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Failure to fill EWS seats Earn Estate Office wrath for not complying with land allotment rules; to get notices Rajmeet Singh Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 19 The UT Estate Office has initiated the process of taking action against the erring schools for not complying with the land allotment rules. According to the terms and conditions of the allotment and decision of the Education Department issued in February 2006, the schools are required to admit 15 per cent students from the EWS category. UT Estate Officer Mohammed Shayin said after getting details from the Education Department, the Estate Office was issuing show-cause notices to the erring schools. According to the details provided by the Education Department, of the 19 schools, at least eight had not filled 40 per cent of the seats meant for the EWS category. The issue of filing seats under the EWS category has become a bone of contention between the schools and the UT Education Department, putting students and their parents at the receiving end. While parents allege that the department has failed to either review or supervise the admission process of children belonging to the EWS, schools find fault with the Education Department. They claim that the department has failed to implement the provisions of the Right to Education (RTE) Act. DPI (Schools) Kamlesh Kumar said the data with regard to admission in the EWS category had reflected that schools were not adhering to the admission norms. It had now been brought to the notice of the Estate Office for necessary action, he said. A list of all schools that were not filling the seats under the EWS category was being prepared. ‘UT should clarify its stand’ Filling of seats under the EWS category has nothing to do with land allotment. We have been asking the UT to clear its stand on admission under the EWS category and implementing the provisions of the RTE Act. Since there are no takers for the first 15 per cent seats under the EWS category — wherein a certain amount of fee has to be charged — which is mandatory for filling the remaining 10 per cent seats (taking the total reservation to 25 per cent), these seats are not being filled. The Education Department has created a confusion. — HS Mamik, president, Independent Schools Association
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Auto-rickshaws continue to ferry schoolchildren
Chandigarh, September 19 It is learnt that over 600 autos ferry students to school everyday with each auto carrying more than five students. However, the STA has issued challans to only 31 auto-rickhaws for overloading. The severity of the situation can be gauged from the fact that the STA has even challaned autos carrying more than 17 students at a time, while the norms stipulate that an auto-rickshaw can carry three adults or six children. STA officials said due to poor awareness among parents, the practice was continuing. Nearly 1,50,000 students in government schools are in need of a dedicated safe transportation mode. The orders issued by the STA stated that since auto-rickshaws were not a safe means of transportation for schoolchildren, school owners/principals should find alternative means to stop the practice of ferrying of schoolchildren by auto-rickshaws. The orders stated that the schools should stop engaging the services of auto-rickshaws to ferry schoolchildren. An STA official said unless the school managements and police personnel came forward, it would be difficult to put an end to the practice. Meanwhile, the school authorities maintain that they have been advising parents not to send their children by crowded autos since it involves a high risk, but the latter pay little attention. The Education Department authorities said in the absence of any other mode of cheap transportation, parents had opposed the order. DPI (S) Kamlesh Kumar said, “People in the city require a dedicated means of transportation for their schoolchildren.” While the STA and the Education Department continue to pass the buck on each other, no alternative for safe transportation of schoolchildren has been found.
Secretary (STA) Satish Kumar Jain said, “We can’t stop autos from ferrying students; that’s not our job. Parents need to stop this practice. We have only passed on the High Court directives to the Education Department.”
In figures
* No. of students in need of a dedicated means of transport: 1,50,000 *
No. of auto-rickshaws ferrying students everyday: 600
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Pay Rs 2.10 lakh more, HC tells Maluka’s wife
Chandigarh, September 19 Justice K Kannan asked the Mohali District Transport Officer (DTO) to recover the amount within four weeks. Justice Kannan made it clear that the amount would be recovered from the DTO’s salary by the government in case the recovery was not effected within the stipulated period. The order came on a petition filed by Varinder Jeet Kaur of Mohali. The petitioner had alleged that she deposited Rs 2,20,000 for the number, but the same was withdrawn from her and allotted to Surjit Kaur for just Rs 10,000. It was also alleged that the amount was never returned. The petitioner further submitted that the DTO’s action had resulted in a net loss of Rs 2,05,000 to the state exchequer. The petitioner said according to the guidelines, the number should have been awarded to the next highest bidder. Going into the background of the matter, the petitioner told the court that in August 2012, the number, PB 65 R 0007, was allotted to her for the highest bid of Rs 2.20 lakh. She deposited the lifetime road tax of her vehicle in May 2013 along with the prescribed fine. In August 2013, she was surprised to see the same number on another car owned by Maluka’s wife. It was found that the DTO had given the same number to the minister’s wife for Rs 10,000 only. After hearing the arguments, Justice Kannan also ordered the DTO to return Rs 2.20 lakh to Varinder Jeet Kaur, along with interest.
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MC spent Rs 27 lakh on study tour
Chandigarh, September 19 Sources said that earlier the MC officials used to invite registered travel companies for organising a trip, however, this time the councillors recommended the travel companies which were asked to plan the tour and accordingly submit their quotations. A councillor on the condition of anonymity said that there was a travel company that had offered the trip on a lesser budget, however, a company with comparatively high quotation was chosen. “One of the travel companies that was invited with the quotation had offered to plan the trip in less than Rs 60,000 per head”, the councillor added. Interestingly, apart from 20 councillors and six officials, 13 family members of the councillors also went on the study tour. These 13 persons only paid for their airfare, the expenses on the vehicles hired to commute in these cities was borne by the MC only. The family members of the councillors also enjoyed free lodging as they were accommodated in the rooms booked for the councillors. The study tour has received flak from various sections of the society. Sachin Sharma, chairman, Youth Innovative Society (YIS), has sent a complaint to the Prime Minister (PM) against the wastage of public money. “The money could as well be utilised for improving civic amenities in Chandigarh”, he said. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Gurjusjit Singh said that this was a loot of public money which was used for personal excursion and did not serve any purpose for the betterment of the city. “If they had to see the projects on a projector, they could have done it here itself”, he said.
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Joint meeting: UT opposes unplanned development
Chandigarh, September 19 Sources revealed that UT officials submitted that unplanned development could hamper their chances for a heritage tag before UNESCO. The UT has proposed for regulated development around the city’s periphery. Discussion on co-ordination committee between states and the UT also took place during the meeting. The meetings of the co-ordination committee for the joint development of the area were being held on the direction of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court had directed the committee to recommend the steps to be taken for the co-coordinated development of the region. Earlier, it was decided to constitute a Chandigarh Region Planning Board for a coordinated and joint development of the tricity but the plan was dropped after Haryana objected to it. Thereafter, it was decided that a co-ordination committee would be formed, which would be more powerful and effective than the proposed board.
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Pawan Bansal’s son in race for Cong ticket from P’kula
Panchkula, September 19 Sitting MLA of Panchkula, DK Bansal, and senior Congress leaders, including Manish Bansal, son of former Union Railway Minister and former MP from Chandigarh, Pawan Kumar Bansal, are in the race for the Congress ticket from the Panchkula seat. To maintain his relations with the former Railway Minister, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is also interested in fielding Manish from either Panchkula or Kalka seat, sources said. The Haryana Government had earlier inducted him as an additional advocate general. In 2009, the Congress had shifted DK Bansal from Ambala to Panchkula in order to accommodate Venod Sharma, a former minister and a close associate of Hooda. Other senior Congress leaders eyeing the party ticket from the Panchkula constituency and camping in Delhi for the past one week include Om Prakash Devi Nagar, a former district Congress chief, Rawinder Kumar Rawal, a former president of Panchkula Municipal Council, and some leaders of the Kumari Selja group. For the party ticket from the Kalka seat, Satvinder Rana, who unsuccessfully contested the seat on Congress ticket in 2009, is lined up against Manveer Kaur Gill, a former Panchkula MC president, Santosh Sharma, Dhaninder Ahluwalia, Rajesh Kauna, Chetan Chauhan and some others. They are appearing before the AICC Screening Committee led by JPC chairman PC Chacko at the AICC office in Delhi, sources said.
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Need to fill gap between academia, industry: Expert
Chandigarh, September 19 The two-day conference is being conducted under the Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP-II) as part of the series of conferences. More than 300 delegates are participating in the conference. Sandeep Hans, Director, Higher Education, UT, inaugurated the conference. Panjab University Vice-Chancellor Prof Arun Kumar Grover presided over the function. Mentor TEQIP-II Prof Nagabhushna Rao and PU Dean Research Prof LK Bansal were the guests of honour on the occasion. Addressing the inaugural function, Sandeep Hans said: “India is a developing nation and lack of linkage between academia and industry is a challenge”. He stressed the need to fill the gap between the two. He discussed the initiatives taken by the Chandigarh Administration in the field of technical education and improving linkage of academics with the industry. Panjab University Vice-Chancellor Prof AK Grover recalled the contribution and vision of Dr SS Bhatnagar. He said: “Only an economy based on the principles of sustainability will be able to secure our prosperity and quality of life in the long run”. The finance-cum-organising secretary, HETIS-2014, Prof Seema Kapoor, said the two-day conference would provide a platform to intellectuals to debate upon the acute environmental crises that the entire world was currently facing.
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Need for safeguarding interests of poor, women, says Justice Bhalla
Mohali, September 19 Justice Jagdish Bhalla, chairperson, Punjab State Human Rights Commission, was the chief guest on the occasion. Justice Jagdish Bhalla stressed the need for safeguarding the interests of the poor, women and children. He also highlighted various lacunae in the existing criminal justice system and said solutions were needed to overcome such problems. Dr GS Bajpai, Professor and Registrar, National Law University, Delhi, in his keynote address, dwelt on the need to protect human rights and give more prominent place to such rights so that the constitutional mandate could be retained. Mohali Deputy Commissioner Tejinder Pal Singh Sidhu, who was the guest of honour, said time now called for adequate implementation of the concept of human rights. The seminar, which will continue tomorrow, witnessed discussions and deliberations on various issues. Delegates from various parts of the country presented papers on burning issues faced by society.
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NOC made mandatory for registering agricultural land
Chandigarh, September 19 The Deputy Commissioner (DC) said the NOC would be issued on a prescribed format so that a check could be kept on the land deal that was being registered for the construction of plots on agricultural land. This was in violation of the periphery Act. A status report on such registries will have to be given to the office of the DC.
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CPS holds surprise check at Kharar Civil Hospital
Mohali, September 19 Dr Sidhu, who conducted a surprise check at the hospital, found that in many cases, doctors were prescribing medicines available outside instead of going in for government medicines, which were being supplied free of cost to patients. She said action would be taken against the doctors prescribing medicines to be purchased from outside despite their availability in the hospital. Dr Sidhu directed that a waiting hall for the attendants of patients should be constructed on priority. The directions were given after she saw that there was no proper seating arrangements for them in various wards. She spoke to patients to know their problems. One of the patients is reported to have complained that doctors sometimes rejected laboratory test and ultrasound reports of the hospital and asked the patients to get these done from outside laboratories. There was also a complaint that the behaviour of certain staff members making OPD slips was rude.
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Notices against violations: Residents meet CHB chief
Chandigarh, September 19 In a memorandum submitted to the CHB chairman, the federation pointed out that the main demands of the residents were restarting the process of transfer/freehold/sale-purchase of CHB Units, giving ownership to those who own or bought houses in tenement colonies and regularising the changes made in flats. They demanded that the notices of demolition/cancellation issued to them should be put on hold. Further, the delegation requested the chairman to stop the process of issuing the notices. The delegation claimed that the chairman conveyed to the CHB Secretary to immediately stop issuing notices.
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UT recommends 5 names for Padma awards
Chandigarh, September 19 For Padma awards-2015, the Government of India had invited nominations by September 15, 2014. As per the notification issued by the MHA, nominations sent after the expiry of deadline will not be considered. The Administration has forwarded the names of RK Saboo, former president of Rotary International; Satnam Namita Singh, a city-based architect; Dr D Behera, head, department of pulmonary medicine at the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER); Pandit Yashpaul, classical singer; and Dr BS Chavan, head, department of psychiatry at Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32. A UT official said they had forwarded five names with a request for condonation.Every year, the Padma Committee invites recommendations from states and union territories. These are then assessed and the shortlisted names are sent to the Prime Minister’s Office. The awards are given by the President on January 26.
The nominees
* RK Saboo, former president of Rotary International *
Satnam Namita Singh, city-based architect * Dr D Behera, head, department of pulmonary medicine, PGIMER *
Pandit Yashpaul, classical singer * Dr BS Chavan, head department of psychiatry, GMCH
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GMADA issues 400 allotment letters Mohali, September 19 Mahesh Bansal, Estate Officer (Aerocity), GMADA, said here today that 400 allotment letters had already been despatched. The Estate Officer said the allotment letters would be issued to all successful allottees, including those falling under the general scheme, the oustees’ quota and the land pooling scheme. The numbering draw of the plots was held on June 24 and 25. Numbers were allotted to the plot sizes of 100 sq yd, 125 sq yd, 200 sq yd, 300 sq yd, 400 sq yd and 500 sq yd. Mahesh Bansal said the development work was on at Aerocity and the possession of the plots would be given soon to the allottees. The draw for plots of 150 sq yd and 250 sq yd would be held soon, The Estate Officer added.
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Meeting on auction held Mohali, September 19 The associations expressed satisfaction over the reserve prices fixed for various sites. They said the auction would attract a good response. Inderjit Kaur Kang, the Estate Officer, said the GMADA had fixed the rates of various sites included in the auction keeping in mind the pulse of the market.
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Baltana (Mohali): ASCURE Healthcare in association with Smile Forever, an NGO, organised blood donation and free health check-up camps at Harmilap Nagar in Baltana yesterday. A team of doctors from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) helped the two organisations in accomplishing the noble task. It was a maiden effort by ASCURE Healthcare which has ventured into healthcare services. It also organised a free health check-up on its premises where over 50 persons were examined. Seeing the success of this initiative, they are planning to organise more such camps. Speaking on the behalf of ASCURE Healthcare, Sunil Kumar said "considering the overwhelming response we received in our first initiative, we feel encouraged to holdmore such camps." — TNS
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Superstitions
come first for P’kula candidates Panchkula, September 19
“No one wants to take any such step in shradhs. We would make a move only after the Navratras,” said Kulbushan Goel, a candidate of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). Illustration Sandeep Joshi Goel would be filing the nomination on September 26. BB Singhal, a BJP leader, said: “Even when we had to open our party office during the shradhs, we approached a pandit for a muhurat for the same and then opened it.” He said “the nominations will be filed on the onset of the Navratras.” Meanwhile, the Congress and Haryana Janhit Congress are still waiting for their final list to be out. “Even the authorities know that the candidates will gain momentum only after September 25, so there is no point in taking out the list early,” said an aspirant for the ticket from the Congress. Not only the filing of nominations, but the campaigning has also not gained momentum. The same would be done after the beginning of the Navratras only. Sept 25 a tough day for admn On September 25, the administration will be on it toes. On the one hand, the Governor is expected to inaugurate the nine-day Navratra festival at the Mansa Devi temple, on the other the candidates are expected to file their nominations at the DC office. Commissioner of Police Ajay Singhal said: “Keeping this in view, we have made all arrangements for it.”
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Needy students to get free coaching
Chandigarh, September 19 This facility is primarily for first-year students of the university campus who, despite getting admission to science courses in the university and colleges, are still aspiring for engineering and MBBS degree and targeting AIPMT/JEE 2015 entrance exams. YUWA campus president Vivek Chaudhary, fourth-year IT student at the UIET, said during election campaigning, volunteers of the party came across many first-year students who had enrolled in undergraduate courses in various basic science departments of the university were aspiring to crack entrance exams of professional courses consisting of AIPMT, AIIMS and JEE. During interaction, they said as they belong to middle class or economically weaker section of society they could not afford to pay hefty fee required for a proper training to crack these entrance exams. Hence, YUWA decided to take positive step for these needy students. YUWA campus chairman Sumit Sinha, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student at the UIET, said: “YUWA had asked some of the leading young trainers of the tricity to support this move and help students achieve their goal. We had got positive reply from most of the teachers”.
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Elected council members managed it all in
Rs 13,000
Chandigarh, September 19
As per the details submitted today, president Divyanshu Budhiraja spent Rs 4,320 out of the Rs 5,000 limit for the student council elections. Vice-president Snigdha Bawa spent Rs 4,460, while secretary Ankur spent Rs 4,400. PUSU joint secretary Abhishek Thapar’s poll expenditure is Rs 600. It does not include any campaigning arrangement by the candidate. Dean Student Welfare Navdeep Goyal said instructions had been issued to all chairman of departments that they should sent the details of poll expenditure of department representatives till today evening. In case anybody failed to submit the details, his or her candidature would be nullified by the authorities. He said the same was implemented on council candidates also. The candidates who lost the elections did not even bother to submit the details of their poll expenditure.
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Panic grips Panjab varsity as chlorine cylinder leaks
Chandigarh, September 19 The Fire Department was informed after a security guard noticed the leakage. The first call was made to the Fire Department at 7.28 pm, following which a fire tender from the Sector 11 Fire Station reached the spot. When the situation could not be controlled, another fire tender from the Sector 17 Fire Station was called to the spot at 9.41 pm. Officials of the Fire Department lifted the chlorine cylinder to one side. Faculty members also reached the spot. They said the cylinder had rusted, following which the gas started leaking. Meanwhile, the road near the PU library and Vice-Chancellor’s office was closed for movement of vehicles. Students also gathered near the department.
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P’kula institute hosts Arabic theme festival
Panchkula, September 19 The festival was inaugurated by Anurag Walia, General Manager, Park View, Chandigarh. The entire institute was decorated on the Arabic theme. Paintings and other decorated materials were displayed at places, which were made by students of the institute. The restaurant of the institute was also given the Arabic theme and was decorated with palm trees, camels, lampshades and lanterns. The music and food was also based on the Arabic theme. Principal of the institute Pankaj Jasrotia said every year such kinds of theme festivals were organised at the institute. Director Sunali Jasrotia appreciated the efforts of the staff and students for making the festival a huge success.
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Last date extended
Colleges affiliated to Panjab University have been informed that the last date for registration pro forma (eligibility) has been extended up to October 17. PU Controller of Examinations Prof Parvinder Singh said the decision had been taken to give affiliated colleges sufficient time for submission of necessary data for all undergraduate courses (semester) of PU, Chandigarh, December 2014 session. 161 units of blood collected
A blood donation camp was organised by NSS Unit of DAV College, Sector 10, Chandigarh, on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Hans Raj. The camp was sponsored by the State Bank of India. Sanjay Tandon, President, UT BJP, was the chief guest on the occasion. Principal Dr BC Josan elaborated the teaching of Mahatma Hans Raj and appealed the students to pursue social work along with their studies. A team from the Department of Transfusion Medicine, PGIMER, Chandigarh, arranged the blood donation equipment. As many as 161 units of blood were collected. Union continues strike
The Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology union continued its chain hunger strike. The protest entered 31st day on Friday. The administration is not paying any heed to demands of the agitating employees. Even after a month-long hunger strike, the authorities do not bother to resolve the issue. The union members decided to intensify the protest from Monday. Start-up weekend
The newly setup Start-up Accelerator Chamber of Commerce has started start-up weekend at the Chandigarh Group of Colleges, Landran campus, from September 19 to September 21, University of Petroleum, Dehradun, from October 10 to October 12, Shaheed Udham Singh Engineering College, Tangori, from October 31 to November 2, and an all-women start-up weekend at Chandigarh from November 14 to November 16. — TNS
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Pottery workshop
Tribune Model School organised a five-day workshop on pottery for students of pre-primary and primary sections. It was
Colouring competition
Tiny-Tots’ Foundation School organised a colouring competition in the school for nursery sections on Friday. Figures were already drawn on the sheets and children were made to colour them. Harpreet Kaur, principal of the school, said: “Competitions are important for children as these motivate them as well as parents also to make necessary improvements as per the calibre of every child.” International Ozone Day was observed at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 26. A rally comprising 50 students marched through the streets of the Police Lines, Sector 26, Chandigarh. The students, holding banners and posters in their hands, highlighted the importance of ozone layer and need to save it. The rally was flagged off by Principal Alka Mehta along with Eco-Club members. Students bring laurels
Students of DAV Senior Public School, Surajpur, brought laurels by winning the national-level CBSE Science Exhibition held at Mount Abu School, New Delhi. The school authorities said around 315 schools from all over the country participated in the four-day exhibition. DAV Senior Public School, Surajpur, was one of the 50 schools shortlisted on the basis of their respective projects, utility and presentation. The project prepared by the science students of the school was on water conservation. Principal Anuja Sharma congratulated science teachers and students. — TNS
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Can’t stop autos: STA
Candidates are of the view that the Election Commission should have fixed the date for filing nominations from September 20 to 27 after considering the ‘shubh muhurat’ as all candidates in Panchkula are waiting for ‘shradhs’ to get over and would be filing the same only after September 25, which is on the onset of the
Navratras.
On the last day of the submission of the poll expenditure, details of the ruling party’s three candidates - president, vice-president and secretary - were submitted to the Dean Student Welfare office.
organised from September 15 to September 19. The theme for the workshop was “The Potter’s Wheel”. A professional potter helped the children in molding wet clay into pots of different shapes and sizes and bringing out the creativity in every child. The school authorities said the pottery gave children a sensorial experience of touch and enhanced their fine motor skills. The environment was exciting. During the five-day workshop, the children got a broad set of pottery skills.