azad said, maybe, the hosts did not expect any medal in golf, so, they had decided to scrap it. He said the Indian Olympic Association should take notice of it.

The President of the COA, Mr Rajan Kashyap, said the city sportspersons were expected to perform better than last year. He said the Chandigarh contingent would have 246 players and 45 officials. The players would start leaving for Hyderabad December 8 onwards.

Mr Chandersekhar, IPS and president of the Chandigarh Hockey Association, will be the chief-de-mission, while Mr Kailash Nath and Mr Reet Mohinder Singh will be the Deputy chiefs-de-mission. The strength of each squad is as follows: archery-11; athletics-13; boxing-28; fencing-seven; gymnastics-15; handball-18; hockey (men) 20, hockey (women) 20; kayaking and canoeing-12; roller skating-24; rowing-17; shooting-16; swimming-eight; tennis-10; triathlon-seven; volleyball-14; weightlifting-14 and wrestling-17. He said the roller-skating, triathlon and weighlifting events would be held at Visakhapatnam and the rest in Hyderabad.

Mr Kashyap said the preparatory camps were on in various coaching centres under the supervision of the Chandigarh Sports Council.

Gill, Bhatia win golf titles
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, November 27
It was a perfect outing for the merchant navy officers who converged on the Forest Hill Golf and Country Club to have feel of the new golf course on the occasion of Eurasia Cup. Located in the picturesque Shivalik foothills, this nine-hole golf course impressed almost all the participants who enjoyed almost five hour of golfing. Iqbal Singh Bhatti of the Aravali Golf Club, Faridabad, was impressed with the club and said, “Really this course and its serene and pollution free environment gives a soothing look. I feel like coming here again and again.”

As many as 50 golfers drawn from places like Delhi, Amritsar, Ludhiana took part in the meet. Capt TS Gill emerged a close winner with 35 points over Capt KPS Singh, who had 34 points. The longest drive competition was won by Capt Babu Sidhu with a massive 267 yards. The four-member team from Aravali Golf Club, Faridabad, saw IS Bhatti, Sukhdev Singh, Anup Kumar and Dr Ashok Bhatia proving their prowess with Dr Ashok Bhatia winning in the non- seafarer category. Pauline Singh, the only lady participant, walked away with the closest -to-pin trophy, on the difficult second hole.

The one-day golf event was sponsored by Eurasia Group, Hong Kong and organised by the Merchant Navy Officers Association, Chandigarh. Mr Rajesh Bajpayee, Managing Director, Eurasia, and the Vice-President, Capt Vijay Rangroo and its regional head Capt HS Gill, a keen golfer himself , were also present. Earlier the tee-off was at 7.30 am and the last participant finished at about 12 noon.

ADMINISTRATION

Admn okays panels to approve building plans
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 27
Issuing a formal notification the Chandigarh Administration today decided to form committees which will approve building plans.

The committee for bigger plots, commercial property and institutional property will have 10 members and be headed by Mr Ramsekhar, Deputy Commissioner-cum- Estate Officer. Other members are — Inderjit Singh Sandhu, Addl.Deputy Commissioner; Mr A.K. Sabharwal Senior Architect; Mr Ashwani Kumar, Assistant Estate Officer; Mr K.I.S. Virdi; Architect ; Mr Arvind Mehtani, Divisional Town Planner; Executive Engineer, (PH) Municipal Corporation; Mr G.S.Bajwa, Officiating Chief Fire Officer; SDO Electrical. Mr .Sanjay Arora, SDE(B), shall be the member-cum-convener.

This committee shall be for properties in Chandigarh and erstwhile notified area committee, Mani Majra. This will cover all commercial properties; residential properties above 500 sq yds; industrial properties above 500 sq yds and institutional properties.

The committee shall meet at a time and place designated by the Chairperson. Normally the committee shall meet on at least one day every week and the time and place should be pre-determined and pre-announced. SDO (Building) will circulate a list of cases to be put up at least one day prior to the meeting. The Chairperson may give leave of absence to any particular member. Agenda items shall be circulated to the absent members only in exceptional cases where the Chairperson wants specific comments or clarification from the members.

In the absence of Deputy Commissioner-cum-Estate Officer, the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Chandigarh, shall function as Chairman of the Committee. The quorum for this committee shall be of five members, including the Chairman.

Similarly for smaller plots an eight-member plan approval committee shall be headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Inderjit Singh Sandhu. The other members are; Ashwani Kumar, Assistant Estate Officer; Mr Sanjeev Kumar, Architect, Department of Urban Planning; Mrs Rashmi Gupta, Assistant Architect, Deptt. Of Urban Planning; Mr Daljit Singh, MrG.S.Bajwa, Chief Fire Officer (officiating); SDO (PH) Chandigarh Administration. Mr Sanjay Arora, SDE(B) shall be the member-convener.

The committee shall meet at a time and place designated by the Chairperson. and all other parameters shall remain the same as that for the committee for bigger plots. The Plan Approval Committee (Lower) shall examine the building plans of Chandigarh and erstwhile NAC, Mani Majra for the categories of buildings which are not covered under the Plan Approval Committee (Upper).

In the absence of the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Chandigarh, the Assistant Estate Officer, Union Territory, Chandigarh, shall function as Chairman of the committee. The quorum for this committee shall be of four members including the Chairman.

Rural development panel reconstituted
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 27
The Chandigarh Administrator has re-constituted the Rural Development Committee which shall give advice on all matters concerning rural development in villages falling within the Union Territory. The Adviser to the UT Administrator shall be the chairperson of the committee.

The committee will have seven members from among the officials of the Chandigarh Administration and another 29 members from among members of the public this includes sarpanches of various villages.

Besides the Adviser the official members are the Home Secretary, the Finance Secretary, the Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayats, Inspector General of Police, the Deputy Commissioner and the Block Development and Panchayats Officer.

The list of non-official members includes: Member of Parliament, Chairmen of the Zila Parishad and the Panchayat Samiti, respectively, Vice-Chairmen of the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti, respectively. Mr Prabhu Dayal, Ms Charanjit Kaur and Ms Saroj Bala, all members of the Zila Parishad. Mr Dayal Singh, Mrs Lata Sharma and Minakshi Devi, all members of the Panchayat Samiti.

The committee will also include the respective sarpanches of Kaimbwala, Khuda Alisher, Khuda Jassu, Khuda Lahora, Sarangpur, Dhanas, Dadumajra, Palsora, Maloya, Kajheri, Hallomajra, Behlana, Raipur Khurd, Raipur Kalan, Mauli Jagran and Kishangarh villages.

Admn extends pact with JLL
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 27
The Chandigarh Administration today extended its agreement with Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL), the consultant, for the Chandigarh Technology Park by six months. The JLL has been advising the Chandigarh Administration on the CTP for the past one year. The agreement, signed between the Secretary, Information Technology, Chandigarh Administration, Mr Karan A Singh and Mr Anurag Munshi of the JLL, shall be effective from December 1, 2002.

Under the new agreement, the JLL shall advise on devising suitable approaches for promotion of the CTP and supporting the initiatives thus undertaken. It shall also undertake marketing activities to solicit interest from potential investors at appropriate stages on an ongoing basis. Planning and support for the development and operationalisation of the CTP shall also be taken care of by the JLL.

The Chandigarh Administration has recently signed an MoU with the Infosys Technologies Limited for setting up a Rs 100 crore Software Development Centre at the CTP. The CTP, spread over an area of 111 acre, shall provide state of the art infrastructure to the IT and IT enabled services companies to set up their facilities. The CTP has large anchor plots, sub-anchor plots, built to suit sites and ready built space. It provides ideal setting for the IT companies to set up their facilities.