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Rahul disappoints PU students
Chandigarh, October 16 During his 45-minute interaction with the students, organised by the National Students Union of India (NSUI), a girl student, Sarabjit Khan said, “While you are exhorting youths to join the Congress, the fact is that with so much security around you, it is difficult to even meet you. I have mailed my suggestions to you at least a thousand times, but haven't got even a single reply." Rahul Gandhi said as he received thousands of emails daily, it became difficult for him to reply to all of these. The girl student said, “Birthday wish wali mail ka reply, 'thank you', to aa gaya tha”. On this, Rahul Gandhi said replying to birthday mails was easy whereas replying to other mails took a lot of time. He promised her that the Congress would consider her suggestions. Another PU student asked him that the Congress was in power at the Centre for 10 years before Modi took over, but did nothing for the promotion of Sanskrit in the country. He suggested that a separate Sanskrit University should be set up. However, Rahul Gandhi said if separate universities for Sanskrit, Hindi and other languages were set up, students would become isolated. The student again stressed that the government did nothing for the promotion of Sanskrit. Rahul Gandhi said, “Sarkar to hamari nahin hai, aap sarkar se hi puchhiye." Similarly, when a student raised a question on violations in government buildings in the UT, Rahul Gandhi said, “You have to ask the Government of India and I am not in the Government of India."
Rahul ducks query on marriage Asked by a student when he was planning to get married as students of Panjab University were eager to perform bhangra, Rahul Gandhi said, “Dekhte hain.”
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Central varsity status for Panjab university Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 16 Rahul said the UPA-led Central Government was committed to grant central university status to the PU and had made serious efforts towards it but the state government created hurdles. As and when the Congress would get a chance, it would make the PU a central university, he said. Rahul said earlier, the university needed funds and the UPA government bailed it out by sanctioning Rs 150 crore as special grant. Meanwhile, during Gandhi’s visit, NSUI leader Manoj Lubana invited him to his marriage, which is scheduled for November 16. The Congress vice-president also held an interaction with students and replied to their queries. Student: In our country moral values are going down; rape incidents are increasing. What is your opinion? RG: It is up to you how you want this country; whether you want to choose the right path or the wrong one. Siya Minocha: Make some arrangements so that funds which were granted during the UPA government can be used in self-finance courses. RG: We are not in the government in Delhi or in Punjab. You have to place this request elsewhere. Simranjit Kaur: Constitution provides the right to equality, but girls still don’t have equal rights. RG: The Congress is committed to women empowerment. A student: Government did nothing for Sanskrit language in the country. RG: Sarkar to hamari nahi hai, aap sarkar se poochhiye. Karanbir Singh: The Congress have come very down in the country. RG: We only lost the polls. The Congress is not down. Nardeep Singh: Drug is a serious issue in Punjab. RG: You start an anti-drug campaign and I will join you. Sarabjit Khan: Leaders like you are so inaccessible. RG: We will consider your suggestions. Saeed Akil: What about corruption in the Embassy for getting scholarship for students of Afghanistan? RG: We will take up the issue. Abhishek: You should take the responsibility of the Leader of Opposition RG: Okay Nikhil: Violations in government buildings RG: You should ask this to the union government. We are not in power.
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Local Cong leaders fail to meet Rahul
Chandigarh, October 16 The only interaction that leaders of the local unit, including former MP Pawan Kumar Bansal, Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee (CTCC) president BB Behl and others, had with Gandhi was when they received him at the airport and presented him a bouquet of flowers. Local leaders were expecting that Gandhi would speak to them about the local unit but it was not the case. Sources said the party was in the process to replace the CTCC president in the city and already a number of Congress leaders were lobbying for the post. Bansal’s defeat in the last Lok Sabha elections was the first defeat of a Congress candidate in the Lok Sabha elections fought under CTCC president BB Behl’s leadership. Behl, who was appointed as the CTCC president in 2000. In the evening, Congress leaders HS Lucky and Maninder Dhillon along with Punjab Congress president Pratap Singh Bajwa and other leaders saw off Rahul Gandhi at the airport.
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No check on adulteration of milk in City Beautiful
Chandigarh, October 16 Consider this: In the past five years, only 17 samples of milk were collected from local vendors, two of which were found substandard. While officers in the UT food safety cell admitted that mixing water in milk was the most common form of adulteration, records of only two such violations exist in the cell. According to sources, massive protests held by milkmen in the past during milk sampling has been a deterrent for food safety officers in acting tough with them. “Four years ago, after one of the milk vendors was challaned, the association of vendors held a massive protest. They also stopped the supply of milk to the city,” said a senior official in the UT Health Department.The supply of packaged milk, largely Verka milk, is close to 3,50,000 litres per day in city. The local vendors supply milk in aluminum and plastic containers on bicycles, motorbikes and vans. Food safety cell working under adverse conditions Of the eight posts of food safety officer, five are lying vacant for the past over five years. The food safety cell does not have its own dedicated vehicle. Even for carrying out raids on sweets shops, it has to depend on taxis. The department did not have a qualified and regular designated officer (DO) until January this year. While one designated officer was appointed in January, another one was appointed two months ago. Milk containers not sent for safe food handling test In reply to a query posed under the RTI Act, the food safety cell said no containers of milk being used by local vendors were sent for the safe food handling test. Several milkmen challaned: SSP Senior Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Maneesh Chaudhary said, “We have issued a significant number of challans to those who carry multiple drums on motorcycles under the Motor Vehicles Act. Apart from overloading, these vendors often end up covering number plates with drums." Plan to conduct survey on milk vendors: Officer "We are planning to carry out a survey on milk vendors in the city to find out how many of them move around in the city and the quantity supplied by them."—Dr KS Rana, designated officer of the food safety cell
We charge as per quality, say milkmen
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CHB coming up with schemes for 1,700 flats
Chandigarh, October 16 Under the scheme, three-bedroom, two-bedroom and one-bedroom flats and dwelling units for economically weaker sections will be offered. Around 1,700 flats are being planned on the land available with the CHB in the area. CHB Secretary Mandeep Kaur said a decision to float the schemes was taken at a meeting of the board today. It was felt that the CHB needs to set a benchmark for quality affordable housing and also fulfil the demand for housing in the city. The flats would be in different categories (one-room (EWS), one BHK (LIG), two BHK (MIG) and three BHK (HIG). While the flats in Sector 51 are likely to be constructed on the lines of other flats constructed there earlier, the parameters intended to be incorporated in the newly proposed scheme in Sector 54 will be designed by a consulting architect, to be selected through an open design competition at the national level Other key decisions * As many as 143 commercial properties of the Chandigarh Housing Board that are lying vacant will now be rented out for a maximum period of three years. * The possession of 160 flats in Sector 51, which have already been constructed, will be handed over by November 2014 * Technical powers of the Chief Engineer delegated to the Superintending Engineer of the CHB for expediting the completion of projects.
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Get redemption deed executed, EO to allottees
Chandigarh, October 16 “Since, the execution of redemption deed after getting a ‘no due certificate’ is a legal requirement, no request for transfer of property or for any other purpose can be entertained by the Estate Office in the absence of redemption deed,” he said. The Estate Officer requested the allottees/transferees, who have not executed the redemption deed, to do it immediately. Besides, the Estate Officer also observed that some allottees have not obtained mandatory completion/occupation certificate in respect of the sites allotted/transferred/leased out to them. Shayin advised such allottees to apply for the certificate immediately, failing which proceedings under Section 8-A of the Capital of Punjab (Development and Regulation) Act, 1952, shall be initiated against them.
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Power bill set aside, costs imposed on PSPCL
Mohali, October 16 Jarnail Singh of Jaraut village in Dera Bassi tehsil had an electric connection to his house but the meter started running fast regarding which he made a complaint to the PSPCL. The meter was then removed by the PSPCL and a new one installed. The old meter was sent to the laboratory, which reported that there was no defect in the meter. Powercom then issued a bill taking the meter reading as actual consumption, which was challenged by Jarnail Singh, alleging that the meter was not checked in accordance with the rules. Notice was given to Powercom, which alleged that Jarnail Singh authorised them to check the meter in his absence and, therefore, the bill showing the charges for actual consumption was legal and valid. The Permanent Lok Adalat (PUS) held that while removing the meter, it was necessary for Powercom to associate the applicant and to obtain his signatures on the packing, which was not done by them. Again, before testing the meter the ME Lab was required to give 7 days’ prior notice to the applicant and the meter was to be tested in his presence. No notice was given to the applicant on the ground that he had written that the report of the ME Lab given in his absence would be accepted as correct by him. The Permanent Lok Adalat held that not only one, but three notices were required to be given to the applicant to appear at the time of the testing of the meter. There was no provision for obtaining such writing from the applicant that the meter be tested in his absence nor had he authorised the ME Lab to test the meter in his absence. The Permanent Lok Adalat (PUS), therefore, set aside the bill and imposed litigation costs of Rs 5,000 on Powercom. Powercom was, however, allowed to assess the consumption charges afresh in view of their regulations.
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Rs 25 cr to be spent on historical monuments, says minister
Mohali, October 16 The minister, who had come to attend a function organised by the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Board in connection with the 344th birth anniversary of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, told mediapersons that the foundation stone of the memorial would be laid on October 19 by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. He said the memorial would include galleries giving glimpses of the contribution of Punjabis to the freedom movement, an open-air theatre and a library. Thandal said Rs 25 crore would be spent on the maintenance of historical monuments in the state. He said projects worth Rs 1,000 crore had been started in the state to encourage tourism. This would also help in creating job opportunities. While addressing the gathering, Thandal said Baba Banda Singh Bahadur would be remembered forever as he fought against the oppression and atrocities of the Mughals and laid the foundation of the country’s independence. The minister also inaugurated an exhibition on Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’s life and fight against the Mughals. The tourism board organised painting and quiz competitions, “gatka” and traditional games on the occasion.
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Mohali, October 16 The CGC president, Rashpal Singh, said the objective of the fest was to apprise the youths of the crime against women and provide a platform to showcase their accomplishments in the field of technology and fine arts. The chief guest, Surjit Singh Rakhra, the Higher Education Cabinet Minister, motivated the students on the occasion. — TNS
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Children vow not to use crackers
Chandigarh, October 16 The volunteers put across the message to celebrate green and safe Diwali through banners and placards, which highlighted how chemicals like cadmium, copper, lead, nitrate, magnesium, sodium and zinc used in the manufacturing of crackers cause harm. The students motivated the people to keep their surroundings smoke-free. The SCSO brigade created awareness among the citizens of Chandigarh about the toxic substances used in firecrackers and the harmful impact on the health of all living beings. A signature campaign was also initiated by the children where they pledged not to burst crackers this Diwali. The tremendous response helped the children to reach out to more and more people from all walks of life. They were wholeheartedly encouraged in their efforts by visitors to the Sector 17 Plaza. All members of the Saupin’s Community Service Organisation along with the Saupin’s brigade endeavoured to sensitise people to celebrate environmentally safe Diwali and encourage them to celebrate “green Diwali”. Pamphlets were also distributed among people at Sector 17 stressing on major environmental impacts that Diwali festival has on the environment.
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Google picks CU’s Garima as student ambassador
Mohali, October 16 World’s leading software and internet technology giant, Google, launched the flagship Google Student Ambassador Programme with a mission to make future engineers updated about various technology advances made in the field of information technology and internet. Belonging to Ludhiana and studying at Chandigarh University, Garima got selected after passing through rigorous selection process that was held on the Infosys campus, Pune. The selection process comprised brainstorming sessions, pre-summit tasks, making video resume and finding references for her candidature. A total of 2,000 students from 168 institutions like IITs, NITs, BITS-Pilani and other universities and engineering institutions all over the country participated in the Google Ambassador Programme selection process and only 177 students were finally selected.
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Four-day CII fair kicks off today
Chandigarh, October 16 The four-day fair will host 350 exhibitors in 14 concurrent shows, including real estate, auto show, home décor, kitchenware and consumer durables. Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki will inaugurate the fair. “The fair is meant to target family shoppers with focus mainly on interesting deals and discounts, free gifts, Diwali gifts, lucky draws and 360° promotions,” said Darpan Kapoor, chairman, CII Chandigarh Council, and vice-chairman, Kapsons Group, while addressing mediapersons at the CII, Sector 31 today. October 17 will see performance by ‘Roouh The Band’ and a dance performance by a Punjabi dance troupe besides a 15-minute act by ‘Save the Girl Child’, an NGO. On October 18, there would be a special performance by Aayat, a rock band and a 15-minute act by Big Day Indian Hunger, an NGO, with ‘Don’t waste food’ as the theme. On Sunday, there would be a special performance by Street Jammers, another rock band. On October 20, there would be a special performance by Suroor band, followed by a cultural dance performance.
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Child welfare panel told to decide deserted boy’s fate
Chandigarh, October 16 Accepting an application seeking direction to keep the needy child in the Snehalaya or any appropriate place, the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Anubhav Sharma today observed that the child needed care and protection. The court ordered that the custody of the child be dealt by the Child Welfare Committee. Sonia Mattu, president of Manav Seva Kalyan Mahasangh, an NGO, and the child had moved court seeking directions to the Snehalaya to accept the latter. The application has now been forwarded to the Child Welfare Committee. Mattu had stated that she found the boy near Kiran cinema in Sector 22. The minor boy told her that his father was a habitual drunkard and had not been taking care of him. She then called the child line. Later, a DDR was lodged at the Sector 22 police post. Afterwards, they went to the Snehalaya in Maloya to get the child admitted but officials there called the child’s father. The minor boy told them that his father beat him mercilessly and he does not want to go to him. The child’s father then came to the Snehalaya, took him away and left him on the roadside after beating him mercilessly. Later, the NGO moved court.
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Tight security at strongrooms for EVMs
Panchkula, October 16 The district administration has beefed up the security arrangements in and around the strongrooms housing the 380 EVMs. Additional companies of paramedical forces have also been deployed to provide a foolproof security arrangement. SS Phulia, District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner, said a three-tier security arrangement had been made to guard the EVMs. Jawans of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the IRB and the Haryana police had been deployed at the spot, he said. Returning officer (RO), Kalka, Capt Shakti Singh, held a meeting of micro observers and other officers engaged in the counting process of votes today. He also demonstrated the counting process to the gathering. The RO asked them to abide by the guidelines of the Election Commission during the counting. The returning officer also told officials not to carry mobile phones inside the counting rooms. To complete the counting process smoothly, the RO claimed to have deployed 120 (60 for the Kalka and 60 for the Panchkula assembly constituencies) counting officers in addition to 20 micro-observers and 20 counting supervisors.
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High drama at Pizza Hut outlet
Chandigarh, October 16 “An officer received a verbal complaint. We sent our team to check the situation. The person could not be identified till our team reached,” said designated officer Dr KS Rana. The person later turned out to be a sanitary inspector and had sneaked out after seizing water samples from the outlet. “We received information on the matter but no written complaint has reached us as of now. We will take appropriate action,” said UT Director Health Services, Dr VK Gagneja. — TNS
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Office-bearers elected
Mohali, October 16 President of the group Parminder Singh Khangoora fetched 688 votes while his nearest rival Gurdip Singh Dhillon got 508 votes. Khangoora group’s Randhir Singh Guddu won the post of senior vice-president with 654 votes. The other posts, which came to the group, included vice-president (Satnam Singh Satta 672 votes), general secretary (Sukhchain Singh 690 votes), secretary (Bhajan Singh 665 votes), joint secretary (Kamikar Singh 680 votes), finance secretary (Jarnail Singh 666 votes) and press secretary (Lakhwinder Singh 670 votes). Out of the total 1,722 votes, as many as 1,521 votes were polled in today’s election.
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Russian devotees take part in ‘sankirtan’
Panchkula, October 16 A special nagar sankirtan was organised where Russian devotees and about 400 others chanted and danced on the ‘Hare Krishna mahamantra’. Yesterday, a special ‘deepdan’ programme was held where devotees offered diyas to Lord Krishna. It is a special month known as ‘Damodar Mass’ where Lord Damodar (the child form of Krishna) is worshipped and offeredspecial prayers. ISKCON Panchkula centre convener Vidyapuran Das, said, “These devotees have travelled all the way from a nation where the Bhagwad Gita was banned and devotees strived hard to bring Krishna consciousness alive and became successful.” It is a lesson to learn from all of them, they were actually enjoying the real life, he said. “The only thought coming to my mind is If they can, why can’t we ?” he said. — TNS
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Education Dept wakes up from slumber
Chandigarh, October 16 Though the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) had sanctioned 1,130 posts of educationist for the UT in March before the academic session commenced, the department had been sitting on the file for nearly 204 days. Officials from the Education Department said all approvals had been given and all formalities had been made. The department would issue the advertisement next week. The authorities said the posts were sanctioned to improve the student-teacher ratio. As per the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, the ratio should be 30:1 at the primary level, while at the secondary level, there should be a maximum of 35 students per teacher. Sources said the department, in order to bring in transparency this time, would conduct a simpler process for recruitment. Besides having the basic qualification and passing the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET), the candidate will only have to appear for two written papers - general awareness and the respective subject. Both papers would have 100 questions. The officials said: “This time, answersheets will be in the optical mark recognition (OMR) form so that there is no scope of favouritism and each candidate gets an equal opportunity.” One of the government school principals, on the condition of anonymity, said: “The first half of the academic session is already over. But the department has not even issued any advertisement to fill the posts. It’s a lengthy process. Even after issuing advertisements, it will take another month to fill the posts.” The MHRD had sanctioned 1,108 posts of teacher, which include 683 posts of master, 342 of junior basic teacher (JBT) and 83 nursery teacher training (NTT) posts. The ministry also sanctioned 22 administrative posts, including one of director (school education), deputy director (school education), deputy director (administration), deputy controller (F&A), assistant controller (F&A), section officer and eight posts of senior assistant and clerk. Meanwhile Education Secretary Sarvjit Singh said: “The recruitment process has been designed in a transparent way with no discrepancy to anyone.” Recruitment to posts Posts No. of vacancies Master 683 Junior basic teacher 342 Nursery teacher training 83 Director 1 (school education) Deputy director 1 (school education) Deputy director 1 (administration) Deputy controller(F&A) 1 Assistant controller(F&A) 1 Section officer 1 Senior assistant 8 Clerk 8
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Italian students call on UT Administrator
Chandigarh, October 16 The students are in the city as part of the cultural and educational exchange programme that is being conducted by Strawberry Fields High School, Sector 26, here, and Collegio San Carlo. During his interaction, the administrator put the young ambassadors at ease and regaled them with his knowledge of the diplomatic world and how it impacts young lives. The Governor spoke of the similarities between the two nations and their historical backgrounds. He was of the view that the youth had a vital role to play in ensuring global unity and universality of purpose. Eleonora, Eugenia, Ginevra, Camilla, young girls, and Pietro, Federico, Carlo, Allesandro, Leonardo and Giorgio, young gentlemen, came away feeling elated and even more assured that the programme would serve as a window into the brave new world that they would jointly create with their Indian counterparts.
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Panjab varsity revises migration fee
Chandigarh, October 16 The cost of migration certificates’ form is now Rs 70, inter-university migration fee and duplicate migration fee is Rs 440, thus downloaded migration form fee would be Rs 510 in total. Fee for cancellation of migration will be Rs 480.
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‘Bizee Bee Jamboree’ launched at Sacred Heart School
Chandigarh, October 16 The opening ceremony began with a video showing the importance of ideation and innovation. It talked about the inspiring lives of many billionaires, some of who were homeless till 2-3 years ago. On the occasion, principal Sr Nisha congratulated 165 members and the teacher-in-charge, Harmeena, on successfully completing three glorious years of the venture. She motivated them to keep up the good work as they entered the fourth year. The sale spanning three days commenced today with the setting up of eight stalls. This time, round Bizee Bee has come up with customised products that include stylish bags with interesting epithets, refreshing mock tails, tempting ice-creams in various flavours, delicious doughnuts, creamy cupcakes, and sumptuous chocolates. The ‘paparazzi’ stall was the highlight of the event.
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Over 170 attend seminar at PU library
Chandigarh, October 16 Miles Stauffer, technical head from Proquest, Japan, gave a presentation on summons discovery tool. There was a presentation on e-journals and e-books by the team of Proquest. Dr Meenu Singh, Prof of Paediatrics, PGI, Chandigarh, delivered a talk on evidence-based medicine - role of librarians. — TNS
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Chandigarh, October 16 They deliberated on topics concerning health, nutrition, prevention of cruelty against animals, organ donation, AIDS, blood donation, legal right of women and yoga. The volunteers also visited Badheri village. Women residents in the village were guided on various vocations they could adopt. Principal Dr Puneet Bedi commended the enthusiasm. — TNS
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Research needs to be practised like religion: AICTE Chairman
Chandigarh, October 16 He was speaking at the National Discussion Meet on Research, Innovation and Work-Plan, which began at Panjab University on Thursday. Dr Mantha inaugurated the meet by delivering the inaugural address. A number of vice-chancellors and deans from various leading universities and research institutes of the country and heads of some regulatory bodies are participating in the discussion meet. PU Vice-Chancellor Prof Arun Kumar Grover, DUI Prof AK Bhandari, Dean Research Prof Lalit K Bansal, Prof Pratibha Nagpal, Dr Swarnjit Kaur and a number of PU fellows, teachers, researchers and students also participated in the day-long deliberations. Prof Grover welcomed the guest speakers and outlined the vision behind inception of the University Grants Commission and germination of research in the Indian universities.
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Students turn stage into mystical fairyland
Chandigarh, October 16 The play revolved around Brenda. The character was ably enacted by Esha Uppal, who is the nicest witch in the fairytale land. The witches discover that the Prince had been put under a sleeping spell and they are blamed for it. So, Brenda embarks on a journey to save all witches’ reputation by saving the Prince. En route, she meets some familiar but misunderstood characters, namely a friendly wolf played by Aarav Bhardwaj, Cindy played by Sehaj Tiwana and Pinnochio played by Aaditya who help her in her mission. Fairy god mother, played by Akansha Malge, and Hilda, the queen witch, enacted by Seerat Kaur, enthralled the audience with their performance. The humour brought in by Thirsty Crow, enacted by Gurmehar, was applauded by all. The lyrics and music, composed and orchestrated by Kwi Suk Kang, Seyiekhrienyu Usou, Komal Anand and Manvinder Singh, brought the show alive. The dances were choreographed by dance teacher Renu Pant. The stage was turned into a mystical fairyland by the sets crafted by Neelu Sandhu, Nanak Kaur and Preetinder Khurana.
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