The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

PGI’s new CVO means business
Chitleen K. Sethi
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 31
Although Vigilance Awareness Week took off to a mild start at the PGI here today, the Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO), PGI, Mrs Meeta Rajivlochan, who is also the PGI’s Deputy Director and the Estate Officer and relatively new to the organisation (she joined in March, 2001), seems to be a person who means business when it comes to the much-needed improvement in PGI. Here are excerpts from an interview with her:

Q: What is the objective of Vigilance Week?

A: Basically, it is to sensitise the staff of an organisation of the need to be vigilant in performing their duties as per rules and without fear or favour to anyone.

Q: What do you have to say about launching cases against corrupt officials? Ever since you joined the PGI, there have been many cases reported in newspapers of PGI employees getting caught in the vigilance net.

A: You will be surprised. Only two vigilance enquiries have been initiated since I joined the PGI. All that I did after joining was to complete a few which were already being investigated and were close to completion. For such a large organisation like the PGI this is really small and it indicates that at the base the systems of this institute are strong and employees quite committed to performing their duties in a fair manner.

Q: That seems to be an interesting point of view. Can you elaborate.

A: Vigilance merely means “being alert” to one’s duties. The task of vigilance is definitely not punitive. All that we do is create systems that ensure that the chances of corruption are reduced. Take for example, the matter of notices informing patients at the Cardiology Department about the prices of various items that they might require for a procedure at this department. Earlier in the absence of relevant information, patients were often being cheated by unscrupulous suppliers. Now a patient is better informed and the chances of his being duped are much less.

Q: Does the Vigilance Department try to prevent corruption?

A: Yes, our task is primarily preventive and curative. I do not see myself in a punitive role. Like recently we suggested the use of basic bureaucratic procedures like maintaining attendance registers, movement registers, drawing up a monthly acquaintance roll for salary purposes, prescribing time limits for the disposal of various administrative tasks and creating regular pendency lists etc. Something as simple as this increases the efficiency of offices and reduces the possibility of wrong being committed. Why allow an opportunity for even small-time corruption?

Q: But would not the subordinate employees simply fudge all these registers? Proxy, you know. Wrong entries. It happens all the time with attendance registers.

A: I know enforcing these systems is new to the PGI and that there is resistance. Many employees might be fudging attendance registers. As to that we have supervisory officers at various levels to ensure that such fudging does not happen. They should remember that serious penalties can accrue to an officer, Class B or A, if it is detected that their subordinates are not following basic office procedures or are fudging records. That is the beauty of maintaining records, even the so-called fudged ones. The wrong-doer can be caught any time after the wrong has been committed.

City tops in blood donation in country
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 31
The city has topped in blood donation in the country.

According to a TV media report, the city’s blood banks cater to 55 per cent of the total number of patients in the city who require blood. In 45 per cent of the cases, the patient’s family has to arrange the blood.

At the national level, almost in 50 per cent of cases, the needy end up buying blood either from professional donors or others. In the city, it is as low as 1 per cent.

Every 16th person in the city is a blood donor and 10 to 12 persons have donated blood more than a 100 times.

Blood donation camps are a biannual affair in the city’s colleges and the university. The Lions and Rotary clubs, State Bank of India, associations and committees are among the major organisers of blood donation camps.

The largest donor in the city is the Nirankari Mandal, with an annual donation of 10,000 units each year.

180 men await change of guards
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 31
In a late night drama at the PGI, as many as 180 security men of a private security agency, guarding the PGI premises for the past one year, stood waiting for the annual change of guards here today.

The awardee of this year’s contract Mr J.P Singh, who was to arrive at midnight to take over from Mr Kamaljit Singh and his team had not even collected the contract award from the PGI’s administrative office.

SPORTS

New Public School cagers triumph
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, October 31
New Public School, Sector 18, outplayed SD Public School, Sector 32 at 65-46 in the girls under-19 section on the penultimate day of the fourth Rao Jai Singh Memorial Basketball Tournament-2001. The score was 39-24 in favour of NPS at half time. The scorers for winners were, Navdeep (16 pts), Munish (15 pts), Akshay15 pts; losers — Sunil (17 pts), Ravinder (12), Rajdeep (8 pts).

In the boys matches played today, DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, defeated St Xavier’s Senior Secondary School, Sector 44 at 75-63 and the main scorers were, winners- Balraj (29 pts), Vishal (16 pts) and Rajinder Pal (13 pts); losers — Harshit (16 pts), Harinder (14 pts) and Ravi Taj (11 pts).

In another boys tie, Guru Harkishan Model school defeated Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 33 at 46-42 with half time score of 24-19. The scorers were, Thakur Singh (15 pts), Sandeep (12 pts), Aman and Sunny (10 pts) each; losers —Nitin (12 pts), Sunil (14 pts) and Hardip (10 pts).

Cricket tourney

The Minor District team were 83 runs for the loss of two wickets in 22 overs in reply to Ludhiana’s total of 272 runs all out in 72.2 overs in the Punjab Inter-district under-16 cricket tournament for ML Markan Trophy played at SAS Nagar.

Scores: Ludhiana: 272 runs all out in 72.2 overs (Tavish Gupta 115, Ashish 58, Chintan 34, Gauravjit 6 for 94, Deepak Gatta 3 for 96). Minor Distt: 83 runs for two in 22 overs (Mandeep 42 n.o., Ajay 25 n.o.). Yogesh 2 for 20.

Selection trials

The Chandigarh Tug-of- War Association will hold the selection trials for both men and women section tomorrow at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 23, at 4 pm. In a press note issued today it said the selected men’s and women’s team would take part in the forthcoming National Games in this event to be held at Ludhiana from November 19. Players may report to Mr Raj Pal Singh, joint secretary for the trials.

ADMINISTRATION

MC clears projects worth Rs 1.17 cr
Our Correspondent

SAS Nagar, October 31
Development works estimated to cost Rs 1.17 crore were cleared for execution at a meeting of the local Municipal Council held here today.

A few councillors raised objections to the expenditure of around Rs 40 lakh on paint work, including the painting of kerb channels, making of the central and stop lines on roads, marking of zebra crossings, etc, in various phases.

They said the amount should instead be spent on improving sanitation in the town.

However, the council president, Mr Kulwant Singh, said the paint work was being done in pursuance of the Punjab and Haryana High Court order.

He said it would be ensured that there was no compromise on the quality of the ongoing work in the town.

The meeting cleared a proposal to raise the ‘khokha’ transfer fee four times to Rs 20,000.

Mr Manjit Singh Sethi, councillor, said the council had no powers under the law to transfer ‘khokhas’. Mr Sham Bansal, another councillor, said the fee hike was too high.

Another item on the agenda which attracted arguments was the hike in the temporary tehbazari fee from Rs 2.50 per sq ft per day to Rs 15.

This will mainly affect those putting up temporary stalls as during the festival season. However, when certain councillors objected to the steep hike, the fee was fixed at Rs 5. Councillors also said the civic body had failed to collect the earlier tehbazari fee of Rs 2.50 over the years leading to revenue losses.

Three committees of two councillors each were set up today to ensure that this fee was realised properly.

Mr Kulwant Singh said sites would be earmarked for shopkeepers and others for setting up temporary stalls after the receipt of applications.

The meeting also approved funds for putting up a glow signboard at Bougainvillaea Garden in Phase IV which has been named after Shaheed Squadron Leader Anil Sharma.

Councillors said the town was now littered with hedges and other plants which had been uprooted by residents following the ongoing anti-encroachment drive by PUDA.

The council president said the sanitation contractors had been directed to clean up the localities in question even if they had to employ more labourers.

The meeting also cleared a proposal to provide fire hydrants at appropriate places in the town.

The council decided to recommend the name of Mrs Raman Deep, a daughter of a councillor, Mr S.S. Barnala, for a state bravery award for resisting a robbery attempt at her home in Rajpura. She was seriously injured while grappling with the robbers.

Ban on sale of crackers
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, October 31
The District Magistrate, Ms Jyoti Arora, has banned the sale and storage of crackers at public places and thickly populated places.

The ban has been enforced under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cr P.C.) and any violation will invite action under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code. It is a cognizable offence. This order shall come into force on November 1, 2001 and will be effective for 21 days.

The orders have been issued following the directions of the Supreme Court regarding the control of noise pollution arising out of the bursting of fire crackers during festivals, The DM has also earmarked places in the district, including the subdivisions where the crackers can be sold.

Ms Arora has also said that no dealer will be allowed to sell crackers without getting a proper licence from the administration. Also, the kinds of crackers he can sell will be specified in this licence. She warned that strict action will be taken in case of any violation by dealers.

National Rededication Day observed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 31
The Chandigarh Administration today observed the National Rededication Day by administering pledge to its employees at UT Secretariat. The Home Secretary, Mr R.S. Gujral, administered the pledge.

On the occasion of National Rededication Day, it was pledged to constructively work for maintaining the freedom and unity of the nation. It was pledged to resolve all matters relating to caste, creed, region, religion or language through constitutional means without resorting to violence.

Similarly on the occasion of Vigilance Awareness Week, Mr Gujral took the pledge from the employees to strive continuously to bring about integrity and transparency in all spheres of their activities. The employees pledged to work unstintingly for the eradication of corruption in all spheres of life and remain vigilant and work towards the growth and reputation of organisation. They took oath to bring pride to organisations and provide value-based service to countrymen by their collective efforts. It was also pledged to do duty conscientiously and act without fear or favour.

Vigilance Awareness Week will be observed till November 6 in order to increase awareness about the dangers of corruption and the methods of fighting it.