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Governance The rootcause
The way out
Rohtak, April 24 This means that as of now, the PGIMS staffers have to cater to nearly 5,000 OPD patients coming to the institute daily. Add to it the admitted patients, emergency cases and their attendants to get the full picture comprising the huge number of persons swarming the institute’s corridors on any given day. The strength of senior consultants, resident doctors and nurses and other paramedical employees is far from sufficient to handle such a heavy rush of patients. While the superspeciality services exist only in name, the provision of regular medical care has become a big casualty at the institute. The result is obvious: the patients, many of them coming from far-off places, are doomed to wait for their turn in serpentine queues. The situation has become so critical that hundreds of patients requiring certain diagnostic procedures or surgeries have to wait for their turn for several months. While the acute shortage of trained professionals is a big impediment in the smooth functioning of the institute, the utter collapse of the primary as well as secondary healthcare facilities in the state is another major factor. As a tertiary-level medical institute, the PGIMS is primarily supposed to cater to the cases referred to it by primary or secondary-level institutes. However, the senior consultants and even the superspecialists are so overburdened with routine cases that they have hardly any time or energy left for the critical ones. “It is practically and humanely not possible to pay undivided attention to such large number of patients in OPDs,” says a consultant. If the long queues at the general and OPD registration counters are unable to crush the morale of a common patient, he is again subjected to a long wait for his turn to see the doctor and
later to get an X-ray or ultrasound done. On the top of it, the discourteous behaviour of the paramedical staff; and - at times - even doctors; becomes rather too much to bear for any self-respecting and dignified person. True, the state authorities are spending huge amounts of money on buildings and equipment, but by the time these are commissioned, the volume of patients is also expected to go up
considerably. The answer, according to senior medical functionaries and other experts, lies in strengthening the primary and secondary medical institutions (including the primary and community health centres and the civil hospitals), provision of additional infrastructure and skilled manpower, and proper management of the heavy rush of patients. For instance, to begin with, the OPD hours can be increased and time appropriately divided into two halves, one devoted to new patients and the other reserved for the old ones. While the resident doctors can handle the new patients and those suffering from ordinary disorders, those requiring special care can be referred to the senior consultants or superspecialists. The number of OPD registration counters can also be increased. In addition to this, the authorities concerned have to concentrate on providing better facilities and healthy work atmosphere to the doctors and other staffers to prevent them from being attracted towards the lucrative private sector.
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Will the authorities please take note?
Ambala, April 24 Such is the state of a primary school, which is not located in any village but in a posh colony of an urban area. Government Primary School, located in the Model Town area of Ambala City, is an example of this misfortune. The school is running in a private “building” for the past three decades. The so-called building is in a dilapidated condition and it can come down any moment. Originally, the building was constructed for residential purpose, but later it was converted into a primary school. The rooms are not constructed according to the design of a classroom. The roof and the walls of the building are on its last legs and the floor is almost non-existent. Around 80 students have been taking education in this school. Needless to mention, the students belong to underprivileged families. This school seems to be a slum in a posh island. While crossing through the circular road, students can be seen while sitting on the floor. The PWD department had declared the building unsafe a few years back and since then, the students have been taking classes in the open for safety reasons. No benches, no blackboards and not even drinking water and toilet facilities are available in the school. Students have to bear scorching heat in summers and chilly winds in winters, the rainy season makes the things even worse. Not even a single room, except the corridor of the building, is secured where the students and the teachers can take shelter in case of any harsh weather conditions. The boundary wall of the building was constructed recently with the personal efforts of the district education officer. Recently, when the work for constructing
a new room started, a resident of the area tried to stop the work claiming himself the owner of the building. When contacted, DEO Zile Singh said decades back the owner of the building had orally donated it to the education department to run a school for poor students and that was why the department had not been paying any rent to any one for a long time. Interestingly, the department does not have any record of the donation agreement. Meanwhile, the DEO told the department had received a grant of Rs 1 lakh under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, which would be utilised for the construction a room on the vacant land of the school.
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Capitalising on sunny days
Chandigarh, April 24 This, sources say, is an overwhelming response from independent power producers for setting up solar energy-based projects, especially when the state’s power sector is having a tough time meeting the ever-growing demand. Some of the leading groups like Reliance Industries, Albina Power, ACME Telepower, Epuron Renewable Energy Power, Emco & RS India Wind Energy have shown interest in setting up solar power projects in Haryana and have submitted their proposals. According to the terms and conditions, the entire project cost will be borne by the approved bidder. “These proposals will be evaluated by the technical appraisal committee constituted by the state government and,
thereafter, “The solar insolation level in the state is in the range of 5.5 KWH to 6.5 KWH per sq m and the state has about 320 clear sunny days in a year. This offers a great potential for using solar energy for various thermal and electrical energy applications,” he said. But the potential available from solar energy is yet to be harnessed in megawatt scale in the country. She further said though the cost of power generation through solar energy was on the higher side as compared to other conventional and renewable energy power projects, it was more environment-friendly and helped in carbon dioxide reductions.
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Malika gets ‘power punch’
Yamunanagar, April 24 But Malika Sharma, a power lifter from Yamunanagar, who has won several medals in international meets, including gold in two consecutive Asian power lifting championships, lacks both the above. Her parents are not rich and she does not know the 'right people'. As a result, she could not participate in the world power lifting championship in Norway in 2006 and the previous year in Austria. She could not participate in commonwealth games last year. She won the gold in 90 plus weight category in Asian power lifting championship - 2006 held in Korea. She had also won the gold in 2005 championship held in Kerela and a bronze medal in Asian power lifting championship held in Kazakhstan in 2003. She had brought honour for the country by winning bronze in the championship held in Korea in 2002. MLN college, Yamunanagar, the district administration and an NGO had helped her with funds. Participation in meets held in India is not a problem for her. But when it comes to participating in a foreign land, she finds herself helpless. "I had participated in several events held in foreign countries as one or the other people or agencies helped, but I missed two important events (world championships) because of lack of money. A lot of money is required if you have to practice and participate in meets held outside India and it is difficult for me to raise the kind of funds," says Malika, who is preparing for a championship to be organised by Indian Railways. Scores of medals won by her adorn a pride position in the two-room house allotted to her father by Indian Railways. "When I look at the medals and recall the moments when they were given to me, I feel great and want to work doubly hard," she avers. When she gets selected for a championship or event to be held in a foreign country, she starts writing letters to government authorities to help her with funds in vain. She had applied for 'Bhim Award' but her application was rejected by the state government. It came as a rude shock to her, considering she has been a state power lifting champion from 1997 to 2005. The only silver lining for Malika is a job in Indian Railways where she has been employed
as a clerk. "A job was must for survival. I approached Prime Minister, President and officials in Indian railways and finally the railways gave me a job," says Malika. Jangi Ram, a weightlifting coach, used to help her in training but he was transferred to some other place. Now Malika has no coach but she practices daily at railway grounds in Jagadhri. "My duty is to practice and keep trying to arrange funds for participation in meets held in foreign countries," says Malika, as she parts for yet another practice session.
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Inside Babudom
Chandigarh, April 24 One glaring example is the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), which, over the years, has emerged as the biggest colonizer in the state. Its field offices are headed by Estate Officers (EO), who are usually HCS officers. For every type of permission, the signatures of the EOs are must. Presently, HUDA has full-time HCS officers as EOs only in about half a dozen places. The rest are managed by those HCS officers who are posted in the field holding substantive posts like SDMs or city magistrates. Since the workload of an EO is immense, the part-time EOs are unable to cope with it. This results in long delays in providing various permissions to allottees of HUDA plots, leading to corruption and exploitation of the public at large by middlemen. The SDMs have to work as district transport officers (DTO) also. The post of DTO was abolished by the Hooda government after it received reports of widespread corruption. The charge was given to the SDMs, who were already overburdened. Unfortunately, there is no early hope for the situation to improve. The government cannot nominate anyone to the post of HCS because the approval of the HPCC is must for it. The government has approached the President of India for the removal of the HPCC members appointed during the Chautala regime. If the government now asks the commission to select candidates for the HCS and other services, its case for their removal is weakened. Before the last assembly elections, sensing its imminent defeat, the Chautala regime packed the nine-member commission with its own men, many with dubious qualifications. The Hooda government is afraid that such a hand-picked commission would not be able to select the candidates on their merit but on extraneous considerations. Since the HPSC members enjoy constitutional protection, they can be removed only after a tedious and time-consuming process. After the President is satisfied that there are sufficient grounds for their removal, he makes a reference to the Supreme Court for hearing the charges against a member of the commission. It is only after the approval of the apex court, that a member of the commission can be removed. For the past three years, the commission members are drawing salaries and enjoying other perks without performing any duty. The selection to the HCS and allied services made by the commission just before the Chautala government fell, was not accepted by the Hooda government on the plea that the strength of the HCS cadre had been reduced. The government’s decision has withstood the judicial scrutiny. But the state continues to face the shortage of HCS service, which is next to the IAS in the administrative set-up.
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Kunal Bhadoo on a mission
Fatehabad, April 24 Though the ostensible purpose of Kunal's recent visits is the philanthropist activities of Navyug Nirman, an NGO owned by his wife Anjali, but the manner in which a section of local Congress workers has been associated with his programmes, has made people feel that there is more to his visits than what meets the eyes. Kunal Bhadoo is a school time friend of Sandeep Bishnoi, son of Dura Ram, a local MLA and parliamentary secretary in the Hooda government, and as a matter of fact, it was at Bishnoi's instance that Kunal first visited Fatehabad last December. Even during his recent visits, Bishnoi has been accompanying Kunal in his programmes, though most of his father's close lieutenants have been ignoring to attend these functions. Rather, the Congress workers not so close to Dura Ram, have been organising the functions of Kunal Bhadoo. Dura Ram is a nephew of Hooda's bete noir Bhajan Lal but he has been supporting the Hooda government since he does not see eye to eye with his cousin Kuldeep Bishnoi. Kunal's frequent visits have been definitely causing an embarrassing situation for Dura Ram. During these four months, Kunal's Navyug Nirman has organised several welfare activities like 'Shramdaan Shivirs' at Pili Mandori, Bhattu Kalan, Fatehabad and Bighar; a medical camp in at village Bhodia Khera; a soil testing campaign at Bhodia Khera and surrounding villages and replacement of old electricity bulbs with CFL bulbs at villages Leherian, Chandrawal and Hanspur. Interestingly, Kunal's style of working is different from the one found in most of VVIPs indulging in public service activities. While most of the VVIPs prefer to get themselves photographed while doing some social work symbolically, Kunal has been seen working with spade for hours together during the 'Shramdaan Shivirs' last month. He has also been personally replacing electric bulbs with CFL in villages. A graduate from the London School of Economics, Kunal has been a popular figure, particularly for the youths, due to his affable nature. Though Kunal denies any political ambition behind his visits to Fatehabad but the manner in which he declares that he wants to develop Fatehabad in to model district of the country, says everything.
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DAV Trust a public body, says HC
Hisar, April 24 The society had filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court sometime ago seeking issuance of a writ, order or direction to set aside proceedings under the RTI Act pending with the director of public instruction (colleges), Chandigarh, and the director of public instruction (schools). The society claimed that it was not a "public authority" as defined under Section 2(H) of the Act as it was "not receiving more than 45 per cent grant of its total annual budget for the past many years put together". The writ was filed after several individuals sought information regarding fee structure of different add-on courses and the details of expenses on particular advertisements issued by DAV College, Chandigarh, and some other schools run by the society. They were denied this information. Thereafter, these members of the public went to appeal before the DPI colleges and schools who ruled that the institutions were "public authority" as defined in the RTI Act and directed that the information be given to the applicants. The society filed the writ against these orders. However, a Bench comprising justice M.M. Kumar and justice T.P.S. Mann ruled that the DAV institutions were covered by the definition of the public authority as defined in the RTI Act. They said, "The definition of expression public authority itself shows that public authority would include any organisation/body owned, controlled or substantially financed directly or indirectly by funds provided by the government or even the non-government organisation which is substantially financed." Their judgement added that there was another aspect of this issue. It cited a judgement by a full bench of the court given in 1998, in the case of Ravneet Kaur versus Christian Medical College, Ludhiana. The issue to be decided was whether institutions like CMC were performing private or public functions. The judges said the full Bench had taken the view that since institutions discharge public duties these could not be regarded as private entites limiting the power of the court in the issuance of directions. The full Bench had also ruled that institutions performing public functions affecting the life of a huge segment of society like education whether aided or not could not be considered as merely private bodies. The judges said in view of this ruling too the society's plea would not survive and dismissed the petition. The DAV College Trust and Society, New Delhi, is even otherwise a non-statutory body not recognised by the state governments and universities. It continues to govern institutions in complete violation of law. The judgement has come as a big blow to the society whose very existence is under legal scrutiny.
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Mathematically correct
Panchkula, April 24 Ever since this educational tool has caught the fancy of the education world, several institutions like Aloha, Brainobrain and SIP Abacus, have come up to offer courses based on abacus learning. Some of the regular schools are encouraging the new concept. Experts say though the modern computer is of recent origin (about 50 years), the idea of automating the process of computation was born long back. The earliest calculation aid used by the man was abacus. Traders and businessmen all over the world used it in the past and it is still being used in some parts of the West Asia and Japan. The word abacus came from the Greek word, "abakos" (for a board or a tablet). The modern abacus is a wooden frame fitted with rigid wires on which counters made of wood or plastic can slide. The Chandgothia family in Panchkula seems to be drawing the maximum advantage from this new concept. Prateek, the youngest Chandgothia, a student of Class I in St Kabir Public School, Sector 26, Chandigarh, has been awarded the Brainobrain Fest 2008 champions trophy in the eighth All-India National Abacus Competition Festival held at New Delhi. The competition was held at Fr. Agnel School, New Delhi, on April 13 in which over 1,200 children of various age groups and levels participated from all over the country. It was organised by Brainobrain, a Chennai-based institute, which has pioneered the concept of mental gym for children between 5-14 years. Its course comprises of 10 levels, with level 1 introducing a child to mathematical calculations using the abacus. The course uses the neuro-linguistic approach to awaken the dormant "left brain" of a child, leading to increased mental ability and overall personality development. Prateek contested in the 5-7 years age category for level 2 and completed 27 mathematical sums of addition and subtraction in the time limit of 3 minutes with full accuracy to top the contest. Last year, his elder brother Shreyas was the champion in the 8-10 years category for level 5. Over 5,000 children had participated in the competition held in November last at Delhi. Shreyas solved 55 mathematical sums of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division in the allotted 3 minutes to lead the contest. Principal J.P. Singh of St Kabir Public School, the alma mater of the siblings is all praise for them. Sangeeta Chandgothia, their mother, says a healthy competition has developed between them to outdo each other or at least to match the other's achievements. She says abacus learning has also enhanced her children's concentration and learning abilities in other subjects. It has even improved their standing in extracurricular activities.
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Toffees as substitute of coins
Jhajjar, April 24 The shortage of coins have forced the bus conductors to carry toffees in their bags to offer to the passengers in lieu of balance of Re 1 to Rs 4. Though, those accompanied by children are just happy to accept the offer and many other people, too, seems enjoying the sweetener, the moment turned sour when a hardcore opponent of such "harmful" thing comes across. Such an incident happened when a passenger, traveling from Jhajjar to Rohtak, was given two toffees in lieu of Rs 2. "Please take back toffees and if you don't have coins, you keep the balance. It is of no use for me as I never allow my children to eat such things," the passenger who identified himself as Ramesh Sharma told the conductor. The unperturbed conductor, however, told Sharma in a placating tone that you could use the toffees as coins while traveling in the next bus "so keep it with you". As the conversation progressed, conductor informed that the scarcity of coins is a big headache for them. "We need a lot of change as hardly any passenger pays the exact amount or found carrying required coins with him. So much so that change for Rs 100 which we get at a premium, gets exhausted in one trip from Rohtak to Sonepat. So we have found a practical solution in buying toffees in bulk and offer it for change". A senior Roadways official in Jhajjar says there is no official instruction to use toffees for coins. "The department has nothing to do with this scheme as the conductors have themselves devised this solution to their problem." He, however, admits that all conductors of Haryana Roadways and even staff of Punjab, Himachal and Rajasthan roadways are using toffees and there is nothing wrong in it. For the record, the scarcity of coins started hitting the markets especially retail business in late nineties when the government started minting coins of Rs 5, 2, and 1 and stopped printing of rupees of these denominations.
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More check posts to nab drunk drivers
Panipat, April 24 In a high-level meeting held recently, DGP Ranjeev Singh Dalal had agreed in principal to set up check posts at the upcoming elevated highway in Panipat and toll plazas in Hodal and Gurgaon to bring down the road accident figures. According to the official data, during 2007 as many as 525 persons lost their lives in around 1,000 road accidents on the NH-1 alone. In 2006, 575 fatal accidents were reported out of the total 1,025 road accidents on the busy stretch from Sonepat to Ambala. Confirming this to TNS, AIG (NH traffic) Rajpal Singh stated that new posts to detect the drunken drivers at the given stations would be operational soon. Admitting that it was a challenging job to identify the drunken drivers on some of the busiest roads of the country, he revealed that the specially trained cops would be deployed to meet the task. He said special focus would be to ensure that the policemen on duty did not involve in any kind of misbehavior with the co-passengers. Every year scores of people lose their lives due to irresponsible driving and drunken driving was one of the major factors responsible for fatal accidents, added the AIG. Ever since its inception at toll plaza in Karnal in April last year, the NH police had challaned more than 2,000 individuals. Now, video recording is also done to rule out any complaint against the policemen on duty. There are 22 traffic police stations in the state and each of these is equipped with alcohol-sensing meter. With the change in the location of toll plaza, the NH police has also shifted the sobriety post from Karnal to new toll plaza at Raipur village, near
Nilokheri.
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Panchkula to have country’s first agro mall
Panchkula, April 24 Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, laid the foundation stone of the mall last week. The booking for mall would be started shortly and the mode of allotment would be through invitation of applications from retailer/commission agents, co-operative societies for fruit and vegetables, farmers retail chain industry, commodity exchanges and food processing industries. Horticulture and horticulture consultancy services, horticulture co-operative and government agencies, related to agriculture and horticulture products, would also be invited to have the space in the mall. The building of mall with four stories will consist of 51 shops on ground floor, along with super area specially for fruits and vegetables and other allied products. The first and second floors would be allotted to one single company for providing all kind of horticulture and food items of international standards. However, the third floor would be available to offices for horticulture and food processing and other allied activities.
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Citizen’s Grievance
Though an astroturf ground at the Rishi Markandeshwar hockey stadium has been provided, local boys of the town are being deprived of its benefits. They have to do their practice in the dusty playground of DAV Senior Secondary School here while girls are permitted to play and practice on the synthetic ground. The players complain that district sports officials are discriminating against them. The town has produced several national and international male hockey players as Gurdeep Singh Bhullar, Damandeep Singh, Kulwinder Singh and also hockey stars like Olympians Sanjeev Kumar Dang and famous drag-flicker Sandeep Singh. The players demand that the administration should look into the matter and do justice to them.
Surinder Pal Singh Wadhawan,
Shahabad Markanda
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