Missing links n The report is silent on the spat between SOPU and INSO members at the PU coffee house where chairs were hurled at poling officers, students and department representatives n No videos recorded various incidents of scuffle, both major and minor, that occurred on the campus before and during the student elections n The report completely ignores media reports. It states “mere newspaper reporting cannot be relied upon without supporting evidence”. Yet, in his report Justice KC Gupta (retd) has also advised the university to educate the students about the Lyngoh Committee recommendations through the media which, ironically, is the very institution that he has discounted

Syndics: A divided house

Evidence in lacking to prove any incidents of major violence that can be considered worthwhile to take cognisance. The Vice-Chancellor has already mentioned that a committee will be formed to ensure student poll is held in a better way this year. — GK Chathrath There is no need to form committees or conduct inquiries. Instead, university officials can themselves amicably settle issues with student leaders of all parties. Coordination between the Dean Students Welfare (DSW) and the VC’s office must be streamlined to ensure peaceful elections. — DPS Randhawa As per the report, the complainants did not furnish enough evidence before the commission. Certain students who complained about violations of the Lyngdoh recommendations did not appear before Justice Gupta. More time could have been given by the PU authorities to Syndicate members to go through the report in details. — Dharinder Tayal The Syndicate members go by what has been presented before them. The recommendations of this report must be followed now since safety of student’s is any university’s top priority. — RPS Josh

Chandigarh, January 24
In a finding that has caught many university dons by surprise, an inquiry report prepared by Justice KC Gupta, a retired High Court judge, has observed that “there was no major violence during the Panjab University campus students council elections” held in September last year.

The findings of the eight-page inquiry report are all set to feature in the next Senate meeting scheduled to be held in March. Syndics, who were present at the Syndicate meeting held on January 21 where this report was tabled, are divided over the issue, with those opposed to the report findings claiming the issue was never discussed in detail. It was just read out, hurriedly.

The report conveniently overlooks the fact that chairs were hurled at polling officers by infuriated student leaders in the presence of over 80 student department representatives at the university coffee house on September 3, the day of the elections. Angry students even ripped off clothes of their rivals. In yet another incident, a Panjab University Student Union (PUSU) supporter, flashing a sharp-edged dagger, had to be pulled away from the rival Student Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) group.

The inquiry committee seems to have missed the wood for the trees by ignoring the several incidents of violence that preceded the student elections. Video recordings prepared by the university authority are bereft of any incidents of violence. The report, in fact, appreciates the ‘efforts’ of the university in conducting peaceful elections. The report specifically mentions that “there is no evidence that any money or muscle power had played any role in the elections.”

The report even cites the SSP as giving the university a clean chit. “Even the SSP of Chandigarh has sent a letter to the university authorities, pointing out certain violations of the Lyngdoh Committee’s guidelines. These violations were regarding the excessive use of vehicles and also pasting of posters on vehicles. But this letter was sent when the elections were announced on the first day of the election and those violations were curbed by the university authorities...”

There seems no recording of the incidents of violence during elections. At least the inquiry report is silent on the issue. It maybe remembered that students had filed complaints with the committee. Later they failed to furnish any proof during the inquiry which was probably the main reason the inquiry report has overlooked the incidents of violence.

Two days after the January 21 Syndicate meeting, a syndic cynically questioned what accounted for “major violence on PU campus”. “What exactly is major and minor violence for the PU authorities needs to be clearly defined. Does it have to be a murder to account for an incident being major,” asked a syndic speaking on the condition of anonymity.

But student leaders from different organisations expressed surprise at the inquiry report findings.

Mohali, January 24
Shocking but true: A mere 20 per cent job seekers, registered under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREGA) scheme in the district, were given employment by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats so far this financial year which will conclude in a little over two months.

While the scheme promises employment for 100 days in a year, a mere 65 of a total 17,231 families registered with the department have been able to complete 100 days of job, reflecting how benefits of the flagship scheme of the UPA government have not been percolating to the targeted groups. The government appears to have flouted basic provisions of the Act, which requires the local panchayats to pay compensation if they fail to offer employment to the job seekers.

The statistics form part of the performance report submitted by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Zila Parishad during the District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee meeting held here today. Zila Parishad officials had a justification to offer. “Very few people come forward to complete 100 days of work. Due to massive urbanisation, the daily wage of Rs 123 offered under this scheme is far less than what is being offered by contractors,” observed district secretary of the Zila Parishad, Amarbir Singh.

“It is awful that members of most of the 3,009 families registered under the scheme were, on an average, given employment for 33 days in the entire year,” says Ravneet Singh, Congress Lok Sabha member from Anandpur Sahib who, as chairman of the vigilance committee, reviewed the progress of the centrally sponsored scheme at a meeting today.

Interestingly, the department employed beneficiaries for the same type of work (repair of village roads, out fall drains and culverts) during the financial year. The Union Ministry of Rural Development, which is the implementing authority, also insists that 50 per cent of the employment must go to women. But these provisions, too, are being flouted with statistics revealing that only 29.3 per cent of the women were given employment.

The Act ensures payment of minimum wages and proper implementation of funds by way of both banning contractors and using machines. “There is an urgent need to monitor the working of the scheme. I have asked for physical verification of the sites where the works have been carried out so that the ground realty can be checked,” said Ravneet Singh, who is also president of the Punjab Youth Congress.

Mohali, January 24
The Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) stadium will be the second last halt for the ‘Men-in-Blue’ if they make it to the semifinal round of the forthcoming ICC Word Cup-2011. Mohali stadium will host one semifinal match on March 30 but if India makes it to the round, it will play here only, claim the PCA authorities.

The BCCI had assured the PCA in this regard when the schedule of the world cup was finalised. The PCA has been listed as a venue for the second semifinal match, scheduled to be held on March 30.

According to Sushil Kapoor, the PCA spokesperson, if India reaches the top-four bracket, then that match would be played here and the other teams would be accommodated elsewhere.

He said that since the final would be played at Mumbai, the PCA had been kind of compensated, as it was one of the best stadiums in the world by this assurance.

He added that while Colombo (Sri Lanka) was the other venue for the first semifinal match on March 29, the Indian team would play at Mohali even if it had to lock horns with the Sri Lankan team.

The PCA has to host three world cup matches in March. The first league match between South Africa and Netherlands will be held under floodlights on March 3 while the second day match between West Indies and Ireland is scheduled on March 11. The semifinal will also be a day and night affair.

Meanwhile, preparations for the biggest cricketing extravaganza are on at the stadium. A lot of facilities are being added for the world cup matches, added the PCA authorities. The two students blocks in the stadium have been converted into VIP stands with chairs being placed permanently there.

As a result, the capacity of the stadium has been reduced to 28,000 (earlier the capacity was 30,000). “This time, the students will be given the ‘General Blocks’ tickets on discount,” said Kapoor. Apart from that, two high-power generators have been installed at the stadium for uninterrupted power supply for floodlights during the day and night matches. The floodlight system has been overhauled to restore its 2000 luxes (a technical term to define brightness of light).

Two digital scoreboards have been installed at the stadium.

“We are aware of our stadium’s top class reputation in the world. No stone will be left unturned to keep it intact,” claimed Kapoor.

Chandigarh, January 24
High drama prevailed at the education department office at the UT secretariat today when parents of over 40 students protested against the department’s decision to ask the Joy Lall centre for dyslectic students to vacate its current premises at the Government Model School, Sector 8. They urged officials to roll back the order saying the move would result in the centre shutting down, which they asserted would “deal a big blow” to the education of many students enrolled there.

“My child studies in a well-known government-run school, whose teachers have no time to address general problems of a student, leave aside issues related to learning disability. After I enrolled my child at this centre (Joy Lall) his performance improved considerably. I fail to understand the provocation to shut down this centre that has been doing such good work,” said Manohar Sharma, the harried father of one of the students.

Education department officials, however, remained unmoved. They instead alleged the Joy Lall centre had “misused” school premises to “run a privately owned profit driven business” rather that providing free or concessional education to students, which they said the centre had pledged at the time when the premises had been allotted to it.

“Schools are public buildings and shouldn’t be misused to run a commercial business. They (Joy Lall centre) had promised to teach students, especially those of government ones, at concessional fees. It however became a tuition center where every child pays fees ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500 a month. The centre was allowed to function from the school premises so that government school students as well as poor students could benefit to some extent, but instead it resorted to minting money,” said district education officer Chanchal Singh.

Bharti Kapoor, general secretary of this education society, however denied the allegations and instead accused administration officials of being “unfairly vindictive”.

“They (education department officials) have been looking for reasons to throw us out. Initially they asked us to vacate the premises claiming they required rooms for ‘smart’ classes and now this notice they have issued us accuses of being a commercial venture. I had got the premises during the tenure of former DPI (schools) SK Setia on the condition this center would be run on no profit-no loss basis, which the centre has been doing, and our records can be verified to substantiate this. We have eight teachers who need to be paid salaries and we don’t receive any grant from the UT administration. We’re ready to charge Rs 100 fees for a student of any government school, provided the latter agrees to sponsor our publications. Children with learning disabilities require specialized teachers who have to be paid a minimum salary of Rs 5,000. Department officials have suggested we get retired people to teach for free, but the latter aren’t trained to deal with these children,” said Bharti.

COMMUNITY

Breach of protocol in Fire Dept
MC appoints junior officer to lead R-Day parade
Aarti Kapur
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 24
In an apparent breach of protocol, the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) has nominated a comparatively junior officer of the Chandigarh Fire and Emergency Department to lead the contingent of the department at the state-level Republic Day function at the Parade Ground, Sector 17, here on January 26.

In fact, the MC seems to be repeating the same mistake this year which it tried to commit last year on Republic Day and Independence Day, where the UT Administrator and UT Adviser, respectively, took the salute. At that time, the Fire Department assigned the duty to junior fire personnel by showing him as station fire officer.

This year, Sub-fire officer Paramjeet Singh will lead the department contingent before the UT Adviser Pradip Mehra, who will take the salute of the R-Day function, while Station Fire Officer Sham Singh, senior most operational officer, will lead the parade at the function to be organised by the MCC, while Mayor Ravinder Pal Singh will unfurl the National Flag.

When contacted, Additional commissioner TPS Phoolka, who also holds the charge of the Chief Fire Officer, stated that the proposal routed through the Fire Department had been approved by the MC authorities.

On last Republic Day, fire personnel Jag Jewan Pal, who commanded the state-level function parade was having three stars on his uniform, for which he was not entitled. According to the norms, a sub-fire officer could have one star on his department uniform.

Chandigarh, January 24
A review meeting regarding the functioning of the UT NRI Cell was held here today.

Justice Amar Dutt, chairman, NRI Cell, ML Sharma, Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-nodal officer, NRI Cell, Anil Malhotra, member, NRI Cell, and Vikram Bajwa, member representative of NRIs attended the meeting.

During the meeting, it was revealed that out of 185 complaints received, 135 complaints had been disposed of by the by the NRI Cell. An active role of the police was demanded by the chairman to deal with the property-related cases of NRIs.

The members said the law enforcement agency should proceed with the enforcement of criminal liability against a respondent even when a civil litigation was pending. A complete database of all NRIs and their properties in Chandigarh should be prepared with the help of the police and a website of the NRI Cell should be created, the members said.

Vikram Bajwa said an invitation by the body of NRIs would be forwarded to the Chandigarh Administration to sign MoUs with NRIs for encouraging setting up of facilities in the sectors of health and education.

He suggested that a body called as Chandigarh Foundation comprising NRIs, citizens of Chandigarh and the Chandigarh Administration for charitable purpose would be formed and would be funded by NRIs. He placed a proposal before the administration to set up a memorial to the Kanishka tragedy in Chandigarh, which would be funded by NRIs.

Chandigarh, January 24
The tourism potential in Chandigarh is set to get a boost with the Central government today approving projects worth about Rs 25 crore aimed at spicing up the tourism scenario in the city.

Among the projects approved at today’s meeting, chaired by Sanjay Kothari, Additional Secretary, Union Ministry of Tourism, at New Delhi, included a state-of-the-art tourist bhavan in Sector 17, illumination of the Rock Garden, sprucing up of the Sukhna Lake, new hospitality and tourism courses in city schools and Rs 5-crore grant for the new multi-level parking at ISBT-43.

“The tourist bhavan, to be constructed at a cost of Rs 5 crore, will provide all tourist facilities, including rail and air reservation facility, under one roof,” said UT Home-cum-Tourism Secretary Ram Niwas, who attended the meeting.

Similarly, a proposal of the Chandigarh administration to illuminate the world-famous Rock Garden at a cost of Rs 5 crore was also approved at the meeting. Earlier, the Centre had approved the night tourism project at the Capitol Complex comprising illumination of important landmarks, including the Punjab and Haryana Civil Secretariat, the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Open Hand, the Tower of Shadows, the Punjab and Haryana Legislative Assemblies and the Geometrical Hill.

Meanwhile, certain vocational courses in hospitality and tourism for the school students were also approved. Under the scheme, which will go a long way in imparting employment-related vocational education, shortlisted schools would be given a grant of Rs 25 lakh to start these courses.

A grant of Rs 5 crore to be utilised for the construction of multi-level parking probably at ISBT-43 was also sanctioned. Similarly, Rs 5 crore was sanctioned for sprucing up of the Sukhna Lake, particularly the regulator end area.

Chandigarh, January 24
The upcoming building of the Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH) in the city will also house a new protein centre which will develop low-cost life savingdrug, streptokinase (SK), which is used as a clot buster for patients with heart diseases.

This was disclosed by Prof SK Brahmachari, director general, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, to The Tribune on the sidelines of the 27th Foundation Day Celebrations of IMTECH here today. Prof Brahmachari said SK is an effective and inexpensive clot-dissolving drug used in the treatment of myocardial infarction and pulmonary embolism. This drug, which is already being manufactured in India, is available in injections and is proving to be a boon for treating heart patients and preventing cardiac arrests.

Earlier in his inaugural address, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Science and Technology & Earth Sciences and vice-president of CSIR, Pawan Kumar Bansal, who also formally opened the new Incubation Centre for biopharmaceutical facility in the institute, praised the world-class quality of research being at the Institute and cited the example of cardiovascular medicines recently developed by IMTECH. He suggested that new biotechnological methods should also be developed for controlling the deteriorating quality of water and the institute should work on remediation of polluted water through innovative biotechnological approaches.

Bansal urged the scientists all across the CSIR to develop new technologies for obtaining the overarching objective of global inclusive growth. He assured that the Ministry of Science and Technology would provide an enabling environment so that the nation can be taken forward on the path of development. he also lauded the capabilities of CSIR and especially IMTECH for bringing down cost of important medicines and to make them available to all.

Prof Brahmachari, who spoke on "Open Innovation: A novel approach to collaborative research for global good” said India can move on the path of development open innovations and he cited the model of successfully launched Open Source Drug Discovery (OSDD) programe. He insisted that more and more scientists should adopt OSDD like programmes for making healthcare affordable for everyone.

He highlighted how the programme had successfully re-annotated mycobacterium tuberculosis (the causative agent of tuberculosis) genome and how it had laid down the metabolic pathways through open collaborations in a short period of time. He also suggested that this program has identified 17 potential drug targets out of 4,000 mycobacterial proteins through computational capabilities.

Dr Girish Sahni, director, IMTECH, welcomed the guests and presented the annual report of the institute.

Chandigarh, January 24
A minor fire broke out in the cabin allotted to the National Informatics Centre, Haryana following short-circuit on the ninth floor of the Punjab and Haryana Secretariat, Sector 1, this afternoon.

The fire department immediately sent four fire tenders, including a hydraulic platform to control the fire. Fire officials said the fire broke after short-circuit in an UPS. One of the employees noticed the flames and informed the fire department.

As per fire department report, two UPS’ and three batteries in the cabin were damaged. The fire was controlled in 30 minutes. Officials said the power supply to the secretariat was shut down to avoid any major mishap.

Chandigarh, January 24
To make people aware about the importance of census, particularly those residing in the rural areas and slums of the city, the Department of Census Operations, Chandigarh, today pressed into service the mobile publicity van.

Through this, the department is going to sensitise people for the forthcoming Census-2011 (phase-2), which is commencing from February 9.

Mayor Ravinder Singh Pali flagged off the mobile van today. Speaking on the occasion, the Mayor made an appeal to the public to extend cooperation to the staff of the Census Department and provide correct information in the interest of the nation.

Bindyeshwari Negi, director, Census Operation, Chandigarh, said the Census Department had launched a series of publicity activities to sensitise officials and people on the issue.

Chandigarh, January 24
Nominations for the elections to the Finance and Contracts Committee (F&CC) of the Chandigarh MC scheduled for January 28 were filed today.

Chandigarh, January 24
“Hazaron saal nargis apni benoori pe roti hai, badi mushqil se hota hai chaman mein deedaver paida..”, the Urdu couplet is a veritable salutation to the musical genius of legendary Hindustani classical vocalist, Bharat Ratan Pandit Bhimsen Joshi (89), who passed away following a prolonged illness at Pune.

A pall of gloom had descended on the music lovers, connoisseurs and admirers in the region.

Terming it a great loss to the music world and classical music tradition, acclaimed maestro Pandit Yashpaul hailed Pandit Bhimsen Joshi as the precious jewel of Kirana Gharana legacy and as the most polished, decent and a rare vocalist of astounding merit. He prayed for his legacy to live long.

Speaking from Mumbai, CSNA chairperson Kamal Tewari recalling his association regarded Pandit ji as the celestial musician. “In 1980 when the vocal wizard sang raga Malahar, symbolic of rainy season at the PU auditorium, it rained to the utter surprise of audience and local papers published “Bhimsen does Tansen”, claimed Tewari.

MR Chanda, station director AIR and a classical vocalist, hailed Joshi as the Bhisham Pitamah of the Indian music, as singing from the heart he could virtually paint the character of a raga on the minds of listeners.

Leading vocalist Bhim Sen Sharma calling from Delhi maintained that Pandit ji was and shall continue to be an inspiration for the artistes.

“Pandit ji has visited and performed for us in concerts which are still a remembrance,” adds Navjivan Khosla IAS (retd), president Indian

National Theatre, while kathak guru Shobha Koser, director Pracheen Kala Kendra, recalled her performance before Pandit Joshi, who later performed for her kendra later.

Academician classical maestros, Dr Pankaj Mala Sharma, Dr Arvind Sharma, Ravinder Singh, Kanwar Iqbal Singh, Dr Saubhagya Vardhan, Ratnika Tewari, Murlidhar Soni and others mourned the demise of all time great classical music legend.

Zirakpur, January 24
The Zirakpur Municipal Council has identified three sites for the building of new police stations. A resolution to this effect was passed at the MC meeting at its office here today.

Meanwhile, MLA Banur Jasjit Singh Bunny attended the council meeting for the first time after becoming MLA in 2009. Bunny stated that the development of the town was his priority, adding that he would attend all council meetings to listen to grievances of the general public.

During the meeting, MC president NK Sharma said with the increase in residential colonies in the area, there was a need to increase the security of the general public. The council had decided to upgrade Lohgarh, Peer Muchhalla and a Baltana police chowki for this purpose.

Sharma said the work of re-carpeting of roads would be started soon and Rs 6 crore (approx) would be spent on it. He said the council had also planned to spend Rs 1.5 crore on the drainage system to remove waterlogging problem on the Pabhat-Patiala road. The project would be completed before the monsoon, he added. The council members also decided to give the community centre-cum-dharamshala at ward number 5 for night shelter.

Sharma said to speed up the pace of development in the town, he would meet the Punjab Chief Minister.

Mohali, January 24
A CT-based custom-fit total knee replacement surgery was performed at Fortis Hospital. Mohini Taneja (54), wife of a senior Central Government officer in Delhi, was suffering from advanced arthritis for the past 15 years and had lost hope of walking without pain.

Dr Manuj Wadhwa, head of the department of orthopaedics and joint replacement at Fortis Hospital, said at a press conference here today that the patient was back on her feet within 30 hours of the surgery, which was performed using the new technology. She underwent bilateral total knee replacement.

While elaborating on the international technique developed in the USA, Wadhwa said customised instrumentation was used to replace the joint during the surgery. The patient-specific instrumentation was used through instruments specially designed and manufactured in the USA, which ensured precise fit of implant, reducing the patient’s pain and restoring her mobility.

He said the personalised total knee replacement was one more step in evolution of total knee replacement surgery, allowing surgeons to perform replacement customised to patient’s anatomy while being less invasive, with much smaller incisions, allowing quicker and less painful recovery.

Chandigarh, January 24
The Lions Welfare Society, Sector 30, yesterday demanded regularisation of the need-based changes in the houses, which did not encroach upon the government land.

The demand was raised at a function organised by the society. Satya Pal Jain and Sanjay Tandon, former BJP president and local BJP president, respectively, assured that they would take up the matter with the authorities concerned.

Society president LK Khurana warned that the residents would launch an agitation, including relay fast, if their demands were not fulfilled by the administration. He alleged that the administration was dilly-dallying the genuine demands of the residents for a long time.

Mohali, January 24
A demolition drive was carried out at the grain market of Sohana by GMADA to clear the passage of widening of 200 feet wide road from Sohana to Industrial Area, Phase VIII.

Chandigarh, January 24
The Chandigarh Administration has asked the joint secretary finance and director higher education, Ajoy Sharma to look after the charge of DPI (schools). However, there are no formal orders to this effect.

Meanwhile, the administration has received a panel of officers in place of PS Shergill and NPS Randhawa, who were repatriated to Punjab recently.

While Rahul Gupta, Parminder Singh and Saudagar Singh Khera comprise one panel, the other panel comprises Sanjay Popli, Harbir Singh and Lakhwinder Singh. The names will be finalised by UT Administrator Shivraj Patil.