Central govt houses in bad shape
By Gaurav Sood

CHANDIGARH, June 27 — The lackadaisical attitude adopted by the authorities towards the central government housing complexes has led to great resentment among the residents. The condition of the houses constructed by central government for its employees is deteriorating day by day due to neglect on part of Central Public Works Department (CPWD).

A visit to a housing complex of the Survey India in Sector 32-A revealed the pathetic condition of the area. The streets are in a bad state with potholes posing a threat of mishaps. Huge dumps of garbage dot various places. The dustbins are overflowing with garbage. Residents of the area also complained of poor water supply.

Mrs R. Sharma, a resident of the locality, said although the residential area was recently built, the attitude adopted by the maintenance staff had made the conditions worse. She pointed out that the water supply on the top floor usually lasts till 6.30 in the morning. She blamed senior officers for the neglect.

Mr S. Singh, another resident of the area, said no cleanliness is maintained by the authorities.

Mr B. Krishan, a resident of the area of the locality, blamed the CPWD officials for not looking into the issue. He said broken window panes had not been repaired for the past more than two months. He also wanted more attention towards the parking areas. He claimed to have made various complaints to the department concerned, but nothing had been done so far.

Ms Bharti, another resident of the locality, blamed the residents for not caring about their surroundings. She said she often witness women throwing garbage packed in polythene bags from their windows. The poly packs are picked by rag pickers and the garbage is thrown here and there. Stray animals later eat the garbage and create nuisance.

Mr A. Sharma, another resident complained about unauthorised encroachments made by residents in lawns in front of houses. He said most of the people encroached the area and caused a lot of inconvenience in the movement of vehicles.

The Director of the Survey of India, Brig K.S. Khatri, admitted that he was aware of the conditions and had written a number of letters to the departments concerned. He said the administration was responsible for the neglect.

A visit to the central government houses in Sector 7 showed the poor condition of the houses. It has been almost three decades since these houses were constructed. Most of the houses speak of their bad state with broken widow panes, wild growth of plants, broken boundary walls and leaking drains.

Mrs Shanta Devi, a resident of the area, said they had got used to the bad conditions as nobody cared for them. She showed some broken windows and said that these had not been repaired for the past couple of months.

Ms Babli, another resident of the area, pointed at a bunch of loose electricity wires that hung overhead. She said the wires pose a threat to the children.

Most parks in the area have swing installed for children but most of these are covered with wild growth of congress grass. In certain areas, the grass has grown up to 5-6 feet. The area near the CPWD division 2 store is in a bad state. The approach road has been covered by the wild growth of plants and has made it difficult for the residents to move.

The officials of the CPWD claim to attend to the complaints regularly. They also admit that there is usually a shortage of materials, and at times these are supplied after months.

Residents complain of poor water supply in the morning hours. Most residents on top floors said they hardly get any supply in the morning. The area has a pump and two booster systems to meet the reqiurements.

A resident of the area also complained about poor planning of electricity lines in the houses. He said it is very difficult to run a washing machine or an air cooler or any other heavy appliance in the house. He criticised the decision of the CPWD to install door bells and said it is wastage of money as such small things can be installed by residents themselves.

Another resident pointed out that most of the houses are occupied by tenants. She said the tenants hardly care for the locality and as most are bachelors and students created problems in the area. She demanded that sub-letting of the houses must be stopped and serious action should be taken against the guilty persons. She said the residents have written various letters to the department about the issue, but nothing had been done.

The area CPWD, JE, Mr J.R. Bansal, said they tried to entertain the complaints of the rsidents regularly. He said the low water supply in the area was due to water stored in the tanks. He denied having any knowledge about any pending complaints.

Chaos yes, facilities no
By Rupesh Kumar

CHANDIGARH, June 27 — The indifference of the authorities concerned has made the state of Azad market and Palace bazar at Sector 20 here pitiable. Necessary steps have not been taken by the authorities for provision of requisite facilities and removal of encroachments made by the shopkeepers.

The Azad market which consists of 205 booths, was constructed by the UT Administration to rehabilitate rehri market sellers in the sector. Though these booths were allotted in 1996, neither fire-fighting facilities nor streetlights in parking lots were provided by the authorities concerned.

At the time of allotment, the allottees had agreed upon the terms and conditions put forward by the authorities. But these are being violated. The shopkeepers and eating joints owners have encroached upon the space earmarked for passersby and customers. It has created problems for visitors, especially women, as movement has been restricted.

The eating joints owners have endangered the lives and property of shopkeepers and the lives of customers. They use LPG cylinders and stoves for cooking purposes, which are inflammable. The presence of 'tandoors' has made the area fire-prone. Mr Bittu, who owns a 'dhaba', says, "I am running my eating joint for three years but I do not know what precautions one should take to prevent any untoward incident."

Some shopkeepers allege, "the dhabas have become a nuisance. They serve non-vegetarian food, which not only creates problems for vegetarians but also has forced many shopkeepers to close their business." They further allege that owners of eating joints have spread dirt and polluted the atmosphere as the smoke billowing from their 'tandoors' has made the people prone to several diseases.

Mr Shyam Lal, General Secretary of the market, says of the 205 allotted booths, 80 remain unused, several have changed hands and about 25 have been rented out, though renting and selling is illegal. He adds that absence of streetlights in the parking lot has caused incidents of stealing and rowdyism.

He further says as most of the allottees have not turned up, the market does not bloom. The authorities should either allot these vacant booths to the unemployed or take action against erring allottees so that they are forced to open their booths, he adds.

The Palace bazar also needs immediate attention. Of the 126 booths, only 87 have been allotted and a number of them are lying abandoned. The absence of fire-fighting facilities and streetlights in the uncarpeted parking lot worry the shopkeepers. There is no toilet or lavatory. The shopkeepers have to cover long distance to defecate and urinate.

The encroachments have created problems for visitors. Due to the handiwork of some miscreants, the deserted booths have virtually become public toilets and lavatories. Mr Desh Raj Saini, Chairman of the market, alleges, "regarding construction of toilets and streetlights, we have given several memoranda to the authorities but to no avail."

The eating joints owners have become a danger to lives and property of shopkeepers. Though the use of inflammable substances is prohibited, 'dhaba' owners have been using LPG cylinders, stoves and 'tandoors'.

Mr Vicky, a cloth shop owner, alleges, "the smoke from the 'tandoors' and the stoves has caused a fall in our customers and in our health." He says, "a couple of months back, fire broke out in one of the eating joints due to a leakage in one of the cylinders. Had the fire not been controlled in time, the whole market would have been gutted. "

Part-time jobs catching up
From A Correspondent

Chandigarh, June 27 — The fad of earning those extra chips is catching up with the Generation X. A few years ago, part-time and summer jobs were restricted to the metros and their very mention in a city like Chandigarh, raised eyebrows.

The smart teeny boppers whose mantra is "to enjoy life" simply refuse to squander away the riches of their parents and do not have any qualms in taking up part-time jobs. These youngsters, oozing confidence and an attitude to match, are all set to conquer the world.

Shalini Sharma, a post-graduate student says, "Ever since graduation, I have been working part- time. It instills confidence and makes me feel strong and in control''.

Delineating herself she adds '' I was a shy girl until my friends, who were already working part-times, pestered me. Thereafter, I extensively worked in numerous exhibitions. The money I earn adds to my kitty and I do not have to think twice before spending.'' She says she enjoys the power money gives and asserts, ''It makes me secure and financially independent ''

For the vibrant 18-year-old Shilpa of GCG, working is fun. ''You have a gala time interacting with people and by the end of the day, you are being paid for it.'' On the contrary her friend, Raman, opines, ''Leave aside the enjoyment part, this kind of work makes us assertive and capable of facing the world boldly. We are exposed to professional ambience and, therefore, better equipped to perform well in the careers we will pursue after graduating. ''

Rahul wears Nikes and Lee Coopers. You look at him bemused as he adjusts his RayBans and declares,''I am conscious about brands and also of the fact that the money to buy these brands does not come from my parents' pocket.'' He claims to take tuitions and the money he earns is all spent on the brands and his adorable muscles which he sports around for he says, he is cool and loves the pool.

A computer student, Vivek, works as a marketing executive in the evening shift, chips that his job gives him immense exposure and opportunity to interact with likeminded people. ''The monthly pay supplements my pocket money which I generally spend on the frequent outings with my girlfriend and our clandestine escapades to the discos. ''

Effervescent Ambika is pursuing a course in communications and also utilises her spare time contributing to a magazine. She says that after coming from the institute she is as chirpy as a bird and does not want to while away her time sitting idle at home. ''I take such jobs which do not require extra effort and undue worries but at the same time are reasonably paying.'' Perhaps that is the reason she teaches to junior classes in a nearby school.

Her parents are proud of her as they nod in unison on being asked whether they approve of their daughter toiling hard. They disclose with a sparkle in their eyes that Ambika has stopped taking monthly allowance and fends for herself.

Meet principals
'Shun tuitions at school level'
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 27 — Education in today's context should be an instrument for social reform, upholding justice, peace, tolerance and preserving one's culture. It should aim and prepare children for a harmonious co-existence even with nature. This is what Sister Gloria, Principal of Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sector 26, has to say on the role of education in the changing scenario.

The students should develop an attitude of live and let live and commit themselves to an honest living. However, emphasis should be laid on preparing children as social agents so that they also think about others and help them in times of need. She laments that education of late has become a tool for the career-oriented, most of whom use it at the cost of cutting each other's throats.

Sister Gloria, who took over as Principal of this school in 1996, has more than 25 years of experience in this field. A post-graduate in history, she began her teaching career with a job at a primary school in Delhi in 1973. She has also worked as Principal of Lady Fatima Convent School, Patiala, and St Joseph School, Gurdaspur.

According to her, a teacher should be a mother, guide, friend and counsellor. She should study the character and capacity of each child entrusted to her and direct children on the path of truth. "An ideal teacher is a treasure for her students. Such a teacher is always kind, just, impartial and dedicated to her work,'' maintains Sister Gloria. She will also strive to continuously update her knowledge so that her students do not lag behind and will be prepared to give herself completely for the growth of students, she adds.

Educating a child is a team work and parents are an important part of this team.

Cooperation of parents with teachers is a must for the overall personality development of the child. They should be in constant touch with the school to apprise themselves of his performance. She is of the view that no matter how busy the parents are, they should try and spend time listening to their children's experiences in the school as well as at other places. They should also try and cultivate a friendly atmosphere at home so that children feel comfortable to confide in them.

Sister Gloria advocates a flexible methodology, particularly for the pre-primary and primary levels, which provide ample opportunity for free and spontaneous expression of the child. Since children of different backgrounds take lessons together, provisions should be made to allow each child to open up. Her suggestion is that teachers should make use of simple teaching aids to explain the basic concepts and emphasise more on activity-based learning, preferably in natural surroundings. A loving and patient teacher will be able to do more justice than one who is more educated and chair-oriented, she opines.

However at the primary level, emphasis should be placed on meaningful exploration of the environment and children should be encouraged to ask a lot of thought-provoking questions, which will further clarify their concepts. The teachers should be able to create and sustain a student's interest in the learning process. Their attitude towards children ought to be more encouraging and they should allow them to learn from their mistakes.

The use of corporal punishment, particularly in schools for girls, should be totally forbidden and warnings should be sufficient to check indiscipline, if any. But at the same time, it is important to help a child follow rules and regulations and excel in his studies. The qualities of self-control and discipline should be inculcated for better acceptance in society.

She is opposed to tuitions, particularly till Class X, and feels that they are more of a nuisance. According to her, children land up wasting more time and energy going for tuitions and are often not able to do justice to home assignments given by schools. Parents have been instructed not to ask schoolteachers for tuitions. However, students of plus one and two can take tuitions for appearing for entrance examinations, the pattern of which varies from that prescribed in the board syllabus.

The sister maintains that with the implementation of the Fifth Pay Commission recommendations, there is not much difference in the pay and perks of government and private schoolteachers. They draw almost similar pay, pension and provident fund facilities. The head of the institution should work along with the teachers and constantly boost their morale.

To meet the requirements of recent advancement in education, the school plans to set up a multi-media centre this year. The school not only provides quality education to the elite but has also opened its doors to the economically backward community by having one section of Hindi medium for them right from Class I. These children are also provided books and uniform free of cost with the help of donations collected from the rich.

Her advice to the students is to be happy and content wherever they are and whatever they may be doing. They should never exploit others and should work hard to earn a living. "One should love one another, be kind and have compassion for the poor and the marginalised.''

Security worries PU hostel girls
By Geetanjali Gayatri
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 27 — Security concerns are of paramount concern among residents of four girls’ hostels of Panjab University. Issues concerning cleanliness and maintenance of hygiene in the respective messes and greater availability of drinking water also upset the residents due to laid back attitude of the maintenance (engineering) office in attending to the complaints which are sent by the wardens.

Residents of Sarojini Hall and Kasturba Hall complain about the lack of adequate security during night time. “Boys whiz in and out on the narrow road between the two hostels and reaching an STD booth becomes a very difficult task, let alone taking a walk to get a breath of fresh air,” one complains. She adds that during night time there is hardly anybody keeping vigil and “the hostel seems one big public place”.

Mrs Pankaj Mala Sharma, warden of a hostel says, “I feel there are adequate security arrangements to meet the requirements. Then, it was the girls who initially demanded that the extra men deployed for the purpose during Dr Kiran Bedi’s time be withdrawn since they made them feel uncomfortable.”

In Sarojini Hall, the grievances of the girls revolve mostly around lack of adequate drinking water and poor food quality Mrs Sharma says that the repairs of coolers are already going on and the quality of food served in the hostel will improve once the new session begins.

They also voice their problem about the complaint register not being checked regularly and the persistence of complaints over long periods of time. Mrs Sharma justifies that it is only a case of wrong timing by the XEN Department. “Delay in action takes place only when men from the department come and there is a lock on the door, and such instances are common. The XEN Department is always ready to attend to any complaint and the men usually come within 24 hours of the information provided to them,” she adds.

In Lakshmi Bai Hall, residents complain that there are very few hands serving food in the hostel mess and hygiene is not maintained. “There are flies hovering on food, and those serving food are very careless about doing their job properly. Sometimes it gets disgusting and the seniors lash out at the contractors on our behalf,” a resident explains. There should be regular, surprise checks on these people by the authorities, residents suggest.

Drinking water is also a problem, with residents demanding more water coolers for the hostel which should be cleaned at regular intervals. The warden, Dr Bhajan Kaur, flatly refuses to accept that the coolers are not cleaned.

A round of the hostel speaks volumes for the state it is in. Cobwebs in every nook and corner, on window panes, and on every wall present a dismal picture. Corridors are littered with dirt. The warden says that there are four sweepers to clean the hostel and they require a day off each which results in a block remaining unclean once a week.

About requesting for additional hands for the purpose, she says, “I am not the recruiting authority and manage work with whatever I’m given.” Other complaint is that the attendants are rude, curt and fail to give messages of visitors to the residents concerned. An open electricity box, with wires dangling from everywhere presents a frightening sight.

In Mata Gujri Hall, students await six coolers to meet the daily requirement of drinking water. An open electricity board and wires crisscrossing overhead are a common sight. The Warden of the hostel, Mrs Keya Dharamvir, says repairs are being undertaken and adds that it is unfortunate that these have been delayed on account of the delay in the commencement of the session and on the issue of having more water coolers, she replies, “We don’t have money for purchasing of additional water coolers.”

Hostel residents complain that the visits of their respective wardens are few and far between. A resident of Lakshmi Bai Hall says, “Our warden is rarely seen on the premises and she visits the hostel more like a guest while the attendants have a good time bossing over us in her absence.” Dr Bhajan Kaur, in her defence, says, “I go to the hostel for an hour everyday since there is not much to be done, though I am there to listen to complaints 24 hours a day.” Another warden adds, “The hostels are a part-time responsibility and we are basically teachers. Half-an-hour suffices to settle the issues that crop up.”

Low water pressure is a major problem during summer months when it “fails to rise to the occasion’’ and the residents have no choice but to carry water from lower floors. In a couple of hostels, geysers are out of order but the wardens have chosen to dismiss the complaint on account of non-requirement of geysers during the summer months.