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Ex-Deputy Secy booked
27 confidential files of IAS and PCS officers had gone missing
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9
A former Deputy Secretary, Punjab Civil Secretariat, has been booked by the Chandigarh police under various sections of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act-1988 in connection with 27 confidential files of IAS and PCS officers that had gone missing from the Secretariat.

On a complainant of Ravi, Under Secretary, Department of Personnel, Punjab Civil Secretariat, Chandigarh, a case has been registered against former Deputy Secretary Yograj Sharma.

The DSP (Central), Ashish Kapoor, said no arrests had been made so far and the case is under investigation.

Police officials stated that the complainant alleged that during Sharma's tenure, bureaucrats' confidential files went missing. A total of 35 files had gone missing from the department, of which only seven have been traced.

The missing files with serious complaints and inquiries against IAS and PCS officers were found missing after they were marked and forwarded to Sharma, the then Under Secretary in the Personnel Department.

Disciplinary action against the officers has been delayed till these files are reconstructed. The officials concerned have written to different departments from where the inquiries or complaints originated to send the papers that could be a part of the files.

A departmental inquiry was initiated in this matter. During the inquiry conducted by a former IAS officer into the matter, Sharma was found guilty of losing the files.

The Punjab Government had written to the Chandigarh police to lodge an FIR against Sharma, following which a case under section 409, IPC, (criminal breach of trust by a public servant) and 13(1)(C) (if an official dishonestly or fraudulently misappropriates or otherwise converts for his own use any property entrusted to him or under his control as a public servant or allows any other person to do so) and 13(1)(D) (by corrupt or illegal means, obtains for himself or for any other person any valuable thing or pecuniary advantage), of the Prevention of Corruption Act-1988 has been registered at the Sector 3 police station.

Files carry serious complaints

The missing files with serious complaints and inquiries against IAS and PCS officers were found missing after they were marked and forwarded to Yograj Sharma, the then Under Secretary in the Personnel Department.

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Special train to Haridwar runs today
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9
To clear the pilgrim rush for the Kumbh Mela, the railway authorities will ply a special train from Chandigarh to Haridwar tomorrow. The sale of tickets for Haridwar has touched the 500 mark in the past two days,

The special train (number 04504) will depart at 12:50 pm and reach Haridwar at 6:10 pm. On March 11, the train (number 04503) will start from Haridwar at 12:20 pm and reach the city at 4:55 pm. There will be eight coaches in this train and there will be no need for reservation of tickets for it. The fare will be Rs 75 per person for one side.

Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of the Railways Gulshan said the department had decided to introduce this special train in view of pilgrims' demand. Superintendent of the city station Parveen Kumar said there was no direct train to Haridwar from the city so the special train would lessen the burden on other trains.

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Drugs haul
Mohali police in dilemma
Gets no case information from its Fatehgarh counterpart
Tribune News Service

Mohali, March 9
In the high-profile drug peddling case, which has rocked the country following the cropping up of Olympian boxer Vijender Singh’s name, the Mohali police is in a dilemma over the initiation of any action on its part.

According to highly placed sources in the Police Department, the Fatehgarh Sahib police has not been sharing any information regarding the investigation with its local counterpart, which is said to be the main hindrance in the way of the local police to be a part of the ongoing investigation into the case.

Mohali SSP Gurpreet Singh Bullar admitted that the entire operation was carried out by the Fatehgarh Sahib police, so the Mohali police would only intervene when they needed any assistance from them (Mohali police).

“So far, we have no role in it,” said Bhullar.

When asked whether the Fatehgarh Sahib police had sought any assistance in the case, Bhullar said they were ready to provide any help to its counterpart. “We are ready to provided any kind of assistance if sought by them (Fatehgarh Sahib police),” he said, indicating that no help has been sought from them so far.

Notably, the drugs haul was found in Zirakpur where accused Anoop Singh resided and the police also allegedly recovered the car of Vijender Singh’s wife. The alleged kingpin, former DSP Jagdish Singh Bhola, is a resident of Phase 10, Mohali. He has absconded.

However, Bhullar added that the Mohali police would soon send its team to quiz the suspects.

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Corporation to select 319 safai karamcharis by lot
Eligibility: Completion of 800m race in stipulated time
Rajinder Nagarkoti
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9
For the selection of 319 safai karamcharis, the Municipal Corporation has decided to hold a draw of lots. The MC has already received more than 11,000 applications for the 319 posts of safai karamchari. Certain applicants have completed their graduation.

Municipal Commissioner Vivek Pratap Singh said before the draw of there would be an 800-metre race for the candidates to check their physical fitness. The men candidates would have to complete the race within three minutes while the time limit for the women candidates would be 3 minute 40 seconds, he added.

He added those who would complete the race within the stipulated time would be eligible for the draw of lots.

Sources said though the educational qualification required for the post was class VIII pass, there were candidates who were plus two pass and some even graduate.

The Deputy Mayor of the MC, Satish Kainth, has demanded that in the recruitment of 319 posts of safai karmachari in the MC, the local residents should be given preference over the residents of Punjab and Haryana.

The Deputy Mayor, in a letter to local MP Pawan Kumar Bansal, MC Commissioner Vivek Pratap Singh and Mayor Subhash Chawla, also demanded that the posts should also be given to candidates on compensatory grounds.

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Woman fights snatchers, catches one
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9
Displaying exemplary courage, Arpana Rana, a resident of Sector 22, caught a snatcher while he was trying to snatch her purse near the Sector 37-38 roundabout on March 8.

Meanwhile, two other incidents of chain snatching were reported in Sector 47 and 48.

The police said Arpana, who works in Sector 37, was waiting for an auto-rickshaw near the Sector 37-38 roundabout when two persons tried to snatch her purse. She gave a tough fight to the snatchers and thwarted their attempt to snatch the bag. She caught hold of one of them while another managed to escape. She raised an alarm, following which passers-by nabbed the accused, who has been identified as Gurpreet Singh. Soon, the police reached the spot and arrested him.

On the information provided by Gurpreet, the police arrested his accomplice, Kalu, from Dhanas village.

A case has been registered at the Sector 39 police station and an inquiry has been initiated.

2 snatching cases reported from Sec 47, 48

Two more incidents of snatching were reported from areas under the Sector 31 police station.

Godambari Joshi, a resident of DC Office Society, Sector 48, Chandigarh, reported that two motorcycle-borne miscreants sped away after snatching her gold chain near the society entrance. The complainant failed to note down the registration number of the motorcycle.

In another incident, Sudershana Sharma of Sector 47-D, reported that two motorcyclists sped away after snatching her artificial chain near her house.

Cases have been registered.

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Mohali reels under water shortage
Dept claims Kajauli water works repair over, normal supply resumed
Akash Ghai
Tribune News Service

Mohali, March 9
The ongoing repairs in the lines of Kajauli Water Works has resulted in severe water shortage in the town. The residents of certain parts here are forced to purchase water from tankers to fulfill their daily requirements while many of them are going to their relatives in Chandigarh or Panchkula, especially to take bath there.

The resident of Phase 3B1 Dr BS Chandok said there was not even a single drop of water in his house for the past four days.

“Today, I paid Rs 600 to get water from a private water tanker. All the people in our area are facing similar problem,” said Dr BS Chandok adding that he got hardly two to three buckets of water from water supply.

Another resident of the same area, Rajesh Kaushal, said his family and he members were forced to go to their relative’s place in Chandigarh for bathing.

“Everyday, the officials claim that the problem has been solved. But the wait for the water seems to be unending,” said Rajesh Kaushal.

The story is no different at Phase VII, Phase IV and Phase 3B2 where normal life has been severely affected due to severe water shortage. “One can easily guess the situation without water. These are examinations days for students and we have to waste time on managing water for our families,” said Gurdip Singh, a resident of Phase VII.

On the other hand, the officials of the department of water supply claimed that the problem at the Kajauli Water Works (KWW) has been solved.

“Actually the maintenance work was going on there (KWW). The water supply has been resumed from this evening. Now onwards, the residents would get water like any normal day,” said Anil Kumar, SDO of the department.

Adding fuel to the fire, unscheduled power cuts in the town are also making the life of local residents miserable. “For the past two days, there have been several power cuts. Due to erratic power supply, the residents especially the students, have been suffering a lot,” said Gurdarshan Kaur, a resident of Phase II. Expressing similar sentiments, Manmant Singh from Phase 3B2 said the summers have just set in. “If this is the situation of power and water at the onset of the summer season here, one can easily guess the scenario in coming days,” said Manmant.

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proposal to hike power tariff
5 objections received, so far
Rajinder Nagarkoti
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9
Instead of increasing the power tariff, The Chandigarh Administration should reduce the transmission and distribution (T&D) losses and power theft through “kundi” connections. These points were raised in the objections, which were submitted by city residents and organisations on the UT Administration’s proposal to hike power tariff. The UT Electricity Department today received five objections on the power tariff-hike proposal.

It was highlighted in these columns that how even after a power tariff petition was submitted before the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) and objections were invited from residents, not even a single resident had opposed the proposal to hike power tariff. The deadline to file the objections ends on March 11.

Advocate Ajay Jagga in his objection submitted to the UT Electricity Department stated that the proposed hike to the tune of 45 per cent by the Electricity Department was a direct attempt to penalise the common man or consumer on account of power theft by way of “kundi” connection and non-recovery of arrears. The department should first exhaust all the remedies to recover the arrears and prevent theft of power by way of kundi connections and other means. Instead of punishing the defaulters and officials, the Department was trying to recover the arrears by increasing the power tariff, which was against the law, Jagga objected.

The Federation of Sector Welfare Associations, Chandigarh (FOSWAC), in their objection suggested that there should be no power hike, as the tariff was hiked by 15 to 25 per cent only a year ago.

PC Sanghi, chairman, FOSWAC, said that the industries, commercial establishments and government offices were the bulk consumers of electricity and in order to save power, steps should be taken to reduce the timings of opening and closing of such establishments, he said.

Arun Mahajan, president of the Industries Association of Chandigarh, said that they would submit their objections on March 11, but before inviting objections, the Administration, should also inform about the proposal to the Beopar Mandal and Industry Association, as these are the major power consumers in the city.

Charanjiv Singh, president, Chandigarh Beopar Mandal (CBM), said that they had also finalised their objections and would submit them on March 11. He added that the CBM also opposed the power tariff hike.

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higher boundary walls
Now, estate office to launch drive in southern sectors
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9
Buoyed by the success of Gandhigiri by the Chandigarh Administration to pursue the rich and affluent in the northern sectors to lower the height of the boundary walls, the UT Estate Office is now extending the same policy to houses in southern sectors.

Few weeks ago, the UT Estate Office had put cross marks on all the walls of private houses that are beyond the permissible height of 5 ft and 11 inches.

“Reacting to the cross marks, a number of residents have started reducing the height of their walls. Now the same technique is being tested in the southern sectors,” said Assistant Estate Officer, Rahul Gupta.

Officials said, now the estate office was surveying the front boundary walls and absence of bricks on the facade. “Now residents will be allowed to plaster the front boundary also. Notices under the estate rules were being issued,” said the officials.

The residents are also being asked to remove the plaster from the rear boundary walls. The affected residents of the northern sectors, especially living in Sectors 7 and 8, claim that UT Estate Office is not adopting a uniform policy while deciding upon the height of the boundary walls of houses.

They pointed out that high boundary walls of government houses were not being targeted. A senior UT official said a meeting of the engineering department was being called to check the status of the government houses.

As per the specification, the front boundary walls cannot be raised beyond 3 feet and 8 inches. “Only in case of back and side boundary walls, the height of up to 5 feet and 11.5 inches has been allowed,” said officials in the estate office.

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health notes
Walk for glaucoma awareness today

Chandigarh: The Glaucoma Society of India is organising a countrywide walk for glaucoma awareness. The Glaucoma March 2013, will be organised by the PGI, on (March 10) to mark the commencement of the World Glaucoma Week from March 10 to 16. In Chandigarh, the walk will start at 8.00 am, at the Rock Garden. Prof YK Chawla, Director PGI and Prof Amod Gupta, Dean PGI will flag off the walk. DP Azad, an eminent cricket coach, and eminent theatre personality, Neelam Man Singh will be part of the walk. The walk will conclude at the Sukhna Lake.

Symposium on fatty liver disease

National Academy of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, and the department of Hepatology, PGIMER, will conduct a single day symposium on ‘Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in Children and Adolescents’ on Sunday, March 10 in Lecture Theatre-I at the PGIMER. Over the years, lifestyle in children has also changed in the country. This has especially occured in children from affluent families who have less of outdoor physical activity and more of indoor sitting with more time spent on television and computer games. Decrease in physical activity with addition of high calorie foods has led on to the problems of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and and adolescents. — TNS

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mani majra civil hospital
Specialised physiotherapy unit becomes functional
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9
The Civil Hospital at Mani Majra has come up with a specialised physiotherapy unit at the department of orthopedics with facility of static cycling, ICT and IFT physiotherapy treatment.

The extended unit which runs for six hours everyday (8am to 2pm in summers and 9am to 3pm in winters) will now cater to more than 60 patients in a day. The physiotherapy course, which mostly lasts for one week for each patient, will cater to the problems of muscle contraction in different parts of the body.

The unit has various sections housing a variety of machines and separate portions where women patients can exercise. The facilities also include wax bath and shoulder-wheel exercise.

“So far, we had been catering to about 25 patients with routine physiotherapy exercises. With the increased infrastructure, we will now be able to provide facilities to a larger number of patients,” said Dr Raman Gupta, Head orthopedics.

The timings for the OPDs will be from 8am to 2pm from March 16. As of now, we are following the winter schedule, said Gupta. In addition to orthopaedicians, one physiotherapist will also look after the unit.

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Alternative medical unit set up at Dhanas civil dispensary
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9
In a respite to residents of Dhanas Milk Colony, the UT Health Department today set up an alternative medical unit (AMU) at the local civil dispensary that had been functioning without a doctor for the past one year.

Three days ago, a regular doctor was also appointed at the dispensary, after Chandigarh Tribune highlighted the inconvenience being faced by the residents in the absence of a doctor.

An Emergency Medical Officer and a pharmacist will run the AMU. In all, the dispensary will now have two doctors and two pharmacists.

Earlier, in the absence of any doctor, patients were being given prescriptions by a pharmacist. In case of an emergency, the pharmacist with her limited knowledge had been prescribing medicines.

The situation for over 50,000 residents of the colony became worse when the pharmacist went on leave for 20 days, starting March 1. So far, the patients were being referred to other dispensaries in the area or the Government Multi-Speciality Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16.

The dispensary has sufficient infrastructure to cater to a large number of patients. There were only auxiliary nurse midwives and one counsellor for anti-natal counselling at the dispensary.

Mahavir Kaushik, Head of the Rural Development and Panchayats Department, said that this would be the fifth alternative medical unit (AMU) in the villages. These units would strengthen the delivery of health services at the grass-roots level, he added.

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Tax survey conducted at businessman’s property
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, March 9
The Panchkula Income Tax Department has found incriminating documents, property papers and cash worth Rs 3 crore from a local businessman during a survey conducted here today.

Sources said, the income tax team, led by Abhishek Narang, surveyed the two premises of Amar Plywood, a showroom in Sector 20, and a godown in the industrial area, and found documents of property, shares and cash worth Rs 3 crore.

The entire operation was supervised by Panchkula Income Tax Commissioner Sunita Puri and Additional Commissioner Shalini Kaushal.

The sources said that during the survey, the owner of the establishments declared the amount. “The required action will be taken against the businessman”, said the income tax officials adding that he would have to pay about Rs one crore as income tax.

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Banks must cater to global needs, say experts
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9
The Progressive Lawyers Forum of Punjab and Haryana High Court organised a banking seminar on “Challenges in the banking sector and a road ahead” today at the Judicial Academy in Chandigarh. The seminar focused on the challenges that the banking industry faced in everyday dealings.

Key issues which were discussed at the seminar were the Securitization Act, Indian banking: robust, reliable, resurgent, emerging trends in commercial banking etc.

Chief guest Justice Surya Kant presenting the solutions to overcome the challenges in the banking industry said that banks needed a flexible, customer-centric core banking environment equipped with multi-currency and multi-lingual features since the industry was getting globalised.

Justice Kannan who was the guest of honour further enlightened audiences about the road ahead and said that “ To gain an edge over their competitors and address customer demands effectively, banks need to do a balancing act by replacing old systems with new platforms, without giving up on existing core banking modules, which might still cater to the changing needs. There has been considerable progress in implementation by the banks; however, there is much more ground left to cover.”

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Chandigarh scan
Two govt schools to be upgraded

Pawan Kumar Bansal, Union Minister of Railways and Member of Parliament, has recommended the upgrade of two government schools and provision of water purifiers in others incurring a total expenditure of Rs 1.05 crore from the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme. Bansal has been receiving representations for the upgrade of infrastructure in government schools in order to provide good education and improved hygiene. Government Model Senior Secondary School, Modern Housing Complex, Mani Majra, Chandigarh, and Government Model High School, Sector 28-D, Chandigarh, will be upgraded as smart schools at Rs 86 lakh. As many as 158 water purifiers will be provided in 50 government schools at Rs 19 lakh.

Petrol pumps inspected

In view of the news about unfair means being used at some retail outlet (petrol pumps) of Punjab, a joint team constituted by Balbir Singh Dhol, Controller, Legal Metrology, checked three petrol pumps. All 41 petrol pumps of the UT inspected in the past few days have been found clean in terms. No alternation, additional fittings, unfair means, chip, additional device, etc, have been found at any of the petrol pumps.

Medical camp

The Chandigarh Senior Citizens' Association organised a socio medical camp today at Government High School, Mauli Colony. It was organised in collaboration with the Director, Social Welfare of UT Administration, and Area Councillor. This was the first camp in a series of such camps that are being held in memory of PH Vaishnav, former president of the association. Maj Gen Kandal, convener of the camp, said over 400 underprivileged benefited from the camp.

Traffic diversion

Vehicular traffic on the Airport Road from the intersection light point to technical airport will remain closed till March 14 due to repair of road.

Mohali scan
Dogs vaccinated

During a special camp to protect stray animals, the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals vaccinated over 100 dogs at Phase 11 here. Dr Gurdip Singh Virk, senior veterinary officer of Mohali, said the animals were also given medicines for skin and stomach diseases.

Blood donation

Over 376 people donated blood at a blood donation camp. It was organised in the memory of national archery player and a regular blood donor, Prabhsimran Singh (Nanu), at the Phase 3B2 market. The camp, held in collaboration with the Emerging India Welfare Association and the Late Prabhsimran Singh (Nanu) Sidhu Memorial Trust, was inaugurated by Varun Roojam, Deputy Commissioner, Mohali, and former MP Balwant Singh Ramoowalia.

Placement drive

A campus placement drive was organised by the Training and Placement Department of the Sri Sukhmani Institute of Engineering and Technology. The drive was inaugurated on the campus of the Sri Sukhmani institute of Engineering and Technology, Dera Bassi, by the chairman and founder, Sri Sukhmani Group of Institutions, Avtar Singh, and director Kanwaljit Kaur. — TNS

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Music exam
Failed students allege bias
Amit Sharma
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9
Raising doubts over the evaluation system of Panjab University (PU), 11 students of MA in music at the Post Graduate Government College for Girls, Sector 11, (PGGCG-11) who were failed by the university in the second semester exam of music vocals have approached the university claiming that the evaluator was biased and deliberately failed all of them in a row.

The students had appeared in the second semester in July, 2012. Their results were declared a few months later in which 11 students, who had their roll numbers in a row, failed in music vocal, while they secured better marks in all the other subjects.

PGGCG-11 principal Achla Dogra said the students compliant that the evaluator was biased following which they were failed together.

“The representation made by the students has been forwarded to the university by the college for consideration,” principal said.

PU Controller of Examination (COE), Parminder Singh, when contacted confirmed that he had received a representation from the college which is being examined.

The COE, however, added that re-evaluation system is the way to clear the doubts; however, the students didn’t apply for re-evaluation and there is no such provision that the university can re-evaluate their answer-sheets.

”The students are alleging that the evaluator was biased, however, there is no chance that an evaluator can know whose answer sheet is being evaluated,” COE said.

Sources said the students also wanted to known about the evaluators which as a matter of secrecy has been denied by the university.

As per the rule, there is a fixed duration between which the students can apply for the re-evaluation with the PU after paying the fee for the services.

The students, who are presently in the fourth semester of their course, claim that they earlier also had made a representation to the university.

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ARSH Programme
Experts to be available in evening
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9
School-going children will no longer have to miss the school for going in for medical checkups and attending counselling sessions under the Adolescent Reproductive Sexual Health (ARSH) Programme. Specialists and counsellors will soon be available at the Government Multi Specialty Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16, even in the evening.

The evening OPD, between 3 pm and 8 pm, will not only cater to the patients coming in for the general OPD, but also attend to queries and problems of adolescents and younger children.

The evening general OPD and counselling sessions will be introduced from March 15. The hospital has already started evening OPDs for the Department of Eye and Oral Health.

By next month, all OPDs will start and gradually all departments will be functional from 3 pm to 8 pm. These include the Department of Medicine, Gynaecology, Surgery, ENT, Dermatology, and Paediatrics.

For the purpose, the contractual workers recruited under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), including the doctors and paramedical staff, will be put on duty.

“We will gradually start the OPDs for all departments. For now, we have started with the Eye and Dental Departments to see the response,” said Dr Rajiv Vadhera, Acting Director Health Services (DHS).

“Schoolchildren, under the school health programme, face inconvenience in coming to the hospital or any other primary health centre for checkup since the OPDs end by the time they get free from schools. They have to take leave for coming to the hospital. The evening OPDs and sessions will do away with this limitation,” said Dr Vadhera.

The hospital has become the first among the competitors across the tricity to start such a facility. It would add to the convenience of the residents working in private companies who get free from work in the evening.

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Contests mark Women's Day celebrations
Our Correspondent

Fatehgarh Sahib, March 9
International Women’s Day was celebrated at Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University. Dr Harpreet Kaur, associate professor, Department of Psychology, Punjabi University, was the chief guest, whereas Dr Gurmohan Singh Walia presided over the event.

Dr Harpreet Kaur shared her views about the women empowerment and stressed that every woman should feel proud of being a woman. She said men and women should develop a sense of mutual respect and understanding.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university said the condition of women was deplorable in the 15th Century and then it was Guru Nanak who accorded equal status to men and women in his verses. Thereafter, the succeeding Gurus followed the tradition and did a commendable job of eliminating social evils like 'sati', 'veil', 'untouchability', dowry, female foeticide, etc., prevalent during those times. He said a women cell had been established in the university for the welfare of girl students as well as the staff. Activities like inter-department declamation, rangoli and poetry recitation competitions were also organised in which a number of students took part.

Similarly, the day was also celebrated at the Continental Group of Institutes, Jalvehra. Gurkirpal Singh Sura Puri, a renowned Punjabi Singer, was the chief guest, whereas Maj Gen BPS Grewal, executive director, presided over. Shikha Sota (AP- Management Studies) talked about women empowerment.

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Students given warm send-off

Students of PGGCG-11 pose for a photograph during a farewell party in Chandigarh on Saturday
Students of PGGCG-11 pose for a photograph during a farewell party in Chandigarh on Saturday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Chandigarh, March 9
A farewell function was held at Government Home Science College, Sector 10. Titled Punjabi Virsa, it was hosted by the undergraduate and postgraduate students for the passing out students.

The students presented Punjabi folk dances in tune with the theme, including mera maahi tu patiya, taur, morni and Punjabi folk dance Giddha. Passing out students also shared their memorable moments during the college span.

Meanwhile, science students of PGGCG-11 organised a farewell party for the students of BSc. III (medical, non-medical and computer science).

Presentations showcased by the students comprised entertaining and eye-catching events like Punjabi and Bollywood dances and modelling. Modelling act was traditional and exciting and the contestants were looking charming in their decent outfits. The Dean, Dr Anita Kaushal, who was the chief guest on the occasion, crowned the winners. At the end, the students presented a sparkling and colourful Giddha. — TNS

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217 students felicitated
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9
Post Graduate Government College, Sector 11, felicitated its achievers at a prize distribution function held here today.

Over 217 students were awarded for their excellence in academics, cultural activities, sports, NCC, NSS and various co-curricular activities.

To motivate the young achievers, college colours, roll of honour were given to the students.

Sixteen students were honoured with the college roll of honour and 80 students were honoured with the college colour on the occasion.

Dr JS Raghu, principal of the college, apprised the gathering of various achievements and accolades won by the college students in national and state-level competitions in the current session.

The principal also presented the annual report of the college.

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Graduation ceremony held
Tribune News Service

Mohali, March 9
Small Wonders School, Phase VII, has organised a graduation ceremony here.

The students were given away progress reports, along with certificates, a token of appreciation and a memento saying “believe in your dreams”.

Herdip Kaur Nama, principal of the school, bid adieu to the graduating students. The principal also wished them luck for successful and a bright academic future.

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UGC projects for two college teachers
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has awarded a major research project entitled “Molecular Phylogenetics of True Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)” to Dr Dalip Kumar, Head of the Biotechnology Department, PG Government College for Girls, Sector 42, for a period of three years.

The UGC has sanctioned grant of over Rs 13 lakh for research personnel, hiring services, fieldwork, chemicals, equipment, books and journals and contingency.

The main objective of the projects are to discover relationships and major natural groups within the family Curculionidae using microsatellite markers; to provide a robust phylogeny for the subfamilies of family Curculionidae; to test the monophyly of broad-nosed weevils and to clarify the evolutionary sequence of host-plant associations for the study of their potential role in weevil diversification.

Dr Neetu of MCM DAV and Umesh Bharti of PG Government College for Girls-11 will be associated as co-investigators for the project.

Dr Manju Dewan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Zoology, DAV College, Sector 10, has been awarded a project on “Epidemiology, prevention and management of metabolic syndrome and its associated risk factors: A study among women of Chandigarh and surrounding areas” by the UGC. She has been allotted a grant of over Rs 11 lakh for working on this project.

This project highlights the health needs of women in India. Women are at a greater risk of a number of health problems related to metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a set of risk factors that include abdominal obesity, a decreased ability to process glucose, high blood cholesterol and hypertension. A total of 1,000 women from Chandigarh and surrounding villages will be screened for metabolic syndrome by using questionnaire survey and dietary survey, health examination and community action plan.

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Govt colleges to hold placement fest on March 12
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9
In a bid to compete with private colleges in the city and on the periphery, which promise placements to students, city government colleges are going to hold a joint placement fest for graduate and postgraduate students. Companies, including IT, finance, banking, aviation and retail, have already confirmed their visit to the campus.

Giving an opportunity to the graduate and postgraduate students of the government colleges, a joint placement drive will be organised on March 12 at Post Graduate Government College, Sector 46.

Training and Placement Officer (TPO) JK Seghal at Post Graduate Government College, Sector 46, said the students would get an exposure to various companies on the doorstep. “The basic aim of holding the joint placement session is to ensure that the students have a job in their hands soon after completing their graduation,” Seghal said.

Officials said the TPOs of all other government colleges were also associated with the placement fest. “The students just need to come to the college on the day and get themselves registered for the drive,” the officials added.

Seghal said there was no cap for the minimum package offered by the companies and it would be left to the companies and the students to negotiate.

Aman Singh, a student of Post Graduate Government College, Sector 11, said they were looking forward to placement drive so that they could have jobs before they graduate. Officials said students from other colleges were also free to participate in the placement fest.

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Latest trends in accounting discussed

Chandigarh, March 9
University Business School (UBS), Panjab University, organised a national seminar on the topic “Contemporary Issues in Corporate Financial Reporting”. Rajiv Bajaj, associate director, Panasonic AVC Networks India Ltd, was the chief guest on the occasion.

Prof Shailesh Gandhi from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, delivered the keynote address.

Prof Gandhi discussed about creative accounting and how the corporate world is manipulating accounts to show better results.

He gave various instances of companies resorting to malpractices in reporting their affairs. He also highlighted how various companies used depreciation as a way to inflate profit.

Among other speakers, Prof VK Vasal from the Department of Financial Studies, Delhi University, talked about general purpose corporate financial reporting. Prof Karamjeet Singh from UBS coordinated the seminar. — TNS

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Office-bearers elected
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9
The alumni association meet was organised at Post Graduate Government College of Sector 46 here today.

Around 150 students interacted and shared their experience with Dr Yashpal Kaur, Dean of the college.

The gathering also elected office-bearers of the Alumni Association.

Gurpreet Singh Maan, president; Maninder Pal Singh, Senior vice-president; Tejasvi Sharma, vice-president; Rahul Bagga, general secretary; Shalini, joint secretary; Jatinder Pal Singh and Sunny Dhaliwal, press secretary; Kuldeep Singh, cashier; and Rekha, Sonam Sharma, Gurjeet Khosa, Hakikat, executive members.

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