& V I C I N I T Y
Friday, February 12, 1999
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C H A N D I G A R H & V I C I N I T Y |
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Friday, February 12, 1999 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Panchkula road plan
approved
Corporation
draws flak |
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 PUTA submits memo on revised pay scales CHANDIGARH, Feb 11 — The Panjab University Teachers Association today presented a memorandum to the Punjab Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, requesting implementation of the revised pay scales for university teachers. Breast
cancer 'major killer' |
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Students
demand free bus travel Quality
of telecom services ‘poor’ |
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Panchkula
road plan approved CHANDIGARH, Feb 11 — The Union Ministry of Surface Transport has given the approval for construction of grade separator from Transport Chowk to Manimajra Chowk. Besides, the Ministry of Environment and Forests has accepted in principle the proposal of the Administration for providing alternative routes to Panchkula going from the Police Lines across the Sukhna choe and opening near Dhillon cinema subject to certain conditions. The Administrator, Lieut-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber (retd), informed this at a meeting held to review the progress of ongoing development projects of Chandigarh at Punjab Raj Bhavan today. The Adviser to the Administrator, Mr Jagdish Sagar, said the work on the construction of the Beant Singh memorial in Sector 42 was in progress and the landscaping consultants have submitted their reports for the construction of Garden of Fragrance adjacent to the memorial. General Chhibber emphasised on improving road engineering, keeping in view increased traffic load in the city. It was informed at the meeting that the Municipal Corporation was exploring the possibility of getting private sponsorship to construct cycle track passing through sectors 11,15,24,37 and 41 to reduce the cycle traffic on main roads. The slow carriageway along Madhya Marg was being constructed as per schedule and the road from the railway crossing to UT boundary has been strengthened. Similarly four sections of roads of Highway 21 had been strengthened and a plan to strengthen Purv Marg from Tribune Chowk to Transport Chowk has been approved and the work would be completed by August 1999. Mr S.K. Gathwal, Commissioner, municipal corporation, said the work on carpeting of V-6 roads of 30 sub- sectors was completed in 1998 and additional 30 sub-sectors would be completed by March this year. The Chief Engineer, Mr R.K. Jain, said the work on the construction of the new ISBT in Sector 43 was in progress and would be completed by June this year. The Chairperson of the Chandigarh Housing Board, Mrs Meenakshi Dutta Ghosh, said that 50 acres of land had been acquired and the construction of 5000 LIG houses would commence next month. The housing board round
about was being replaced by traffic lights to control the
flow of traffic. Mr Sagar said the remaining land in
sectors 48, 49, 50, 51 and 56 was being acquired. |
State
of PGI — 1 CHANDIGARH: The PGI is sick. At 37 this "premier" institute is itself a "patient" afflicted by a host of "infections" and plagued by several "ills". Left unattended and uncared, it may enter the stage of septicemia. It is time to cure the PGI of its illness, caused not so much by the dust inside but by the dust kicked up by the powers (bureaucrats and politicians) outside; for too long has it been remote-controlled by New Delhi. Today the medical faculty, which provides a "healing touch" feels "hurt" and cries for attention; it is in pain. Like doctors at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the faculty here is also likely to take recourse to an agitation, demanding better pay scales and status. The agitation or strike at the AIIMS, is only symptomatic of their problem and pent-up feelings. The decay which had set in quite some time ago is now visible. Gradually hope has yielded to despair. Either by default or design, bureaucrats and politicians have created complications for the institute and its faculty. For want of patronage the PGI stands orphaned. Rather than attracting fresh talent and bright brains, retaining the existing faculty has become difficult. If the AIIMS has lost some top doctors, the PGI, too, is a victim of brain-drain: nearly 50 doctors have left for greener pastures in the past five years. After seven top doctors retired in 1998, the PGI has not been in a position to fill those vacancies. The public must understand and empathise with doctors, who are demanding better pay scales. When politicians and bureaucrats in New Delhi delay, dither and drift over giving what is due to doctors, do they have an alternative but to protest albeit loudly this time? There is scant respect for the long working hours of the doctors, who remain on duty the year around. While an IAS officer passes just one examination and gets promoted and enjoys perks for the rest of the service, a doctor is put through his paces till retirement. A doctor joins at the lowest level: Assistant Professor at 30-32 years. For every promotion he has to prove his worth, credentials and capabilities at interviews and selection committees. He backs his claim with published research work as well. Does an IAS officer do that? Look at the discrimination and discrepancies: a Professor today is equated with a joint secretary-level officer in pay and status. How long will the IAS continue to belittle and deny all professionals the recognition due to them? A recent survey showed that 75 per cent of the research publications in leading national and international medical journals are from either the PGI or AIIMS. Today both institutes are terribly "sick" and doctors in anguish. The PGI has lost its "autonomous" status granted to it by an Act of Parliament. Does it have to wait a little longer to lose its reputation of being an "excellent" centre in medical education and training, biomedical research, patient-care? The sick need to be cured not allowed to die a slow, torturous death. Regarding pay scales, a director in the old scale gets Rs 8,000 fixed, plus some allowances. The proposed scale for the director (demanded by PGI faculty) is Rs 26,000 fixed, plus allowances. There is no prescribed scale for the Dean. Being at the top of a Professor's scale, a Dean gets some additional allowances. The Professor's old scale is Rs 5,900-200-7,300. The demand is for Rs 18,400-500-22,400; for 10 per cent of the senior-most professors the demand is for Rs 22,400-525-24,500. For an Additional Professor the demand is for Rs 16,400-450-20,900. Beyond this, promotional avenues are rare. For an Associate Professor the scale sought is Rs 14,300-400-18,300 — nearly 25 per cent of doctors stagnate here. While the government wants to implement the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission (which are woefully inadequate), the PGI and AIIMS faculty wants recommendations of the Union Health Secretary Committee to be adopted. The deadlock continues. The AIIMS is closed. Will the PGI follow suit? (To
be continued) |
PGI faculty
stir today CHANDIGARH, Feb 11 — Probably for the first time in the history of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), the Faculty will observe a one-day token strike on Friday against government apathy as regards implementation of the Bakshi committee pay recommendations. Addressing a press conference here today members of the PGI Faculty Association said: "They have been forced to take the extreme step because of the apathetic attitude of the government towards the PGI and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS). It has been a very difficult decision for us keeping in mind the tradition and culture of the institute". Doctors will remain off duty from 8 a.m. for 24 hours. However, emergency services and care of admitted patients will not be allowed to suffer. The unprecedented step is also a pointer against public apathy. Public, which comes to the institutes from far off areas should also be aware of the actual situation and stand up for "dignity and honour of the profession", Dr P. Kulhara said. Dr S.K.Jindal said it was not merely a question of monetary benefits of pay package.It was a question of the dignity of the doctors at the premier institutes of the country. Nearly 75 per cent of work published in international journals from the country came from these two institutes. It was pointed out that at least 50 Faculty members had quit the PGI in the past five years and 25 in the last two years alone. There were 140 vacancies. No selection had been done for the past four years. This showed lack of interest on the part of the government. A number of bodies of the
institute necessary for administration had not been
constituted for many years. The government has to wake up
from the slumber to save the last bastions of medical
science and research in country. These institutes were
not just caring for the poor and doing research work for
future care, but also educating doctors, it was pointed
out.
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Daler
Mehndi nite at Flower Garden CHANDIGARH, Feb 11 — The local municipal corporation authorities have drawn flak from different quarters for permitting the holding of 'Daler Mehndi Nite' at the Sector 36 Fragrance Garden here. Condemning the action of the civic body, residents of the city felt that the show will undoubtedly result in an 'irreparable' damage to flowers and grass in the garden. They opined that the best way would have been to allow the holding of the show at some other place such as Parade Ground, Tagore Theatre or the PGI Auditorium. "It is a sheer misuse of the place, which is meant for people in search of tranquillity. In addition to the damage to the garden, the show will definitely affect the morning walk enthusiasts as the cleaning of the garden after the show will take at least a week," said Col MGS Khurana, a Sector 34 resident. He feared that the permission for the Daler Nite would pave the way for holding of such shows and exhibitions. "How will the MC authorities refuse permission to people for organising such shows in future?" he questioned. Mr NK Vasudeva, an advocate, said by permitting the show in the garden, the MC authorities have shown its callous attitude towards the environment and green cover in the city. "It would have been much better had they given some thought to the issue before giving the permission for the show," he said while apprehending that the garden would be destroyed badly even if some preventive measures were taken by the MC." Can they provide foolproof protection to grass and plants in a situation where a multitude of people will hop around for a look of the star," he asked while suggesting that the venue should be changed. "How can they permit such events in a garden? Is it a proper venue for such events?" questioned Mr Sukjinder Singh Gill, a member of the Syndicate of the Panjab University. He lamented that what was more apathetic was that the authorities have permitted the show during the 'flower season'. Mr P R Chaudhary, the President of the SAS Nagar based Environment Protection Society, did not find any logic in the promise of the MC authorities that every effort will be done to protect the garden. " The MC is not bothered about the protection of environment, " he said. Dr Harminder Singh, a resident of Sector 28, asked, "Is there any dearth of venues in the city that the MC is arranging the show at a garden? he quipped. Mr M M Azad, the co-ordinator of the Probing Eye, a social organisation said "This is quite unfortunate that the Fragrance Garden, the very brain-child of the MC is being crushed by the MC itself." The local Mayor and the
Secretary of the MC, who is also supervising the show,
were not available for comments. Mr Puranjit Singh, the
Chief Engineer, however, said the approval for holding of
the show has been granted by the Finance and Contract
Committee of the house. He said every step had been taken
to ensure the protection of flowers, " We have put
barricades around the flower beds," he added. He,
however, maintained that the MC was not a loser in
allowing the show as it might gain 'something'
financially, he added without elaborating further. |
PUTA submits
memo on revised pay scales CHANDIGARH, Feb 11 — The Panjab University Teachers Association today presented a memorandum to the Punjab Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, requesting implementation of the revised pay scales for university teachers. The association president, Dr Satya P. Gautam, and secretary Dr M. Rajiv Lochan, have pointed out that because of certain announcements by the Finance Minister, the teachers had postponed their demonstration in his constituency. But now it seems that due to "ill-advice" of the bureaucrats, the issue was being further delayed by referring the same to some committee or the other. When other categories of employees have availed of revised pay scales as per the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission, how come the teachers were expected to continue work and run their homes on the 1986 salary. The memorandum, inter alia, says that the teachers have decided to boycott the setting of question papers for the coming examinations, if new pay scales were not given to teachers. The meeting of the coordination committee of the college and university teachers is scheduled to meet here on February 12 to decide the future course of action. A massive rally is also proposed on the Panjab University campus here on February 16 to protest against the indifferent attitude of the government. Both Dr Gautam and Dr
Rajiv Lochan impressed upon the Finance Minister to keep
his word and not push the teachers to the wall, who may
be forced to resort to "vulgar" means. They
hoped the government will appreciate the goodwill shown
by the teachers who have not taken to any harsh means.
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Breast
cancer 'major killer' CHANDIGARH, Feb 11 — Breast cancer is a major cause of death among women in many developing and developed countries. Its early detection can significantly improve the chance of survival . This observation was made by Col S.V. Soman, Senior Adviser, Surgery, Command Hospital, during a panel discussion to generate health consciousness among families of Army personnel and the importance of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women after menopause. Highlighting the prevalence of genital malignancies in developing countries with particular reference to India, Lt Col Sanjiv Chopra, said simple screening procedures which were easily available can help in early detection and better care in these cases. He also spoke on problems related to menopause and their management through HRT. The benefits of HRT have been underestimated and risks greatly overplayed in the past two decades. With recent inputs and studies, the ever increasing benefits of HRT are evident and have been proved beyond doubt. Lt Col Vivek Sharma, radiologist, explained about mammography and radiation therapy for cancers. A large number of queries, a majority pertaining to HRT, were answered by panelists to the satisfaction of the audience. Maj Gen Virendra Singh, Commandant of the hospital, stressed the importance of such discussions and interactions with experts and professionals. Mrs Kusum Kala and Mrs
Kamaljit Mann, President and Vice-President of the Army
Wives Welfare Association (AWWA)also attended the
seminar. |
Produce
accused in court, IG told CHANDIGARH, Feb 11 — The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr S.S. Lamba, today directed the Inspector-General of the Chandigarh Police to produce on February 16 in his court Manoj Kumar Godara, one of the two suspects in Sector 10 shootout incident in which Manjit Singh, a resident of Mohali was killed. Mr Lamba issued the
directives when he took up this case for trial and the
prosecution failed to produce Godara in his court. The
judge had decided to finish the trial of the case by
conducting day-to-day proceedings of the case. Manoj Kumar Godara was
taken to Hisar by the Haryana Police in connection with a
trial of another case registered against him. The Haryana
police produced a medical certificate in the court of Mr
Lamba, saying that Godara was admitted to hospital and
was advised rest for 15 days. Therefore, he could not be
brought to Chandigarh. |
Students
demand free bus travel CHANDIGARH, Feb 11 — The Panjab University Campus Students’ Council has demanded withdrawal of entertainment tax in cinema halls for the students failing which it threatened to start an agitation. Memorandums in this regard were submitted to the Education Secretary, the Finance Secretary and the Deputy Commissioner today. A delegation of students led by the president Dayal Pratap Singh Randhawa has set a deadline of February 18 for the acceptance of demands following which "students will be forced to launch an agitation". Randhawa said a majority of students travelled by buses and they had limited resources. It would be a great relief if the students were allowed to travel without paying the fare. Another demand pertains to harassment of girl students in buses. The council has demanded that the UT Administration should start buses exclusively for girls. This should be done at least during the peak hours. Students have also
demanded that separate bus pass issuing windows should be
opened at all colleges and also on the campus. |
CTU
conductors hold rally CHANDIGARH, Feb 11 — Members of the CTU Conductors Union held a rally in front of the Director, Transport, in support of their demands here today. Mr G.S. Tira and Mr Mohar
Singh, Presidents of the CTU Drivers Union and the CTU
Conductors Union, respectively, said their demands had
not been accepted despite repeated reminders to the
authorities.Their major demands include payment of
overtime and TA for the past nine months, bonus for
1997-98, payment for working on national holidays and
stopping of the "victimisation" of union
activists.
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Quality of
telecom services ‘poor’ CHANDIGARH, Feb 11 — A two-day national symposium on information technology began at the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO) here today. The event is being organised by the local Institute of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE). Inaugurating the symposium, Dr M.J. Zarabi, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Semi Conductor Complex, Mohali, highlighted the importance of infotech and said it was the need of the hour for rapid progress of the country. Dr H.S. Sharma, president of the IETE, New Delhi, said the main thing was to improve the quality of the telecom system. "We are far behind in this field than the Western countries". Dr R.P. Bajpai, chairman
of the local IETE centre, said the impact of the infotech
was all pervasive and it had made the dream of global
village a virtual reality. |
CHANDIGARH, Feb 11 — The local Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal, today quashed the selection of 67 constables made in the Chandigarh police vide selection list dated March 11, 1998, while allowing a number of OAs, challenging the selections on grounds such as favouritism. The Bench comprising Justice R.K. Nehru and Mr V.K. Majotra directed the respondents to reconduct the process of selection of constables for all these candidates, who had applied and were eligible as on June 20, 1997. The applicants had, inter alia, alleged that the selections were made in an illegal and arbitrary manner and that several persons selected were either the kith and kin of the officials of the respondent-department or had relationship with official respondents and employees working in police department. It was also alleged that the three respondents, though they had appeared for the physical tests and could not qualify, were selected. Four respondents were declared to have passed the physical tests, though they had not appeared for them at all. The allegations were denied. The Bench observed that a bare perusal of record showed that respondents No. 19, 33, 36, 37 had close proximity with the chairman of the selection committee, whereas respondents No. 38 and 51 were close relatives (nephews) of Mr Baldev Singh, SP, and Mr Daya Nand DSP (crimes), both members of the selection committee. They had not been denied by respondents No. 7 and 9 on personal affidavits. "Mere proximity to the chairman of the selection board may not be adequate to record a finding of bias, as the candidates in question were not related to him. But the very fact of inclusion of two other members, whose close relatives were candidates for the posts and who participated in the deliberations must have had its own impact on the decisions of the selection board". The degree of their relationships is such as would definitely give rise to doubts that there was a reasonable likelihood of bias which would affect the process of fair selection. The Bench further observed that it was expected that public appointments should be honest, fair and free from nepotism, favouritism, etc. These members should have withdrawn from participation in the selection process altogether. Instead Mr Baldev Singh himself made an application to the IG for grant of age relaxation in the case of his nephew. This alone was sufficient ground to hold that the selection process was vitiated and suffered from arbitrariness, the Bench observed. It further observed that when it is seen that the kith and kin of police officials had been accorded relaxation of different kinds, the fairness of such a selection apparently became suspect. "We do not find it necessary to dilate on various other aspects of the matter. Suffice it to state, the whole selection process had to be declared as vitiated", on account of participation in the selection process under consideration of certain members of the selection board having a close relationship with some candidates as well as selection of some who had not even appeared for the physical test, the Bench concluded. Order to review ad hoc promotions A Bench of the tribunal comprising Justice R.K. Nehru and Mr V.K. Majotra directed the Union of India to review ad hoc promotions made to the posts of Executive Engineers (Civil) in the respondent-department most expeditiously in accordance with the directions of the Supreme Court and not resort to any further promotions on an ad hoc basis. The direction was given on an OA filed by Mr S.K. Sharma, Assistant Engineer, CPWD (Central), Shima, and three other Assistant Engineers. The applicants who are graduate Assistant Engineers were aggrieved by the promotion of diploma holding Assistant Engineers to the posts of Executive Engineers on regular as well as on ad hoc basis. The matter also went to the Supreme Court in J.N. Goel vs Union of India case. The Supreme Court had directed a review of the promotions of diploma holding Assistant Engineers who had been promoted to the post of Executive Engineer against vacancies which occurred before promulgation of the 1996 rules. The applicants alleged that the respondents were still resorted to ad hoc appointments and had not implemented the Supreme Court judgement. The Bench observed that
practice of making ad hoc appointments to the posts could
not be allowed indefinitely. |
CHANDIGARH, Feb 11 — Against the ideal requirement of a forest land area of 33 per cent, the country merely has 12 per cent, said Justice Kuldip Singh, a former judge of the Supreme Court, while inaugurating a national seminar on "Geological aspects on environment" at Panjab University here today. Justice Kuldip Singh said it was time to hear the cry of the earth. Rampant pollution was destroying the flora and fauna and the destruction process could become "irreversible if the trends continue". He said 80 per cent of the country's population lives on river basins, mainly around 14 perennial rivers. Now all these 14 rivers have utterly polluted. Sewerage was the chief pollutant apart from industrial waste. There were 214 cities on the banks of the Ganga but none had developed a sewerage treatment system. The "Green Judge" said of the 3119 big cities in India only eight had complete sewerage treatment facilities. Merely 219 had partial facilities. Experts feel if the current rate of urbanisation continued, 75 per cent of the population would be living in the cities in the coming 25 years. This would change the total ecological balance. Fighting pollution was the biggest challenge before humanity in the coming century. It was not a battle against development but a warning call for keeping pollution under control, he added. Earlier Prof Ashok Sahni, co-ordinator of the Centre for Advanced Studies, introduced the topic. Dr Ramesh Kakkar, convener of the workshop, welcomed the guests. Dr I.B.S. Passi, Dean University Instructions, gave the presidential remarks. Refresher course: A need-based three-week refresher course in environment studies was inaugurated here on Thursday. The course is being conducted by the Panjab University Academic Staff College. Prof R.P. Bambah, a former Vice- Chancellor of PU and a trustee of The Tribune Trust, in his presidential address reiterated the urgency of environment conservation while improving the quality of life. He said stress on the need for a balanced sharing of resources between the developed and developing nations. Prof M.M. Puri,Vice-Chancellor, inaugurated the course. Seminar: A three-day seminar on "Economic development and social transformation in North-West India" was inaugurated by the Finance Minister of Punjab, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, at the Department of Sociology. He said food production and consequently income of farmers was on the decline which has serious social implications. Also, the current scenario presented a bleak job opportunities for the educated youth. Tracing the root cause of high prices to subsidy cuts, he suggested that direct subsidies should be provided on food items.He appealed to the participants to explore the option of loans to farmers which would protect them from the mercenary money lenders. The Vice Chancellor, Prof
M.M. Puri, talked about social transformation which must
come from within and the requirement of indigenous
technology developed according to the local needs. |
CHANDIGARH, Feb 11 — A resident of Khuda Lahora village has been admitted to the PGI with burn injuries. According to police sources, Mrs Shanti Devi, (35), was heating milk on a stove when it reportedly burst and her clothes caught fire. She was admitted to the hospital with 40 per cent to 45 per cent burns. Her condition is reported to be serious. Complaint: Mrs Daljit Kaur, a resident of Ram Darbar, reported to the police that Suresh Kumar and Rajiv Kumar, both residents of the colony had tried to outrage her modesty. The accused have been arrested. A case under Section 354, IPC, has been registered. Two booked: The police on Thursday booked two persons for possessing a large quantities of liquor without permit. While 12 bottles of whisky were found in the possession of Raj Kumar, a resident of Ram Darbar, as many as 44 pouches of country-made wine were recovered from Tota Ram, a resident of Colony No. 5. Cases under the Excise Act have been registered against them. Scooter stolen: Mr Pawan Kumar, a resident of Rajiv Colony, Panchkula, reported to the police that his scooter had been stolen from the city. Similarly, Mr Kamal Gupta, a resident of Panchkula reported to the police that a bag containing some jewellery had been stolen from his car parked outside KC Theatre in Sector 17. The car was reportedly without registration plates. Separate cases under
Section 379, IPC, have been registered. |
CHANDIGARH: The monthly baithak of the Prachin Kala Kendra celebrated the onset of spring season by a musical rendering of Pandit Bhola Nath Mishra, a disciple of Pandit Rajan and Sajan Mishra. Endowed with a deep resonant voice Pandit Mishra began his renderings in raaga puriya kalyan. The ‘vilambit’ elaboration of the raaga in ek taal "Hari Ke Gun Gao" was set in a serene mood. The artiste changed the mood and tempo of his rendering in " drut khayal" "baaje more payal". "Phagwa Brij dekhan ko chalo ri" in raag basant caught the music lovers of the city swaying in sheer melody which was followed by "drut bandish" in teen taal "saras rang phool rahyo". A Holi thumri, "Holi machi hai sainya ki nagaria", was received in the true spirit of enthusiasm of the festival by the audience. The last item of the evening was a bhajan "Tum meri rakho laaj Hari" which was sung in the true tradition of bhajan gayaki of the Banaras gharana. He was accompanied by Ballu Khan Warasi on the tabla, Bharat Bhushan Goswani on the sarangi, O.P. Gupta on harmonium and Suman Sanyal on the taanpura. The baithak was held in Bhaskar Rao auditorium. —
Vandana Shukla |
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