Chandigarh, August 31
Around 15,000 candidates from Kurukshetra University (KU) are facing the city administration’s prejudice with regard to the recruitment of teachers.

The administration has refused to entertain KU candidates for the guest faculty recruitment for postgraduate teachers (PGTs) and trained graduate teachers (TGTs) for 504 posts in government schools here.

The reason --- their result has not been declared yet. But at the same time, candidates from Punjabi University and Panjab University, who are also awaiting their result, have been allowed to apply “provisionally”.

The guidelines stipulated by the administration clearly state that the applications of candidates who have appeared in any qualifying examinations, but have not yet been awarded degree, will be considered “provisionally”.

The rules also say that the documents of such candidates will be scrutinised as and when they submit the original degree.

The recruitment is scheduled at Government Model Senior Secondary School-23 and Government Model Senior Secondary School-10.

Candidates, requesting anonymity, said they had been left out on the plea that their result was awaited.

They said when they protested, the authorities concerned told them to come
on August 22.

“But once again our applications were rejected, but candidates from Punjabi University and Panjab University were offered provisional recruitment. When we opposed it, Sunil Bedi from the education department told us that he was following the instructions of the higher authorities,” they rued.

The candidates also contacted the office of the DPI (S), but in vain.

“We also submitted a representation with the DPI in this regard. We pleaded that our eligibility may be considered from the day we submit the detailed mark certificate, but nothing came of it,” they said.

To evade any external pressure, the administration has introduced a new pattern of recruitment, wherein experience and qualification would be the only consideration and no written test or interview would be conducted.

The DPI (S), S.K. Setia, was not available for comments.

Chandigarh, August 31
The PGI claims to offer state-of-the-art facilities to its patients, but the same can’t be said for its dead.

It may sound strange, but it is true. While one reads numerous stories about overcrowding in hospital wards and emergencies, there is virtually a scramble for space for the dead in the PGI mortuary.

And the reason is not per se shortage of space, but the fact that a part of the
cold room has been non-functional for the past one-and-a-half years, rendering
it useless.

What is surprising is that the authorities know of it, but nothing has been done to fix the problem.

According to sources, the mortuary can accommodate 23 bodies, but at present, only 16 cold chambers are working.

This sometimes leads to a scramble for storing the bodies, besides causing trauma to the kin of the deceased.

Accommodating bigger bodies is a problem since the non-functional cold room is best suited for it.

This problem came to the fore recently when the mortuary staff could not fit the body of a criminal in the regular chambers.

The deceased was well built and tall and the nature of his injuries had resulted in the bloating of the body.

The staff had a harrowing time “stuffing” the body inside the chamber.

Dr Kusum Joshi, head of histopathology, admitted that the cold room had been out of order for the past couple of years.

“We have already informed the higher authorities about it and have sent a request for its upgradation,” she said.

Chandigarh, August 31
A mass campaign against drug abuse was kicked off today with the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) announcing a multi-approach programme to tackle the menace which will include holding of “warning protests” in both rural and urban areas.

BKU chief Balbir Singh Rajewal, who has been holding a series of meetings in various parts of the state to administer oaths to the youth that they will stay away from the deadly menace, has decided to intensify the movement seeking cooperation of the intelligentsia, including the University professors, doctors, police officers as well as the media.

Rajewal, while speaking at a seminar held in this regard here, said the “warning protests” will be held all over the state on September 27.

He said besides traffickers, chemist shop owners will be warned against selling any kind of drugs.

He said following this the organisation will launch a drive to expose sellers who do not heed this warning.

“Out attempt is to do something practical and set examples for society,” he said.

Additional director general of police (ADGP), Punjab, G.D. Pandey, while speaking on the occasion, said drug abuse had become more of a social problem than one of law and order only.

He urged farmers present on the occasion to give information about drug sellers, saying drug seizures had increased recently.

He said in the past two years, Rs 50 crore worth property of smugglers had been attached on the initiative of the state police.

Social worker and retired senior medical officer (SMO), Tejinder Singh said drug abuse was not a physical problem but a mental one.

He said the breakdown in society had resulted in loneliness and that efforts should be made to ensure non-availability of drugs.

“It is my experience that whenever there is a strict Station House Officer (SHO) in the area, there is a rise in admissions to the de-addiction centres,” he added.

Panjab University don Dr Raunki Ram said it must be understood that drug abuse had increased because it became a profit-making venture.

He said Punjab had become a part of the international drug mafia.

He advocated that the state government needed to strengthen primary education network so that students from the village could have better job prospects.

Journalist Chanchal Manohar Singh, while speaking on similar lines, said the most serious problem was drug abuse among the youth in villages.

He said village children were being isolated, as they were not indulging in agriculture and simultaneously were ineligible for most jobs.

Another journalist Hamir Singh said there was a need to cleanse the manner in which politicians solicited votes.

“If the people of the state make it clear that they will not vote for any political party or candidate who tries to buy votes through distribution of drugs, there is bound to be a change in the thinking of the politicians,” he added.

Chandigarh, August 31
Members of the Autorickshaw Pullers’ Union is up in arms against the decision of the Chandigarh administration to ban diesel-run autorickshaws with effect from August 31, 2009. The decision will mean financial loss to the operators.

The administration has clarified that no further renewal of permit will be done beyond August 31, 2009. The replacement of these autorickshaws will be given with only LPG-run autorickshaws.

Protesting against the introduction of LPG-run autorickshaws in place of those running on CNG, the union stated that the administration should adopt pragmatic approach in order to maintain a balance between the livelihood of operators and cutting down pollution.

They have demanded that the operators should be taken into confidence instead of taking unilateral decision.

They questioned the move of the administration to impose the ban as the decision would affect at least 1,200 autorickshaws being run on petrol and diesel which have a life validity of 15 years as fixed by the State Transport Authority (STA).

A number of autorickshaws have been issued permits for a period of five years. “The decision could land the administration in legal complication,” said an official.

Earlier, the decision was to phase out the autorickshaws in the next three years. After scrapping old autorickshaws, the STA issued permits in 2003. The permits are issued under the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act.

Chandigarh Autorickshaw Union president H.S. Sawhney said it would spell doom for hundreds of autorickshaw owners who have taken loans from financial institutions.

He said once the STA had issued permits for 15 years, it would be wrong for it take autorickshaws off roads.

“We will oppose it and protest against the unrealistic move of the administration. They should have thought about it while issuing permits in 2003,” he said.

“Decisions should be taken keeping in mind all factors”, said Hardev, an autorickshaw driver, who is yet to pay back the auto loan taken from a financial institution.

Chandigarh, August 31
The growing number of vehicle thefts in the city has become a major headache for the police here.

With rising number of vehicles in every household and inadequate parking area, most people are forced to park their vehicles, especially four-wheelers, outside their houses, thus making it an easy prey for thieves.

If one goes by the figures, last year, a total of 863 vehicles, including 448 cars and 122 jeeps, were stolen from the city.

The number of stolen two-wheelers is much higher. Up to July 31, this year, a total of 219 cars, 53 jeeps, one tempo and two trucks have been stolen.

With the statistics available, one can easily see the failure of the police in handling the situation, as over three vehicles, including two-wheelers, are being stolen everyday from the city.

Most vehicles theft takes place during the nights when the police visibility is
almost negligible.

Preferring anonymity, a senior police officer said it was not possible for the police to check each and every street throughout the night.

“People, too, are generally careless about the safety of their vehicles. They spend lakhs of rupees to purchase a vehicle but always resist spending a few thousands on advanced devices for vehicle safety,” the official said.

“Thieves always look for easy targets. If they find even a local-made device installed in the vehicle, they prefer to pick another one,” reasoned the official.

With the arrest of four members of an inter-state gang by the Operation Cell of the local police recently, it has come to light that miscreants stole over 100 vehicles in a short span from the city and around. Surprisingly, all members used to roam around in stolen luxury cars without any fear.

“Many vehicles were also sold by them in the city’s car bazaars after procuring fake registration numbers and tampering with engine and chassis number of the vehicles,” said DSP (operations) Vijay Kumar.

Chandigarh, August 31
Following yesterday’s incident at Sector 46 market, in which one person was killed after a tree fell over a booth, the Rehri Market Association staged a protest against the alleged callousness of the administration here today.

Accusing the authorities of not taking the basic initiative of providing free treatment to the injured, the members of the association tried to block the road dividing Sectors 45 and 46.

Following a mild lathicharge by the police, the agitated members sat on a dharna, demanding a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the deceased and free of cost treatment for the injured.

According to association president Suresh Manchanda: “The administration is least bothered about us. Their only duty towards us is to visit for a few minutes after such tragedies and deliver false promises. But we will not take this anymore.”

Meanwhile, SDM Niharika Rai reached the scene and called the association office-bearers to meet her on Monday.

Union minister of state for finance Pawan Kumar Bansal also visited the scene and met the agitators.

The association members also raised the issue of allotment of booths to the victims of 2000 fire tragedy.

Chandigarh, August 31
Members of the Chandigarh Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretariat Employees House Building (First) Society have lamented that the society management had failed to hand over possession of flats in spite of them having paid over and above the cost of the different categories of flats.

“Due to delay on part of the management to get the work on the flats of “A”, “B” and “C” category completed within the scheduled time frame, the occupation certificate of the flats has been held up by the estate office. This has delayed in the grant of possession of the flats,” said a member.

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretariat Employees Cooperative House Building Society president Pritam Singh said the possession could only be given after certain works were carried out by the allottees.

However, the allottees alleged that it was the contractor who was supposed to complete the work.

They further lamented that instead of giving possession in 18 months, over four
years had passed. The revised cost of flats in “A”, “B” and “C” category has
also gone up.

Panchkula, August 31
The residents of Panchkula can finally hope to have hygienic meat and meat products as the township is set to get a state of the art slaughterhouse within next couple of months. A modern meat market is also proposed to set up along with it.

The residents of the town are forced to buy meat being sold at open outlets set up at different places.

Barring a few shops here, majority of them are set in slums and villages situated in the town and are also run without any licence to sell these products.

In absence of any slaughterhouse the meat was being brought from different sources at Chandigarh, Saharanpur and Zirakpur.

“We have issued a total of 44 licences for the sale of meat in the city,” said O.P. Sihag, executive officer, municipal committee, Panchkula.

“After setting up of a market near the slaughterhouse, these license holders would be asked to shift to the market,” he added.

The remaining shops running in the slums and colonies would be asked to close down, asserted Sihag.

In fact, there were hundreds of shops selling raw meat. More than 30 outlets were opened selling pork, mutton and chicken in Rajiv Colony.

Similar was the case at Indira Colony, Abhaypur and Azad Colony where fish, chicken and mutton was being sold in the open under unhygienic conditions.

Sihag said it would be easier for them to keep a check on the quality of product after the sale would be made from one place in the city.

“For this purpose a slaughterhouse would be operational at Industrial Area within next couple of months and HUDA would construct the market near it,” he said.

Chandigarh, August 31
In a rare surgery, a newborn baby with congenital gastric outlet obstruction (pyloric atresia) was successfully operated upon at Chaitanya hospital here.

Addressing mediaperson, Dr Anil Narang, head of neonatology department, said it was a rare case, occurring in less than one in one lakh newborns.

To undertake this kind of surgery and discharge the baby successfully, especially when the previous baby with a similar problem had died at the PGI last year, was challenging task for the doctors.

He said an eight-month-pregnant women came with ultrasound report showing abnormality in the baby (distended stomach).

She was advised to complete pregnancy till the ninth month and then go for the treatment of the baby after the delivery.

The baby was born by normal delivery at Bhiwani (Haryana) and brought to the hospital within six hours.

The baby was investigated with plain X ray and contrast X rays, which showed distended stomach and no air and contrast going beyond the stomach.

The baby was diagnosed with congenital gastric outlet obstruction. The previous baby had a similar problem and was operated upon at the PGI last year, but could not be saved, said Dr Narang.

After initial stabilisation and investigation, the baby was taken for surgery around 24 hours after birth.

Dr Ashish Dharmik, consultant neonatal and paediatric surgeon at the hospital, performed the surgery.

Talking about the baby’s condition, Dr Narang said on opening the abdomen, the stomach was hugely distended and there was complete blockage beyond stomach.

During surgery, which lasted for two hours, the blockage was removed and continuity between the stomach and small intestine (duodenum) was restored.

Post-operatively, the baby was managed at the neonatal ICU under Dr Narang’s supervision. The baby made a recovery.

Chadigarh, August 31
“Padoge likhoge to banoge nawaab, kheloge kudoge toh hoege khraab,” but in today’s modern time, this old saying doesn’t hold much relevance, simply because the advent of sports courses like Bachelor of Physical Education (B.P.Ed.), which is now not only confined to teaching jobs but has many diverse job avenues too.

Apart from teaching one can also go for varied professions, including sports journalism, computer-field, physical training, umpiring/refereeing, sports health, fitness and gym management specialisation creates a potential self-employment and also provides business.

After XII, one can pursue B.P.Ed., a four-year innovative course, and later,
graduating from this course, one can take up teaching jobs in secondary and
senior secondary schools.

“After doing B.P.Ed., students can opt for masters in any stream or can go in for Law or MBA as well,” says Dr R.S. Brar, HoD, Physical Education at Government College (co-ed), Sector-11.

Terming the four-year B.P.Ed. course better than the one year B.P.Ed. course, he said, “This four-year course imparts in-depth knowledge of the subject and it has three months internship which provides practical knowledge to the students.”

“Keeping in view interest and response of the students, the college has applied for M.P.Ed. course and is hopeful to starting it from the next session,” he added.

Students, especially sports students look forward to this course, “Apart from the options which other courses too have like doing masters or MBA, we can also go in for many sports related field, thus we have an edge over them,” says Gurpreet, a student of B.P.Ed.

“Nowadays one can make good money not only in Cricket but also in all other
games as well.”

Chandigarh, August 31
The Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi would start a host of events from next month, said newly-appointed chairman of the akademi Diwan Manna.

“The events include a lecture by renowned Hindi poet, art critic and chairman of the National Lalit Kala Akademi Ashok Vajpayee. He will deliberate on ‘Why art’ at government museum auditorium on September 5. The main objective of the activities will be multidisciplinary approach toward art, which would not be confined to visual art alone,” said Manna.

In October, famous photographer Raghu Rai will hold a workshop. The akademi will also hold an exhibition dedicated to Prof Aditya Prakash, former chairman of the akademi, who died recently, he said.

The akademi will also invite noted artistes, including Anjolie Ela Menon, Jatin Das, Arpana Kaur, Paramjit Singh and Govind Nihalani in the city, added Manna.

Panchkula, August 31
Joining hands with the people in other parts of the country, the residents of Panchkula have come forward to help flood victims in Bihar.

Clothes sufficient for more than 3,000 people and ration have been deposited by the people at the collection centre set up by MES Contractors Grievances Cell at Sector 9 market here.

“The residents from the area have been so generous that within one day several quintals of rice and other ration goods, along with clothes, have been deposited with the cell which was set up at the counter at 12 yesterday,” said Vipan Sawhney, president of the grievances cell.

“They are bringing new as well as old clothes. Even there is no dearth of donors who are ready to offer cash,” he added.

The goods collected here would be sent to Bihar by the members of the cell, said Sawhney adding that, however, if someone comes forward to provide the transport services with manpower to distribute the charity among the needy, it would be of much help to them.

The donors can deposit their contribution at Sector 9 market till tomorrow. After that they would collect it at a counter near the main gate of Chandimandir Cantonment, said Sawhney.

Chandigarh, August 31
As many as 300 children were examined at a free medical check-up camp organised at Sacred Heart School, Sector 26.

A team of doctors of Ivy hospital examined the school children. Paediatrician, Dr Tejwir Singh; ENT specialist, Dr Lovneesh Kumar; gynaecologist, Dr Sunaina Bansal; and general physician, Dr A S Dhillon were present.

Over 200 children and their parents attended the camp. The patients got specialised consultation free of cost. Besides, all the patients got their ECG, blood sugar and blood pressure checked.

Let’s take a break from ultra mini-notebooks and cheap laptops like the RazorBook and delve into a laptop that doesn’t only cost as much as a car, but also made by a car manufacturer. Let’s enter the Ego Bentley.

As a religious lover of both technology and expensive gadgetry, there are only a few things more exciting to me than an exotic tech or a new gadget.

Technology blended into gadgets is a marriage so pious, a paradigm of novelty, indeed. Then, technology isn’t a legacy of the chosen, and therefore, makers are always out in a hunt to impress. Bentley isn’t a new name.

Though until now, we had known the manufacturer as a prestigious car maker, there is a lot more in its kitty than just automobiles.

If you drive a Bentley, you perhaps have an impressive bank balance, and a loyalty to the brand, for which, you wouldn’t ignore anything made by them.

For the loyalists and general gadget freaks alike, Bentley has unveiled a gadget that complements the luxurious experience, but beyond the automobile world.

Taking the lead from competitor Lamborghini’s -- Lamborghini-ASUS notebook,
Bentley collaborated with the famous computer manufacturer ASUS for the
notebook ‘Ego Lifestyle’.

Bentley and Ego Lifestyle, with a range of the most exotic laptops, are assured to bowl over any true car lover worth his collection of racing memorabilia because the laptop design tries to symbolise the actual automobile.

The Bentley laptop attempts to class up the notebook computer business flaunting its handmade rich leather texture that is hand sewn, deriving inspiration from Bentley’s fabled seats.

The exterior colours match those of the famous luxury cars, and the inside metal complements it gracefully with the frames around the laptop made of white gold.

The notebook has a Bentley chrome door handle, which is very useful in carrying
the device.

The beautiful 64 bit Ego Lifestyle houses Microsoft Vista ultimate, an AMD Turion TM 64 processor, 160 GB hard drive and 2GB RAM along with 12 direct access keys.

The vintage looking Bentley Ego is a 12-inch screen 1280×800 resolution notebook, sporting natural speaking voice software and a webcam centred over the display.

British Motor Show is perhaps where this laptop will officially be launched sometime later this year. It costs a cool £10,000.

Chandigarh, August 31
The British Library in association with the Chandigarh Management Association (CMA) will observe management week from September 1 to 6.

The programme, which is open for free for all, will feature an exhibition of management books, lectures, quiz, management games, by management professionals and academics, said library manager Bipin Kumar.

The rallyists had to cover a 50-km-stretch and were given rally points on speed, performance in GK quiz and random luck points.

A family team of four persons was allowed to participate in the rally. Lapsy Bansal and Deepak Khurana were adjudged runners-up.