HEALTH

‘Weak’ health scheme irks Central staff
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 24
The Central Medical Health Scheme, launched with much fanfare earlier this year, has only added to the woes of the Central government employees, numbering over 35,000, with merely two understaffed dispensaries in the city attending to the stream of patients.

Launched to keep a check on the false medical claims being taken by the employees, two dispensaries have been opened in Sector 45 and 41, with merely four doctors to attend to the employees and their family members. “With just two doctors at the dispensary examining over 300 patients daily, we have to stand in the queue for hours and come back to collect the medicines the next day,” complained an employee Mr Mangal Singh, who had come to the Sector 45 dispensary.

The Sector 41 dispensary, started earlier this month too has over 150 patients daily. “ When the scheme was launched, the authorities had assured that new dispensaries would be opened at Mohali, Panchkula and Chandigarh, but so far there are only two to cater to the medical needs of 35,000 employees and their families,” rued Mr Rajeev Kumar. He added that if it was not possible to open new dispensaries at least the strength of doctors and other staff in the existing dispensaries ones must be increased.

The Joint Director, Dr R.K. Khullar, while admitting that the number of doctors was not enough, refuted the allegations that employees were facing inconvenience. “Shortly we will be opening two new dispensaries in Sector 7 and Mani Majra, apart from starting local purchase of 213 medicines, the list of which had been approved by the government,” he said.

Another problem being faced by the health officials is that out of a total of 35,000 Central Government employees, medical cards of merely 4,380 and of 1080 pensioners had been made so far. Despite repeated reminders to the 160 departments for getting the cards of their employees made, very few had responded, added Dr Khullar.

Central Government employees rue that even the ESI Hospital opened at Ram Darbar, has more than 12 doctors, whereas the dispensaries opened for them were badly understaffed. They said while on the first day they go to the dispensary, the next day was wasted by going to GMCH, where medicines are prescribed and on the third day they have to return to the dispensary collect the medicine. In case the doctors suggest some tests and investigations, another day is wasted, making it very difficult for them to get leave from office.

“Even for medicines worth Rs 50, we have to spend a much bigger amount on conveyance and waste a few days to undergo treatment at the dispensaries opened by Central Government,” complain the employees.

Haryana roller hockey team triumphs
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, December 24
Panchkula roller skaters, especially the girl skaters, brought glory when they enabled the Haryana skating team to capture the gold medal in roller hockey in the just concluded 32nd National Games held at Visakhapatnam. As many as seven girls were from Panchkula in the 10-member Haryana team. Haryana men got bronze medal and three men were from Panchkula. Skating was introduced for the first time in these National Games.

The women’s team also had five skaters who represented India at the international level. Priyanka Singh, Heena, Anuja Tere, Chandita Kamboj, Rayasha Rajput had all represented India while two other skaters from Panchkula were Geetika and Renuka.

In the league matches held in the above meet, Haryana beat AP 17-0, Haryana beat Chandigarh 10-0, J& K 7-0 and Punjab 4-0. Such was the dominance of Haryana team that no other team could score any goal against them.

The camp for the preparation of the team was held at Blue Bird School, Sector 16, Panchkula and Hansraj Public School, Sector 6, Panchkula.

City team wins: Chandigarh men’s roller hockey skaters romped home with a gold medal which was the lone gold medal secured by the Chandigarh contingent in the 32nd National Games held at Visakhapatnam. City roller hockey players achieved the feat by routing Haryana 7-3, J&K 7-4, AP 11-1, Punjab 5-4. The team was coached by Mr Sarabjit Singh, skating Coach, UT Sports Department. City eves secured bronze medal in above event.

Archery team: The trials to select the Chandigarh Junior Archery teams in both boys and girls sections will be held tomorrow at 3 pm at the Government College for Girls, Sector 11. According to Mr Maha Singh, secretary of the Chandigarh Archery Association, the selected players will take part in the 25th Junior National Archery Championship to be held at Jamshedpur from January 2 to 5, 2003. 

ADMINISTRATION

Encroachments in Industrial Area to be removed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 24
The Chandigarh administration and Municipal Corporation has decided to remove all types of encroachment in the Industrial Area. A meeting of industrialists under the chairmanship of Municipal Commissioner will be held shortly to identify the areas where scrap dealers and transporters have encroached upon the parking areas and other open spaces. These encroachments would be soon removed to keep cleanliness in the area.

Decision in this regard was taken today in the meeting of the Chandigarh Industrial Advisory Committee. The meeting was chaired by Ms Neeru Nanda, Adviser to the UT Administrator. After participating in the meeting, Mr A.L. Aggarwal, General Secretary, Chamber of Chandigarh Industries, disclosed that administration has agreed to share the expenditure on 50:50 basis to construct public lavatories in the industrial area. The administration would provide land, electricity and water connections free of cost and the industrial associations and the industrialists at their own level would maintain the lavatories.

He said the Administration has also agreed to grant electricity connections through Electricity Department, instead of going through Single Window, to check the delay in the release of new connections.

Industrial plots can now be freehold
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 24
The UT Administration has agreed to allow conversion of lease-hold industrial plots into free-hold plots on payment of conversion fee.

This was stated on behalf of the Administration at a meeting of the Chandigarh Industrial Advisory Committee held under the chairpersonship of Ms Neeru Nanda, Adviser to the Administrator, Chandigarh Administration, here today.

The case with regard to the conversion of industrial plots is being sent to the Centre for formal clearance, which is expected in about a month’s time.

It has been decided to permit transfer of existing lease-hold industrial plots. The meeting was informed that the UT Administration would soon come out with a voluntary disclosure scheme for regularisation of powerload by industries.

At the meeting, six industrial associations participated. Prominent industrialists who took part were Mr Arvind Mihan Mr Rajiv Gupta, Mr A.L. Aggarwal, Mr Vinod Mittal, Mr S.C. Kohli, Mr Vikram Sehgal, Mr Beant Singh, Mr S.K. Harjani and Mr Rajiv Singh.

Other issues discussed at the meeting included sales tax matters, roads, power encroachments and scrap dealers.

Cess for collecting bin garbage
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 24
The Sanitation Committee of the Municipal Corporation today proposed to withdraw its garbage bins kept for hotels, restaurants, semi-government and government bhawans and impose a charge for collecting garbage from bins to be kept either by these categories of users themselves, or to be provided by the Municipal Corporation for Rs 15,000.

The meeting chaired by Dr B.R. Verma, however, did not fix any charge for collecting garbage from these bins. With these measures, the corporation would be able to collect Rs 8 to Rs 10 lakh annually.

The committee discussed a report presented by officers on sanitation of Hyderabad where 70 per cent of the sanitation work had been privatised. The committee said it would not be applicable in the city.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the functioning of complaint centres of the Medical Officer Health wing, it asked the wing to ask each of its supervisors to visit the area councillor once in a week to know about the state of cleanliness in the area.

The committee approved the purchase of six hydraulic tipper tractor trailers at a price of Rs 70,000 per unit.

In a separate meeting, the Environment and City Beautification Committee chaired by Mr Dildar Khan, the committee asked the officials to spend the approved amount of Rs 85 on different parks of the city.

The committee was informed out of Rs 85 lakh approved in the budget, the Horticulture Department had spent Rs 50 lakh. The committee declined to pass proposals on six parks, saying the department was first to spend the money passed in the budget.

Members were informed that around Rs 50 lakh had come from the Councillors’ Ward Development fund.