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The meal which never came
Chandigarh, August 17 They were being provided their mid-day meal by the school authorities, as per arrangements made by the UT Administration. But GMSSS-45 principal Sham Lal has justification for his act. “What can we do? We get the food for 1,100 children, which we distribute among 1300 + children. Now the administration has reduced our own meal quota to 900 children, so how can we take the additional load of these outside children?” The mid-day meal scheme was specifically introduced in government schools to allure students belonging to underprivileged strata and hard to reach groups - like children of daily wagers, rag pickers, street children etc. Education Department officials said since there was unprecedented increase in population of EWS section on account of high immigration rate of poor and illiterate labourers, attainment of Universal Elementary Education was a formidable task. “Construction of unauthorised colonies and slums and their frequent shifting in addition to the closure of schools in the residential areas result in more burden on schools. This has led to the poor health, sanitation and inadequate nutrition among these poor children,” said the officials. The Colony No 5 School, being run in a Health Centre, was put under the control of GMSSS-45 but the school
Principal Sham Lal said, “Why don’t they come to our school to study under the AIEC (Alternate Innovation Education Centre) programme. I will accommodate all children studying there without charging a single penny or any fund from them. Once they get admission here, then it would be our responsibility to take care of their needs.” Members of the Village Education Committee said this school was being provided mid-day meal quota after the intervention of the DPI (S) but now this had been suddenly discontinued. At present the administration is providing cooked meals to approximately 39,113 students of 88 government schools and one mardarsa, while 8,220 students of 15 government and six aided schools were being given sweet and salted mathis. The Chandigarh administration has recently extended the mid-day meals in the form of cooked meals to 21 more schools of the city from April onwards. “But the children of Colony No 5 school are perhaps not fortunate enough to enjoy this facility,” rued the VEC members.
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Allotted houses already occupied
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 17 The UT has decided to demolish the existing buildings to make place for new accommodation. Interestingly, 110 houses are being demolished to make place for 24 palatial houses for senior officers. Bholi Devi, an employee of Government Hospital, Sector 16, said a family was already residing at H No 2090 in Sector 24, which she had been allotted by the administration, said sources. Ram Kumar Yadav has been allotted H No 2117 A, which, too, is occupied. The occupant said he had been staying there from the past two years. The residence allotted to Kashi Ram (2150A) is stacked with official papers. Bharat Singh also found someone residing in H No 2151 A, which has been allotted to him. A resident said, “The administration’s move to shift us from our residences where we have been staying for more than a decade, stinks of using its authority just to please higher-ups. We were served a 21-day notice to shift.” Meanwhile, the administration, in press release, today said the waiting period for the allotment of government accommodation in the city for Group D employees of Chandigarh, Haryana and Punjab would be reduced from 14 years to five years. It said an impressive plan had been chalked out to convert all single-storey houses in a phased manner into multi-storeyed houses to accommodate more government servants. A spokesman of the administration said that 13-type houses of Sector 10 have become unsafe for the inhabitants and the government cannot allow anybody to live in the unsafe conditions. The administration has constructed a large number of government houses particularly for class-IV employees. Transfer of ownership of any government house to any licensee is not feasible as it is against the interest of other employees. The administration is duty-bound to provide houses to all government servants. There are 4,393 houses of 13-type and 1,380 houses of type-I constructed in different sectors. The applications for allotment of 13-type or type-I were invited from the eligible employees of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh Administration and Punjab and Haryana High Court.
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Man tries to set in-laws’ house on fire
Chandigarh, August 17 According to his wife Deepti, who has been residing at her parents’ house, her husband Vipin Kumar threw a bottle filled with kerosene after lighting it at their house this afternoon. This resulted in the smouldering of front windowpanes and two doors of the house. “After throwing the ‘bottle bomb’, he ran away in his car,” alleged Deepti, who has filed dowry and divorce cases against her husband in June. Today was the court date, but he did not turn up, citing the reason that he was not well, but attacked the house in the afternoon, alleged the wife. In a complaint to the police, Deepti alleged: “We have been forced to live under constant fear, as he has been repeatedly attacking me and my family. Despite several complaints to the police, he has been attacking and threatening us.” “The first attack he made was on May 31 this year when he entered our house with a sword and threatened to kill me. Then he was charged under Section 107/151 and bailed out on June 4. The police action could not stop him, as he again attacked with a beer bottle on June 11. Then he started threatening to murder the whole family on telephone every now and then. He had also attacked with filled soda bottles and soft drink bottles, stones and bricks five times in July. In August, he has attacked the house seven times. The police registered DDRs in this regard, but, shockingly, could not stop him from his nefarious acts,” alleged Deepti. Deepti was married to Vipin in 1998 and has two children. Gulshan Kumar, SHO, Sector 39 police station, he said, “We have deputed two police officials in front of the house during night. We have arrested Vipin, but he was bailed out. We have conducted many raids to nab him. The blame about the police inaction is totally false.”
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PUDA had allotted the plots more than 5 years ago Our Correspondent
Mohali, August 17 SAD leader Jasjit Singh, who is in charge of the Kharar constituency, said at a press conference that cooperation minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh had made all efforts to get the long pending matter resolved. The file was put up before the CM, who gave his approval in the regard. He said the possession of plots to the rightful owners would be given after departmental formalities were completed. He hoped that possession would be given in about a month’s time. When asked about the status of the 102 acres falling in these sectors on which the Punjab and Haryana High Court had granted a stay, Jasjit Singh said the cooperation minister was holding a meeting with the officials of the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) and the farmers owning the land and efforts would be made to reach a settlement. As many as 3,931 letters of intent were issued to the applicants for allotment of plots in Sectors 76-80 - more than five years ago by the PUDA. But the possession for these plots could not be given because of an ongoing court case. It is reported that the court had given a stay only in the case of 102 acres and the rest of the area was technically feasible.
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Housefed demands individual water connections
Chandigarh, August 17
The Chandigarh State Federation of Cooperative House Building Societies Limited (Chandigarh Housefed), apex body of 106 cooperative housing societies, has shot off a communication to the MCC commissioner pleading for the individual water connections to the members. In fact, the civic body seems to be having two sets of rules for the societies allotted land under the Cooperative Housing Societies Scheme 1991. While the societies allotted land under the scheme in 1994 were sanctioned individual water connection, the same facility was not extended to the societies allotted land in the second phase of the scheme in 1998. The sanctioning of single connection to the societies has led to a plethora of problems for the harassed members. These societies do not have any legal authority to disconnect the water connections of the defaulters. Since, there were three categories of flats (two, three and four bedrooms) the working out of the water tariffs inevitably led to problems, members alleged. “When the flat-wise electricity meters can be provided by the administration, why not the water connections,” Chandigarh Housefed chairman, Jai Dev Sharma, questioned? If the flats constructed by the Chandigarh Housing Board can be provided individual water meters why not the occupants of the cooperative housing societies, he reasoned. However, MCC superintending engineer (public health) SR Aggarwal, claimed today the civic body was following the pattern of the neighbouring states in the release of single-water connection to the societies as the “society was a single unit”.
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Date of fresh election not out
Mohali, August 17 It has been learnt that deputy commissioner H.I.S. Garewal has asked SDM Raghbir Kaur Khaira through a letter to get the elections conducted. The letter had, however, not reached the SDM office till the filing of the report. Rishiv Jain and Harmanpreet Singh were elected senior vice-president and vice-president, respectively, of the civic body on August 17 last year. According to municipal rules, the term of the senior vice-president and the vice-president of civic bodies automatically expires after one year even if fresh elections have not been held. The ruling group, headed by Rajinder Singh Rana, had asked the authorities concerned to appoint an impartial officer as convener for fresh elections. Suresh Kumar Lucky and Gurmeet Singh Walia, both belonging to the ruling group, have reportedly shown interest in the post of the senior vice-president of the council.
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NCP demands Vidhan Sabha for city
Chandigarh, August 17 The demand was raised at a function in connection with the Independence Day function organised yesterday. It was decided to form a committee to wage a campaign for the formation of the Vidhan Sabha in the city and gear up the party cadre for the 2009 Lok Sabha poll, according to a press note. — TNS
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Second edition of ‘Jugnu’ released
Chandigarh, August 17 Supported by NGO, Yuvsatta, the newspaper contains stories of social interest like the problem of open sale of sniffing fluids and other addictives, report of an adult literacy programme in the slum area in which children teach the adults of the slum settlement as well as the children’s impression of visiting dignitaries like Jean Rodrigues boosting developmental activities there. Speaking on the occasion coordinator, Yuvsatta, Parmod Sharma said ‘Jugnu’ represents children working together for a better future and symbolises the link of all the children for creating a stronger voice. The children requested Atray to help in extending Chandigarh’s smoke-free status to Bapu Dham Colony also, where people still smoke openly and nobody has been fined till date and nor has there been a ban on the sale of tobacco products to minors. Appreciating the children’s efforts in their journalistic endeavour, Atray spoke of the need to work hard and carry forward this spirit of community participation and grassroots democracy further, promising these young ones that he would extend all help in making their dreams come true. Also present on the occasion was Dr Satinder Dhillon, senator, Panjab University and advisor to Jugnu and also coming forward to help these social activists was social activist Madan Lal Gupta who has agreed to sponsor next 12 monthly issues of Jugnu.
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Women backbone of development: VC
Chandigarh, August 17 Presiding on the occasion, vice-chancellor emphasised that any movement is incomplete without women, as they not only formed the backbone of the freedom struggle and development; they have been in the forefront of national development following Independence. He stressed upon the role played by women not only for empowerment, but also to fortify society. Speaking on the role played by women in the history of the freedom struggle in our country, Professor Kamlesh Mohan, retired professor of History stated that Gandhiji himself learnt many things from women. In particular, his idea of Satyagraha was learnt from Kasturba who also emphasised upon the mass participation of women in various movements. Adding further to the whole topic, Professor Swarnjit Mehta, retired professor of Geography, highlighted the ongoing agenda of women. Focusing on the concept of women’s empowerment, she reiterated that education alone cannot lead to empowerment. Women need to be economically independent too.
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In Mohali, the rot has set in
Mohali, August 17 There has been virtually no clearing of the kerb channels in the township and even short spells of rain leaves the roads inundated. Congress grass abounds in most vacant areas and tiling of footpaths has come off at many places and needs replacement. The civic body has also failed to tackle the problem of stray dogs and it is often the children on bicycles who fall victims to the stray beasts. The township also presents an ugly sight in the form of stray cattle, which often finds the middle of the road an idle place to chew the cud. Garbage and trash is found strewn all over the town and the enclosures constructed by the council to store garbage are often left full with no one clearing them for days. These, in turn, become feeding places for the stray cattle. However, for MC chief Rajinder Singh Rana all is well with the town and the council is doing the best that it could. He adds that if any problem comes to his notice, it would be taken care of immediately.
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MC chief asked to be present for personal hearing
Our Correspondent
Mohali, August 17 The letter that is addressed to the council chief was received today. It has been learnt that the letter states that if Rana fails to present himself for a hearing on the specified date, the authorities concerned would take action against him on the basis of the office records. The civic body’s executive officer J.S. Thind, who has also been sent a copy of the letter, has also been asked to be present on August 22 along with the office record. Rana was issued a show-cause notice by the principal secretary on charges of misusing his powers in June. In the notice, it was stated that the president should tell why action should not be taken against him on charges of power misuse. He was asked to file a reply within 21 days. Rana had transferred civic body’s three employees even when he had no powers to do so. Two clerks - Suresh Kumar and Ashok Kumar -and a peon were transferred. Moreover, the president kept postponing the opening of tenders for sanitation work, something he was not authorized to do so.
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Oustees for houses at 1966 price schedule
Chandigarh, August 17 In a representation to the UPA government and UT Administrator, the association has lamented that neither Punjab nor Chandigarh Administration are ready to rehabilitate the families of the oustees. On the other hand, the slum dwellers are being provided free housing.
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Maharishi recalls Gandhi for stage
Chandigarh, August 17 Mohan Maharishi’s play “Dear Bapu” does not end until it has stirred the soul and filled it with deep gratitude and love for the country. It’s a rare show that celebrates nationalism and defines it afresh for these times when dreams of freedom seem squandered and lost. In many ways then, it’s a wake up call. And giving the call are Gandhi and Nehru, the great leaders of our times, whose political philosophy Maharishi recalls with amazing perfection. At the heart of the play that runs for two hours are unedited letters exchanged between Gandhi and Nehru, at the height of India’s freedom struggle. The letters, secured by Kamla Choudhary, the late trustee of Vikram Sarabhai Foundation, pulsate with the mood the times - times which often saw Gandhi and Nehru stand parallel to one another, no meeting ground in sight. Portraying the roles of Gandhi and Nehru are Bhaskar Ghose and Sunit Tandon, who rivet the audience with their theatrical enterprise. Sabina Mehta plays the narrator of events, as Ghose and Tandon surpass their own skills as actors. They could easily talk with their bodies and that’s what they do. With nothing expect words as tools, they enter the soul of characters and nurse them to life for the space of performance. The content is equally fascinating. It draws from the best exchanges between the leaders, highlighting their deep disagreement on the resolution of independence the Congress passed under Nehru. The extent of differences between the two comes out loud and clear, with Gandhi chiding Nehru in one of his letters where he writes: “You seem to be overlooking the importance of discipline in all your ventures. The resolution is hastily conceived, thoughtlessly passed.” Nehru replies with a letter that smacks of anger: “How very different are my ideals from yours…” And yet, they walk hand-in-hand to see the country through those tumultuous times. As the letters are read, baring thoughts behind the Civil Disobedience, the Salt March and the Quit India Movement, Gandhi and Nehru stand revisited. Fresh perspective makes them more endearing than ever before. In the process are revealed the deepest political rifts of the times, including those with Jinnah. The beauty of the play presented today at Tagore Theatre lies in its ability to bring alive the emotion and humour behind the bond Gandhi and Nehru shared. Both were incurably charming in their ways; both committed to freedom. Gandhi was witty enough to have once told B.R. Ambedkar: “I may be despicable but when truth speaks through me, I am invincible.” Nehru, for his part, provides powerful accompaniment to Gandhi in the play brought to Chandigarh by the Durga Das Foundation, The Tribune, HDFC and Chandigarh Tourism.
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Transformers damaged in fire
Mohali, August 17 The fire brigade received a call around 4 pm and a fire engine was pressed into service immediately. A factory engaged in the making and repair of transformers had stocked the material for dispatch. As many as six transformers were damaged. The cause of fire, however, could not be ascertained.
— OC
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Punjabi Tribune journalist cremated
Chandigarh, August 17
Prominent among those who attended the cremation included Punjab Cooperation Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Lok Bhalai Party chief Balwant Singh Ramoowalia and media adviser to the Punjab Chief Minister Harcharan Bains. His son Sanjampreet Singh lighted the funeral pyre. The Tribune senior associate editor A.J. Philip led scores of The Tribune group of publications employees in paying tributes to the departed soul. Punjab Tribune editor G.S. Sidhu Damdami, Dainik Tribune editor Naresh Kaushal and additional general manager O.P. Arora were prominent among those, who attended the funeral.
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Letters
For some undefined benefit the U.T Govt. is ready to remove 45 lakh cubic meters of silt from Sukhna Lake at a cost of Rs 50 crore. Before doing so, it should think over the under mentioned eye opening demonstration which the nature has been kind enough to hold to convince us that the present silt is no obstruction to lake's functioning.
Since September 2005, the lake water has not been replenished due to monsoon failure in year 2006. Despite such a long dry spell, even today there is enough depth of water in this silted lake, to enable it to perform its primary function of keeping its boats afloat. Credit for this goes to the silt on the bed, which can even be proved mathematically. This demonstration reveals two important facts. First, the lake has a healthy structure. Second, its water supply is not guaranteed. Thus, its real problem is shortage of water and no excess silt. The proposed remedy of removing silt is not only too costly for a developing country like ours but is also not going to generate any water to overcome its shortage. Govt. should freeze the present quantity and configuration of silt for all times to come as it has successfully survived a long water famine. Not to do so will be an engineering blunder. The needful can be done in just two months time by canceling the scheme costing Rs 50 crore and providing a silt excluder costing less than Rs 1 crore for preventing the entry of any unwanted silt in the lake. S.P. Malhotra
Readers are invited to write to us. Send your mail, in not more than 200 words, at news@tribuneindia.com or, write in, at: Letters, Chandigarh Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh – 160 030
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Bid to rape 9-yr-old
Chandigarh, August 17 Deepak went to his neighbour’s house this afternoon where the two girls, aged nine and six, were alone as their parents were out for work. Deepak allured the older one to go with him to his house where he tried to rape her. Meanwhile, the younger sister told her maternal uncle about the incident, who also lives nearby. Suspecting something wrong, the uncle took along some people with him and broke open the door of Deepak’s room. Finding so many people outside his house, Deepak cut his wrist with a blade in an attempt to kill himself. The angry crowd gave Deepak a sound thrashing before handing over him to the police. — TNS
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Police told to submit all documents
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 17 Making strong observations against the police, the Bench said that if the UT police was claiming a fair and just probe, why had the accused SI Narinder Singh not be taken into police custody yet? The Bench observed that despite the fact that a case under Section 304 IPC had been registered against the accused sub-inspector, it was surprising to find that he was roaming free. Incidentally, UT SSP Dinesh Bhatt had recently placed an affidavit before the high court stating that he would ensure a fair investigation and no one associated with the matter would be spared. Anil Kumar’s mother Phulwati had moved the high court seeking registration of a case against SI Narinder Singh and futher that the investigation into the case be transferred to the CBI or any other independent agency. Phulwati’s counsel, Sanjeeva Gupta, had blasted varying police theories regarding Anil’s death and asserted that it was out and out a case of custodial death due to torture.The next hearing of the case is on Tuesday.
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RBI to introduce new coins
Chandigarh, August 17 Sources said the decision seems to have been taken in the wake of alleged melting of the coins in circulation for precious metals. After melting, the prevalent coins reportedly fetched more than its currency value. An RBI official claimed that there was no shortage of coins at present. — TNS
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