Chandigarh, August 13
A pall of gloom descended on Prajjapati Nursery at Shastri Nagar, Mani Majra,when an 18-month-old toddler, Raghav,drowned in a water tank at the nursery today.

The family was in a state of shock after the incident, the father of deceased, Pervez, who is a daily wage earner, said that like everyday Raghav was playing in the nursery, and accidently fell into the water tank.

With tears in his eyes Pervez said, “ Raghav, my only son and brother of the three sisters, was the most pampered and everyone’s favourite child in the house.”

He said that a co-worker of his wife, Janki, at the nursery told them that Raghav had drowned, though they pulled him out and rushed him to Government Multi Speciality Hospital (GMSH), at Sector16, but it was too late.

His eldest sister, Savita (11), who was inconsolable said, “ My brother had just learnt to say a few words, he could barely call me by my name. Everyday when I use to come back from school he used to play for hours with me.”

“Just three days ago, we sisters, tied Rakhi on his wrist. He was so happy and now, we will never get to see or be with him, “ said Simran, Raghav’s sister. The deceased toddler’s grandmother, Ramwati, who had named her grandson said, “Raghav was a very active and naughty child.”

Meanwhile the police officials said that at GMCH-16, the child was declared “brought dead” and they had registered a case of unnatural death and had begun investigations.

Chandigarh, August 13
Finding dengue larvae in coolers installed in various residences during a survey of coolers in the city, the UT Health Department has served 26 notices to violators.

Nearly 80 officers conducting the survey across the city, submitted their reports to the UT Nodal Officer for National Vectre Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), Dr Anil Garg.

Larvae were found breeding in coolers in 26 areas, including six coolers in the Sector 44 gurdwara and residences in Sector 23 and 37.

No case of dengue infection has been reported so far, though, the officers said that since larvae were found breeding in coolers, it was important for everyone to be alert.

“Keeping the coolers clean is a preventable measure. The city is safe from the disease so far, but if the residents stop taking precautions, they may be at risk of contracting the disease,” said Garg.

In the last couple of years, the dengue cases had crossed 300 mark, triggering panic in the city. The situation is currently under control.

How is dengue caused?

Dengue is caused by the bite of an infected mosquito: Aedes Aegypti. The mosquito can breed in 10 to 15 ml of water accumulated in vessels, buckets, flower pots and tyres left in the open. When the mosquito bites a person infected with the virus, it gets infected. On biting other persons, it infects them too. The mosquito bites during the daytime

Symptoms

People infected by the dengue virus may suffer from high fever, severe headache, severe pain behind the eyes, joint pain, muscle and bone pain, rash and mild bleeding

Helpline number

For any complaints or queries regarding the spread of dengue, residents can call on

0172-2740408

Chandigarh, August 13
If you happen to come across a diseased abandoned person lying alongside a road in the city, make your own arrangement for medical evacuation of the poor soul. Government agencies instead of coming to the rescue of patients, they begin shifting responsibilities on one another.

It is ironic but true! Chandigarh which ranks third in terms of highest per capita income in the country and eight in the level of literacy, has no place for the homeless and abandoned persons. Neither the district administration nor the Social Welfare Department is ready to come to the rescue of such persons.

In case a call from a resourceful person reaches officials, an adhoc arrangement is made to shift such persons to a hospital only to be abandoned soon after.

While there are NGOs like the PFA and SPCA working in close association with the Administration in bringing relief to ailing or dead animals, no well-defined system or service exists for handling human beings found abandoned. The situation in Mohali and Panchkula is more or less the same. 

Chandigarh, August 13
The ongoing investigation into the nexus between touts and the Registering and Licensing Authority (RLA) employees have revealed that mobile numbers of touts written on files used to be the signal for errant employees of the RLA so that they got only those files cleared without delay.

The UT Vigilance Department is now scrutinising records of the RLA for such files that can further nail the RLA employees who have been associated with the racket in the past.

RLA Kashish Mittal said that the touts used to write their mobile numbers on the files, which was an indication for the RLA employee that the applicant had come through a particular tout’s reference. “The vigilance sleuths have been provided with previous records so that they can nail the former employees involved in the racket”, the RLA said.

The touts also had other secret codes that were written on the files to communicate with the RLA employees without even entering the office. The Vigilance Department is also scrutinising the call details of the touts and the employees under suspicion to establish their alleged link. “With the help of call records we will be able to nail the former RLA employees also who were constantly in touch with the touts”, sources said.

“Similar checks will also be initiated at the other two branches of the RLA”, the sources further said.

Tout Sonu, who was arrested recently, reportedly provided details of other touts.

Chandigarh, August 13
Recovering money if a cheque bounces has become more taxing in the city with the Chandigarh District Courts returning over 300 cheque-bounce cases in the last two days. The case has to be filed at the branch of the bank from where the cheque was drawn is located. The courts have initiated implementing the recent Supreme Court judgment dated August 1 which ruled that a cheque-bounce case has to be initiated at the branch of the bank where the cheque was drawn was located.

Earlier, a case under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act could be initiated by the holder of the cheque at his place of business or residence. The SC Bench overruled the earlier ruling in order to streamline the cases.

The UT district courts started implementing the order this week. With scores of cases being returned, the litigants are left harassed as they have to now file the case in the court of the city where the bank of the drawn cheque is located.

Many city residents, banks as well as company owners who have been issued cheques which bounced due to due to insufficiency of funds are now being forced to travel all the way to the place where the bank which issued the cheque is located. With this, the process of filing a cheque bounce case has become more tedious.

The Court of Judicial Magistrate Manav and Court of Judicial Magistrate Ashok Kumar which cater to cheque-bounce cases have transferred over 300 cases in the last two days following the SC ruling.

Mohali, August 13
Finally, waking up to the cause of destitute ailing persons, the Mohali Civil Hospital authorities have started a special helpline and appointed a senior medical officer as nodal officer, at the hospital for the destitute.

Dr Andesh Kang, SMO of the hospital said today directions have been issued in this regard. “We have appointed SMO Dr Manraj as nodal officer, who would be responsible for the care of destitute patients,” said Dr Kang.

The nodal officer has to prepare day-to-day medical report of the patient and keep vigil on the line of treatment, added Dr Kang.

Dr Kang said the hospital has also started special helpline (09041491565) on which any person can call up to give information about any destitute.

“The mobile telephone number belongs to Dr Manraj. Now onwards he has been asked to take care of such calls for proper follow up”, said Dr Kang.

The hospital authorities have also sent a communiqué to Mohali Civil Surgeon for making arrangements of funds for the treatment of such persons.

Notably, the hospital doctors have come under scanner for not providing proper treatment to a 45-year-old destitute, who was suffering from paralysis. The hospital was about to shift the patient to ‘Prabh Asra’, a private home for homeless at Padiala village, Kurali, in serious condition.

Dr Kang said a show-cause notice was served to a lady doctor, who was providing treatment to the destitute in question. “She has kept us in dark about the condition of the patient and told us that he was fit to shift to ‘Prabh Asra’ home. We have served her a show-cause notice”, said Dr Kang.

Panchkula, August 13
Hearts of scores of students and faculty members of a University melted for the maggot-infested victim but not of the Panchkula administration.

The entire Chitkara University, Rajpura, has contributed and raised fund for the victim. They have hired a nurse who would take care of the victim at the PGI, Chandigarh.

“As the victim is in dire need of an attendant, had we sent a student volunteer, he wouldn’t have understood the exact position, so we actually wanted to send someone professional for nursing,” said Gautam Malik, Researcher and Faculty member, at the University.

Malik visited the victim at PGI in the evening today. A nurse has been appointed for the victim.

A mail was sent across to the students and faculty members in the university. The mail stated, “The doctors feel their inability to pay attention due to unprecedented rush of patients in emergency ward. The doctors advised that in order to facilitate a speedy recovery, an attendant is required to take care of his him. Realising the highly critical situation (due to contagious and infection-prone environment), we feel that physical volunteering by our students in the present situation is not advisable and only a medical professional is recommended. So to extend help, we seek financial support for making a fund, to facilitate hiring a medical attendant on a shift basis.”

On Saturday, help to a maggot-infested victim, in his late fifties reached him after one hour and 55 minutes. It was after this correspondent called up the Chief Medical Officer that an ambulance was sent. The victim who was crying in pain on the Mansa Devi Singh Dwar road was referred to the PGI from the General Hospital, Sector 6, Panchkula. 

Chandigarh, August 13
The students of Khalsa College and Polytechnic Women College, Sector 11, whined that for past one week they had been coming for the rehearsal of the Independence Day parade at their own expense, as the authorities failed to provide them any transportation facility.

The rehearsals were held in two phases morning and evening however for both the phases they were not provided any transportation facility.

Some of the students who were practising for final rehearsal of cultural event were spotted dancing bare-feet on concrete ground. Moreover chaos prevailed during the final rehearsal when the students lost their bags with their valuables including wallets, mobiles and other documents.

When the students accompanied by their teachers approached the police officials for complaining regarding the matter they were bluntly turned back. The security officials claimed that their bags were not their responsibility.

Amidst the blame game between the authorities and the security officials the students were made to suffer.

The service for destitute persons is being run by the Social Welfare Department.— — M Shayin, Deputy Commissioner

We are catering to nearly 85 per cent of the needy in society. These include women, children and elderly, for whom we have shelter homes, a 24-hour helpline and vehicles to pick them up. We, however, have no provision for men aged between 19 and 59 years. — Rajesh Jogpal, Director, Social Welfare Department

Mohali, August 13
The Mental Health Act, 1987, carries clear guidelines regarding the state’s responsibility towards rehabilitation, care and treatment of destitute and mentally ailing abandoned persons. The Mohali Administration, however, has made no such arrangements.

What should the Administration do to address the problem

Operate a special helpline number to which people can call to inform the authorities about abandoned, ailing persons.

Run a separate shelter to house and take care of all such persons.

Rope in non-governmental organisations for the cause. Demarcate their area of functioning.

In collaboration with the police, conduct proper surveys to identify the abandoned, so that relief can be provided to them.

Put the primary responsibility of all such cases on the UT Red Cross Society.

After medical help at government hospitals, shift the ailing persons to a shelter home till their family is contacted. 

Shamsher Singh and his wife, Rajinder Kaur, have been running two shelter homes for the destitute, homeless and mentally unstable, abandoned persons for the past 10 years.

Since its inception, the shelter home, Prabh Asra, has received over 1,080 destitute persons. Shirking its own responsibility, the Mohali Administration keeps sending such persons to this privately-run “home for the homeless”.

The couple says nearly 92 such persons who were left at their home by the administrative officials died within days as their condition was very serious at the time they were shifted.

“Since January 1 this year, we have already received 86 destitute persons. We are running full to capacity, but the Administration keeps shifting such persons to our shelter homes,” says Shamsher Singh.

He says that in the absence of any help or grant from the state government, they are forced to take loans to run the home.

Panchkula, August 13
The case of a maggot-infested person who kept crying in pain and seeking help for hours near the Mansa Devi Singh Dwar in Panchkula is not an isolated one. There are many such destitute persons crying for attention, but the Panchkula Administration continues to ignore them.

The Red Cross Society takes care of destitute people. Arrangements have also been made for them at the Mansa Devi temple. — SS Phulia, Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula

The 150-bed General Hospital in the town that claims to provide the best of facilities available in the state had no place for the maggot-infested man, who had to be sent to the PGI for treatment.

Within a month, the Sector 6-based hospital will add another feather to its cap by becoming a 300-bed medical facility.

It has over five surgeons—highest when compared to general hospitals in other districts.

However, despite several calls made on the helpline number 102, its ambulances failed to come to the ailing man’s rescue.

It was only after this correspondent called the Chief Medical Officer that help reached. The Chief Medical Officer, Dr VK Bansal, later claimed that ambulances could not locate the victim when a passer-by had called the helpline.

The PGI doctors said the General Hospital staff could have at least removed maggots from the man’s body and dressed his injuries before referring him to the premier institute.

The unidentified man is still lying uncared for at the Surgery OPD of the PGI Emergency.

Chandigarh, August 13
In a yet another step to make Chandigarh a ‘model solar city’, the UT Science and Technology Department has commissioned the first solar photovoltaic (SPV) power plant at an e-Sampark centre in Sector 7. The plant will serve as a power back-up at the centre.

The department and the Chandigarh Renewable Energy Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST) have planned to commission such SPV power plants in all 28 e-Sampark centres and gram e-Sampark centres in the city by 2015. The move comes following the direction of the Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Shivraj V Patil to install SPV power plants in government buildings.

Santosh Kumar, the Director, UT Department of Science and Technology and the CEO, CREST, said the primary aim was to help government buildings generate power for their own consumption.

Presently, solar power plants have been installed at 27 big and small government buildings, including the Paryavaran Bhawan, the Model Burail Jail, the UT Secretariat building, the Government College of Girls-11 and the Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 46. 

Chandigarh, August 13
The city residents may not have to drive down to the Registering and Licensing Authority (RLA) office to collect a registration certificate (RC) or a driving licence (DL) if the authority’s proposal to deliver the documents at the applicant’s doorsteps gets the UT Administration’s nod.

Kashish Mittal, the RLA, said the RC and DLs would be delivered on the address mentioned in the documents. He added that once the facility becomes a reality, the residents would not have to visit the RLA office repeatedly.

A proposal to start the postal service has been sent to the UT Administration for approval.

An RLA official said the documents would be delivered through registered posts so that they don’t get misplaced.

The official added that the service would be introduced as soon as the Administration gives its approval.

It is proposed that the applicant will have to pay the money for the registered post.

The official said in case the document could not be delivered at the given address, for any reason, the applicant could visit the RLA office to collect it.

Chandigarh, August 13
City traders are facing problems in uploading value added tax (VAT) returns. They allege that the system goes slow when the date for filing of tax returns nears.

The UT Excise and Taxation Department had introduced e-filing of VAT returns in the city two years ago.

For the financial quarter ending June, for which July 31 was the last date for filing return, the department had to extend the date.

Around 15,000 traders in the city are registered with the department.

JPS Kalra, a member of the VAT Advisory Committee, said only one meeting of the committee was held in November 2012 following its formation in October 2012. “We want to raise the issue in the next meeting,” he said.

An Excise and Taxation Department official said they had been asking the IT department to upgrade the capacity of the server.

The traders demanded that the facility to pay VAT online through the SBI gateway should be extended to other banks. “Ever since the online facility was started in 2012, it did not get many takers as traders were not aware of it. Instead of asking traders to open an account in SBI, they should be allowed to transfer money from their accounts to the SBI account,” said Ajay Jagga, an income tax lawyer.

Chandigarh, August 13
In an effort to raise voice against rape, Mohali-based director Parvinder Singh Wraich today released a 14 minutes animated movie ‘Gudiya’ which is based on the theme of rape and how women should fight against it.

Parvinder Singh Wraich during a media interaction at the press club said, “The movie was inspired from the incident of December 16, 2012, gang rape, that took place in Delhi.”

The director further added that the movie was made during a span of nine months.

The story of the movie is based on three drunken boys who try to rape a girl who is standing alone at a bus-stand.

However, when they try to grab the girl one of the hooligans realises that the girl is his sister. He revolts against his friends but they refuse to stop.

He further added that through the movie the team has tried to raise a voice against rape and have suggested ways in which women can be protected.

The highlight of the movie is the song, “Beta Bhai Pati Pita, En rishton main jab ayoge nahin karoge koi khata”, which is sung by child artists Harkiran Kaur Wraich and Vinamarjot Singh Wraich.

Harkiran said, “The song is a promise that a sister takes from her brother that he will honour and respect women throughout his life.”

Mohali, August 13
Giving a special gift to defence personnel on the occasion of the Independence Day, the Mohali administration will form a special committee to facilitate them (serving and retired defence personnel) at various departments in the district.

The committee will consist of Punamdeep Kaur, addition deputy commissioner (general), Lakhmir Singh, SDM, Mohali, Sanjeev Kumar, SDM, Dera Bassi and Sukhjitpal Singh, SDM, Kharar. Giving information in this regard, Mohali deputy commissioner Tejinder Pal Singh Sidhu said the committee members would help the defence personnel in getting their works done in government departments.

Sidhu, who had also served as Cavalry Officer in 42 Armd Regt from 1981 to 1986, said this special committee would be a gift to the defence personnel from the Mohali administration on the occasion of Independence Day. “The defense personnel safeguard our nation so we are duty bound to treat them with dignity and respect they deserve,” said Sidhu. 

Panchkula, August 13
High drama was witnessed last night when a senior police officer chased a PCR vehicle after he found two cops creating ruckus with truck drivers at Majri Chowk.

The cops were suspected to be in an inebriated state, fled in the PCR but were chased for quite a long by the officer.

However, the officer could not nab them as the cops fled towards Zirakpur.

A message was also flashed across all the PCRs and control room but they failed to catch hold of the two cops who apparently were avoiding medical examination.

The officer visited the police station and snubbed the station house officer.

No one was suspended till the filing of the report. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Adarshdeep Singh said, “I can’t confirm that the erring cops have been placed under suspension.” Deputy Commissioner of Police Rahul Sharma failed to respond. 

Chandigarh, August 13
After failing to auction the exhibition ground in Sector 34 for Diwali fair, the Municipal Corporation (MC) has decided to discuss the matter during a meeting of its Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC) scheduled for Thursday.

The MC had recently invited bids for auctioning the ground. However, there were no takers.

Sources said during the meeting, a discussion would be held as to whether the ground should be auctioned or the MC should organise the event on its own.

Interestingly, the MC had, in 2013, failed to receive any bid as the minimum bidding amount was high.

A councillor and a member of the F&CC said instead of renting out the ground, the MC should itself organise Diwali mela by renting stalls, which would help it earn more revenue. 

Chandigarh, August 13
Nearly 2,000 students bought forms to change the school/stream/option during the third round of the counselling for admission to government schools in Class XI of the six designated schools here today. Many students who had already bought prospectus during the first counselling, bought the prospectus again as they were not aware that that they could apply for seats by filling up school/stream/option form.

The authorities informed around 3,000 seats were still lying vacant, as the students had been filling the same school’s name where seats had already been filled.

The authorities further stated that though in the form the students had been given eight options to fill in their preference of schools and streams, however, they were filling only one or at maximum two schools as a result of which a large number of seats were still lying vacant.

A large number of students missed their schools and classes in order to avail the forms from designated schools. The forms and prospectus will be available at the six designated schools—GMSSS, Sector-10; GMSSS, Sector 20-B; GMSSS, Sector 46; GMSSS, Sector 3-B; GMSSS, Modern Complex, Manimajra and GMSSS, Sector28; till August 14th. The list indicating the allotment of school and streams will be displayed on August 24th at 11:00 am. The students can deposit fees at the allotted schools between August 23 to 25.

Visitors inconvenienced

As members of both student political parties - ABVP and SOPU - turned up at the same time at the Student Centre, the ramp to the Indian Coffee House was jam-packed due to which students and visitors faced inconvenience to reach the venue.

PUSU announces panel

PUSU today announced its executive chairman Manu Jhinjar, state secretary Abhey Partap, party convenor Gurwinder Jatana and vice chairman Akshay Janalia. 

Chandigarh, August 13
The Himachal Pradesh Student Association (HPSA), which made an entry in the race for Panjab university student council poll seats a few days ago, today announced its panel in the university. The announcement was made in the presence of Arun Dhumal, vice-president of the HPSA and son of former HP Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.

The party members were encouraged by Arun Dhumal to keep their spirits high. Some senior members of the association who are the alumni of Panjab University were also present during the announcement. The panellists are Anil Sharma for the post of party president, Nikhil Rangra as chairman, Goldy and Shilpa as in charge of the girl wing. The others were Pankaj, Aditya Manglesh, Uday Sharma, Karan Rana, Ravinder and Yogain for posts of secretaries in the party.

Chandigarh, August 13
The NSUI today submitted a memorandum to the PU Vice-Chancellor on various demands regarding inmates of the hostels. The memorandum was submitted by NSUI president Rimpy Brar and chief patron Simranjit Kaur Gill.

The party demanded to the authorities to be liberal on the entry of girls to hostels till the construction of new reading halls, gate passes being issued for studying in the library at night and entry timings should extend from 10pm to 10:30pm. The girls should allow to roam on the premises of hostels without any time restrictions.

It also highlighted common problems and demands of girls’ and boys’ hostels that included facilitating an electrician in case of night emergencies, repair and increase in the number of washing machines in hostels, CCTV cameras to be installed in kitchens to maintain hygiene, emergency lights on all floors in all hostels and geysers should be made available across the year.

It was also proposed in the memorandum that water coolers be cleaned and maintained regularly and non-vegetarian food be added to the mess menu and be served at least once a week.

Chief patron NSUI Simranjit Kaur Gill said students were facing various issues in hostels.

Chandigarh, August 13
Indian National Students Organization (INSO) today demanded to dissolve the research promotion cell constituted by the Panjab University authorities for Phd scholars.

It demanded to revive the Panjab University Research Scholars Association and also provide a chance to other active Phd scholars to meet the UGC chairman with their demands.

Party leaders demanded hike in the UGC fellowship amount and contingency grant, lesser processing time for fellowship distribution, flats for married Phd scholars, extra residential facilities for unmarried Phd research scholars, grant to attend international conference or workshop, discontinuation of exemption given to college teachers from entrance test for Phd enrolment

It also demanded that all Ph.d research scholars should get some opportunity to do a job simultaneously while doing Phd as provided to teachers in the university.

Chandigarh, August 13
Panjab University will start grading system from the current session for NSS volunteers.

Programme coordinator of NSS, Panjab University (PU), Dr Yograj Angrish said the decision was as per the instructions of the Director, Higher Education, Chandigarh Administration, to ensure uniformity in the certificates from this session.

The grading system (A, B & C) will be introduced for NSS volunteers of the PU campus and affiliated colleges.

The “A-grade” certificates will be provided to the NSS volunteers who will complete two years and 240 hours of the NSS work under regular activities. The certificates will carry two marks.

The “B-grade” certificates will be provided to the volunteers who will complete 240 hours of the NSS work and participate in a seven-day camp and two blood donation camps. Besides, participation in any one national activity is also required.

The “B-grade” certificates carry 2.5 marks. The “C-grade” certificates will be provided to the volunteers who will complete 360 hours and attend two 7-day camps of the NSS. For “C-grade” certificate, the minimum enrollment is of three years as a NSS volunteer. The “C-grade” certificate holder will get three marks. The person who complete one year and attend one seven-day camp will not get any grade and will be given one mark weightage.

Dr Yograj added that the NSS volunteers who were associated with the PU from the past three years could get the new certificates with the grades (A, B and C) after showing previous NSS certificates duly attested by head of the institution and programme officers where they were enrolled for the NSS social work activities.

Chandigarh, August 13
Dr Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management, Sector 42, today organised a seminar to facilitate ‘The Incredible India Bed and Breakfast, Home Stay Establishments Scheme under the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

Central Ministry of Tourism, Regional Director, Arun Srivastava, was the key speaker. Leading travel houses of North India participated in the seminar to discuss the significance of the scheme.

The basic idea was to provide a clean and affordable place for foreigners and domestic tourists, including an opportunity for foreign tourists to stay with an Indian family to experience its customs and traditions and relish authentic cuisine, said Srivastava.