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Forum treats RTI applicants as consumers
State going through worst agri crisis: Experts
Centre wants 4 govt hospitals in Malwa belt
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Dengue
Sr Cong leader Bhagat Dhaliwal passes away
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Forum treats RTI applicants as consumers
Faridkot, September 27 Earlier, the miffed applicant used to approach the State Information Commission at Chandigarh. But now, more and more RTI applicants, who feel ‘harassed’ due to government officials denying them the information, are moving the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forums (DCDRF). The Consumer Forums not only help the applicants in getting the desired information but also reprimands the ‘headstrong’ babus in government offices besides asking them to pay compensation to the applicants for the delay caused in providing the information. Two days back, the Faridkot Consumer Forum directed the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to refund the fee that an applicant, Ashu Mittal, had paid for sending him the information through registered post. Further, the Forum directed the PSPCL to pay Rs 2,000 as compensation to the applicant for causing mental tension and harassment. Since failure to furnish information or delay in providing the information without any valid reason tantamount to deficiency in service, an applicant can move the Consumer Forum at district level to get compensation for the deficiency in service, averred the forum. Recently, the Faridkot Consumer Forum directed the state transport department to pay Rs 1,000 as compensation to an applicant for the delay in providing information sought under the RTI Act in November 2010. Initially, the department had taken a plea that the information could not be given as the RTI application was written in English and not in the state language. The department asked the applicant to submit his application only in Punjabi (Gurumukhi script). The applicant, however, challenged the condition. But still, there was a delay of three months in providing the information. On April, 2011, the applicant moved the Consumer Forum saying that he had paid the prescribed fee and hence, be treated as a consumer. And the failure to reply to his queries would mean deficiency in service, the applicant argued while seeking compensation under the Consumer Protection Act. Holding the Transport Department liable for the deficiency in service, the forum directed it to provide the information to the applicant immediately and also pay Rs 1,000 as compensation for causing mental tension and harassment to the RTI applicant. |
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State going through worst agri crisis: Experts
Bathinda, September 27 These views were shared during a national seminar on environment and health organised at the Central University of Punjab (CUP) here today. Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Secretary, Department of Human Health, Government of India, Dr VM Katoch was the chief guest on the occasion. Prof NK Mehra, Head, Department of Transplant Immunology and Immunogenetics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), was the guest of honour. Dr SS Gill, Vice-chancellor, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, and Dr MS Kang, former Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, chaired the session. Dr Arun Srivastava gave a presentation on ‘Beyond growth: Globalisation and development’. He argued that modern agricultural systems adversely affect the bio-diversity. “Land usage keeps on multiplying. Land is also being affected by erosion, thereby, affecting the nutritive quality of food,” he said. Dr SG Kabra from Jaipur spoke about environmental toxicity and cancer. He emphasised upon empirical research to be carried out on the carcinogenic potentials of pollutants like pesticides, radiation and the use of tobacco by simple and cost-effective tests. Dr NK Mehra spoke about the ‘Post genomics era: Focus on genes and environment’. Dr DC Kar’s talk was concerned with radiation therapy and cancer, in which he briefed about the contribution of the BARC, Mumbai. Dr Raj Kumar from the PAU spoke about geogenic pollution due to heavy metal pollutants. He summed up the state of groundwater across Punjab and suggested a link with the pesticide usage. Research presented indicated some correlation between groundwater pollution and cancer prevalence in Punjab. He suggested that for potable purposes, canal water and tube wells situated near the canals should be used as groundwater in these areas might be comparatively less polluted. Another practical solution for the problem will be pumping air to the deep aquifers. However, it demands high financial capacities, he added. |
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Centre wants 4 govt hospitals in Malwa belt
Bathinda, September 27 Revealing this, ICMR Director General Dr VM
Katoch, the chief guest at the inaugural of the molecular genetic lab of the Central University here, said instead of encouraging private sector health services in the cancer belt, the government should act on the recommendations of the
ICMR. — TNS
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Dengue
Bathinda, September 27 Of these, 105 cases were tested positive at the Blood Bank here while the remaining were reported by the DMC Hospital, Ludhiana, the Civil Hospital, Ludhiana, the Apollo Hospital, Ludhiana, and the Government Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. When contacted, the blood transfusion officer at the Blood Bank here, Dr Inderdeep Singh Sra, said this evening that as many as 42 blood samples of suspected dengue cases from the district were tested today and 30 were found to be positive for dengue. Besides, one more suspected dengue case tested positive here today and it was from Muktsar district. Dr Sra said the 30 new cases were from Bathinda city. The patients were residents of Power House Road, Hazoora Kapura Colony, Nai Basti, Ajit Road, Calcutta Street and Dhobiana Basti among other localities, he added. The new cases raised the total number of dengue positive cases in the city to 131. The remaining cases were from Talwandi Sabo block (21 cases), Sangat block (3), Goniana block (5), Bhagta and Nathana blocks (two cases each). District Health Officer Dr Raghubir Singh Randhawa said most of the dengue patients from the district had been treated and were now in good health. He added that it was not that there were 164 cases in the district at the moment. |
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Sr Cong leader Bhagat Dhaliwal passes away
Bathinda, September 27 Dhaliwal is survived by two sons and a daughter. He was cremated in the afternoon. Local Congress MLA Harminder Singh Jassi and Ajaib Singh Bhatti were among a large number of persons present during the cremation. Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Captain Amarinder Singh has condoled the death of Dhaliwal. In a condolence message to the bereaved family, Amarinder said in Dhaliwal’s death, he had lost a trusted colleague who had worked with him for a long time in the party. He said his death has only been a loss not to his family, but to the party as well. “And for me, it is a personal loss,” he added. — TNS |
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