 |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
GMCH-32 Anuja Jaiswal Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 3 Ankesh, nephew of the deceased, claimed that the doctors had discharged him after five days without giving any specific instructions and had told them to bring him to the OPD for checkup after four days. “They kept assuring us that his condition was fine and there was no need to worry,” he said. When they took him to the OPD on March 17, they were shocked when the doctors told them that he would have to be required to be admitted again as his condition was “serious”. Ankesh said: “We couldn’t believe when the doctors said a surgery was required immediately.” After the operation, the doctors informed the family that Raj Kumar would be kept in the ICU for three days. “We didn’t know what was happening. First they had discharged him, then he was serious and on March 21, the day he was supposed to be shifted out of the ICU, we were told that his condition had become critical,” he said, accusing the hospital of keeping the family in the dark about his condition all through. Ruing that they had brought him to “this” hospital, Ankesh said on the evening of March 21, the doctors declared him dead. Accusing the doctors of gross negligence, an agitated Ankesh questioned the haste shown by the doctors in discharging him without even observing his state. When contacted, Dr Vipin Kaushal, medical superintendent, in a statement sent through email, said the patient was operated and kept in the ICU for three days where he was improving during the first 36 hours. “He developed infection and hypertension and could not be saved even after best care. The patient had died due to brain oedema,” the statement said. However, Dr Kaushal was silent on why Raj Kumar was discharged without monitoring his condition. Moreover, experts also question the hasty discharge on the grounds that brain oedema is common in head injuries and the patient requires constant monitoring. A senior city-based neurologist said on the condition of anonymity that in most head injuries, the size of the head increases due to swelling, which was a result of increase in the amount of blood in the brain. “This can later lead to collection of water (oedema),” he said, adding that constant monitoring was thus imperative. Raj Kumar’s wife, Anita, said her husband could have been saved had the doctors not taken the case so lightly. She said he was running a stationery shop and was the only earning member of the family. He is survived by two minor daughters.
|
|
Central Club loses bar licence
Chandigarh, April 3 It could be a first step toward the restoration of its earlier status of being a community centre, giving much relief to residents of the area. The lease deeds and records of the administration describe the building as a community centre for conducting social and cultural activities only and there was no clause in the agreement relating to the opening of a bar on the premises. Denying it, the secretary of the club, Vinod Khanna, said the renewal of the bar licence had been made pending and things would be sorted out soon. However, Manjit Brar, Additional Excise and Taxation Officer, confirmed that the licence of the club had not been renewed in the wake of blatant violations. The administration had already announced to take over the possession of the club and slapped a recovery notice of Rs 1.16 crore against “unpaid rent” since 2000. The club was paying Rs 25, 567 per month as rent since April 98 and paid it only until 2000. The administration had instructed the management to deposit
Rs 1,31,947 per month, along with the interest. The site was allotted as a community centre in 1961 to the plot holders association for five years at a token rent of Rs 25 per annum. The building was later leased out to Central Club for a one year, which later went on till 2004. The place became a centre of attraction for card players of not only Panchkula, Mohali and Chandigarh, but also from Shimla, Patiala, Delhi, Ludhiana and Amritsar. Consequently, it became a nuisance for residents living nearby and they lodged their objections with the administration. Mohinderjit Singh, president of the plot holders association, said the administration should take over the possession of the place and hand it over to the association.
|
|
Yearning for life, not drugs
Chandigarh, April 3 The innocence of five such children was lost in the vicious circle of drugs until they found a ray of hope. The ongoing 10-day drug de-addiction camp at the dispensary in Sector 56 being held by the GMCH- 32, has 12 such patients who are struggling to fight drugs. The camp has witnessed several such cases in which the addicts used the worst possible addictive substance. From glue, polish, ink, paint, thinner to injections and opium, these patients sniffed and swallowed whatever they could lay their hands on. A 33-year-old patient at the camp, Shantanu (name withheld), has been on drugs for 10 years now. “Ab toh kiya hi nahi jaata” (now I cannot do it anymore),” he says. Spurned by his lover, he took to drugs in a big way and remained single. Two injections a day cost him Rs 100-200 and financial crisis has brought him to this stage where he wants to get rid of drugs. “Ab paise nahi hai lene ko” ( I do not have money to buy drugs),” he adds. Humiliation has brought him and several others like him to the camp voluntarily. “Jo log pehle salaam karte the, baad mein bulaana hi chod diya”( those who used to greet me earlier, started ignoring me),” Vikas, another patient, says.
|
|
Record offerings this year
Tribune News Service
Panchkula, April 3 It is for the first time in the history of the board, which was constituted after the temple was taken over by the government 18 years ago in 1991, that the devotees offered this much amount at the temple. The earnings during Navratras registered a 10 fold increase since the temple had been under the state government control. A total of Rs 8,67,000 were collected by the board during the Navratra fair in 1992. Sources said this year the board received around Rs 24 lakh as charges against the auction of parking site and other recreational facilities during the fair which started on March 27. While the calculation of offerings was yet to complete, an amount of Rs 57.5 lakh had already been counted till this morning, said sources. The offerings on the last day of Navratras are also expected to be at least Rs 15 lakh as huge rush was witnessed today. In addition to it, 54 and 842 articles of gold and silver, respectively, were offered to deity. The figure of devotees who visited the temple had already crossed the mark of 5 lakh. Last year, during corresponding period of Navratras, the offerings received were a little over Rs 60 lakh while auction could fetch Rs 7,86,000 only.
|
|
Admn Projects Sumedha Sharma/Neha Miglani Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 3 While the task generally boils down to monitoring but almost everybody seems to be more than willing to supervise the success of projects, the most preferred choice being those under the Sarv Shiksha Abhayaan (SSA). According to department officials they have already received six requests to collaborate with a specific NGO for a project or entrust them with overlooking their endeavours like AIE centres. Those who think that it’s the test of their competency and efficiency are surely to be taken in by a shock by the revelations of the insiders. “There is more to it than what seems on the surface. As per the directives, we are to involve an NGO but other than their work it’s the recommendation that does the wonders. Every application is accompanied by recommendations of some influential person and it’s the weightage of it that decides the fate,” asserted an official of SSA. His claims get proved with fact that the limelight shifts from one NGO to another corresponding to the shifting of decision makers and everybody fails to explain the proportionate relationship between administrative tenures and their efficiency. “It’s only those who have connections sustain in the process. People like us who seriously wish to work for the society get walked over by those who just want to get applauded for doing social work and then they decide the usage of funds,” said a co-ordinator of a local NGO. Alleged another NGO head, “Everybody knows that they prefer organisations by the wives of some well connected ones. The frame work of SSA is to engage NGOs for monitoring but last year authorities went out of their way to sign an MoU with a specific NGO that had high level connections despite its inefficient and shady records.” Meanwhile, more disturbing than these allegations, it’s the fact that while these NGOs slog to get the responsibility they refuse to owe up any anomaly in the centres under their control claiming that they just monitor. When questioned on the need of outsourcing the monitoring when its administration’s projects, Ram Niwas, Home Secretary refused to comment.
|
|
...While some need real help
Chandigarh, April 3 “A collaboration between an NGO and administration can only be fruitful if the organisation is NGO in true terms and not into money making. We are working for mainstreaming the beggars and kids from grass roots level. Though the administration gave us space to hold classes but a lot needs to be done. So far, we have got around 100 kids but no teachers. When we are successfully achieving one of the prime goals of Sarv Shiksha
Abhiyaan, the administration should get us more patronage in terms of providing teachers or more space and a little money. Till now it’s our volunteers who are making our projects a success, but a little more attention from administration can do wonders,” said Sarita
Tiwari, co-ordinator of Hamari Kaksha. For others like Manjit Sodhi, founder
Savera, they should be properly patronised for lending a helping hand to administration. “We get cases like those of rape victims or girls who were sold and then saved and many more. We not only have to feed them but also plan their future and in this state a meagre help of around Rs 550 is nothing. We are handling destitute women and facing financial crunch. The administration should give us more patronage for the benefit of these girls whose fate hang in the hands of laws,” she asserts. Another such endeavour is a good beginning that has reached to the not so lucky kids of the social strata and made difference but still awaits an expected boost. “We have worked hard not only to abstain them from begging but in many cases have also saved girls from being sold. Every time when administration needed us we stood by them but we also need some financial help from them. I think a little help from them in this project can make a difference to the lives of many kids and thus we can achieve the much professed aim of making a difference,” concludes Sangita
Vardan, founder Good Beginnings.
|
|
|
DSOI functioning comes under cloud
Chandigarh, April 3 In a communiqué addressed to the Chief of Staff, Western Command, who is the ex-officio president of DSOI’s governing body, members of the management, finance, bar and catering committee, have sought investigations into alleged financial irregularities, lapses and acts of omission and commission by certain officials of the DSOI. “The governing body president has been asked to inform the members about the outcome of the investigations during the annual general-body meeting on April 5,” Maj Anil Ahlawat, member of the finance sub-committee said. “If things are not resolved at the level of the president, then the matter can be referred up to the patron, the GOC-in-C, Western or the chief patron, the Governor,” he added. DSOI has about 3,500 permanent members, in addition to serving armed forces officers posted in Chandigarh and around. It is a popular place in the service community for social activities. Among the issues being raised is that no budget was passed by the management committee for the 2008-09 financial year and financial matters pertaining to transaction, purchases, funds allotment, sponsorship, incurred expenditure, etc were not routed through finance members and management committee as was being done in the past. It has also been alleged that no purchase committee was formed to incur expenditure amounting to lakhs of rupees during special functions and the details of proposals, budget, sponsorship, income expenditure on such events did not go through the management/ finance committee, thus violating rules and bylaws. Irregularities in the purchase of gym equipment worth about Rs 8 lakh, repair of furniture, procuring items from firms not having VAT and service tax numbers and no comparative rates being considered while hiring equipment and services during functions, are among other issues being raised. Lt Col RS Boparai, member, bar and catering sub-committee, said these issues were raised with the president in February also, but no acknowledgement or reply was received in this regard.
|
|
Dhawan files fresh complaint with EC
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 3 In the complaint he has also made reference to the inability of the Chandigarh police to bring the guilty to book. Dhawan has demanded the registration of an FIR against the accused. The letter stated that the incident took place in the morning of March 31, when the Minister of State for Finance and Congress candidate from Chandigarh parliamentary constituency Pawan Kumar Bansal undertook a padyatra “without prior permission” at SBS Colony in Mauli Jagran. Accompanying Bansal were CTYC president Harmohinder Singh Lucky and his supporters. When area residents wanted to know about the promises made by him regarding issuance of SC/ST certificates and abolition of contract system, Bansal asked Lucky to handle the situation. Instead, Lucky used “casteist remarks, abused and misbehaved with the women” who were awaiting Bansal’s reply. In protest, members of the Dalit community approached the police post and Lucky was detained for investigation. In the meantime, police post in-charge purportedly got calls from senior officials to release Lucky. Lucky was made to leave in DSP PK Dhawan’s official vehicle and was dropped where Bansal was standing. The action taken by the Chandigarh police was met with strong resistance from residents and people of the Dalit community. Instead of registering their complaint, the residents, including five women, were arrested by the police without ample proof. The police registered a DDR on March 31 but let Lucky go scot free without conducting initial investigation after allegedly succumbing to pressure from Bansal. In the letter, Dhawan alleged that Lucky had resorted to such language earlier also in 1999 when he was president of the NSUI, Chandigarh wing, and it was evident that he habitually made such casteist remarks. The copies of the letter have also been sent to UT Administrator Gen SF Rodrigues and Chief Electoral Officer, UT Chandigarh, Pradeep Mehra.
|
|
Bansal’s move to woo Ind Area tenants
Chandigarh, April 3 Addressing a meeting at Industrial Area, Phase II, Bansal claimed that over Rs 35 crore had already been sanctioned for the development of the area and work would commence soon. Talks were under way to waive the existing exorbitant misuse charges of Rs 500 per sq ft, Bansal said. He added that it would provide relief to industrial plot owners. He said all-round development had been foremost on the agenda of the Manmohan Singh government.
Jain blasts Cong
BJP candidate Satya Pal Jain today lashed out at the Congress for allegedly managing a clean chit for Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar. Condemning the ruling party at the Centre for misusing its power to get clean chit for these leaders, he said it was a dirty joke on the families of those who lost their kin during the anti-Sikh riots in 1984. Meanwhile, former district president of the Chandigarh Youth Congress Shripal Verma today joined the BJP along with his supporters.
JD (U)
Janata Dal (United) candidate Goswami VB today visited Sanjay Nagar, Pandit Nagar colonies and Maloya. Addressing residents, he underlined his commitment to work
for the uplift of the downtrodden.
Appointed
Harnek Singh Sekhon has been appointed ward president of ward No. 18 of the Chadnigarh District Congress Committee, Urban-I.
|
|
BJP to approach EC against Bansal
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 3 According to a BJP representative, Arun Sood, it was a major violation of code of conduct by Bansal as after the announcement of Lok Sabha elections, he was not supposed to inaugurate any development project in the city that could be used as a tool to woo voters in elections. He said the party would file a formal complaint with the election commission tomorrow and demand strict action against him for the violation.
|
|
Kidnapped man tortured, freed
Mohali, April 3 The victim, while in the custody of the abductors, was reportedly subjected to inhuman treatment and forced to perform obscene acts that were video filmed. The victim was kidnapping near the office of the Deputy Commissioner at Phase I here last evening and taken to a house at Naseebpur village in Fatehgarh Sahib. During the four-hour custody, the victim was forced to sign blank papers at a gunpoint. As per his statement given to the police, the abductors were in possession of two pistols that were used to threaten him. After he fell semi-conscious on being thrashed, Gurmail was brought in a Skoda car
(PB 65 0021) by one of his abductors, Devinder, to Kisan Bhavan chowk at Sector 35 and then made to board an auto-rickshaw to send him to his home at Khuda Alisher village. The victim had done several land deals with Devinder and there was a dispute in different cases in
Kharar, Nayagoan and Wazipur. Incidentally, Gumail also had a criminal record. After returning home, Gurmail told TNS that Devinder kept on asking him to withdraw cases and forced him to sign several blank papers. “I was abused and forced to do obscene acts. I do not know the cases,” he said. Meanwhile, the
SHO, Phase I, Harbeer Singh, was conducting raids at the hideouts of
Devinder. The victim was taken to the village at Fatehgarh Sahib where the abductors had kept him.
|
||
|
Cinema
Chandigarh, April 3 While the off-theatre world has ventured into the arena of MP4s, video iPods, portable DVD players with attached 13” screen and laptops, big names like PVR still count on age-old two-projector system, generally called “Crysti” and “Cine Mechanical”. Even as upgraded technology like “digital system” is used in cinemas in Gurgaon and other major cities in the country, it is yet to arrive here. Says an official with PVR Cinemas: “As such there is no requirement of a digital system here. It is more suitable in case of one screen. We have four screens here and 22 shows a day, so this old technology is the best for it.” With more and more city residents crowding multiplexes nowadays, even old city theatres continue to draw modest audience. Earlier, “carbon system” was used in theatres, which continues to remain in practice today. Says Vinay Gambir, manager, Batra Cinemas: “New multiplexes have changed from carbon to bulb system now in which bulb has a good life and costs around Rs 1.25 lakh, but even this system is just a shade better version of the old one.”
|
||
|
Mohali Murder: Sketch of suspect released
The police believes that the suspects had called up the victim on two occasions from a mobile number of Fortis Hospital. The DSP (City), Swarandeep Singh, said the fresh sketch of the suspect would help the police track the case. Though the police is yet not clear about the motive behind the murder, it has confirmed that the first caller called up Sameer on March 10 (at 6.52 pm) and the second call again came from the same number on March 12 (at 6.37 pm). Apparently, both calls were brief and made “using” the same code. The police still believes that both callers had direct or indirect connection to the murder. In the CCTV grab released by the police, one of the suspects was seen wearing a black jacket and white shorts and in the other grab, the other person was seen wearing a check shirt. But a clear picture of the suspects is not visible. They are not employees of the hospital. It is learnt that the cops have tried to reconstruct the sequence of events as told by the complainant,
Sandeep, who is the brother-in-law of Sameer. Certain contradictions in the statement given by the complainant regarding the timing and the sequence of events leading to the incident are baffling the police.
|
||
|
New booths to cost higher
Our Correspondent
Mohali, April 3 As many as 377 shopkeepers of the Janata Rehri Market have been seeking pucca booths for the past many years. GMADA (earlier PUDA), had constructed 130 booths in 2003 for these shopkeepers. The value of the constructed booths, including the land cost, was around Rs 3 crore, but the booths remained in a state of neglect till they were allotted a few months back. Initially, GMADA had decided that each allottee would have to pay about Rs 3.25 lakh as payment for the booth, but later the price was fixed at Rs 3.42 lakh. Those who were able to get the corner booths had to pay 10 per cent extra. At a meeting of GMADA held under the chairmanship of Parkash Singh Badal on November 19, it was decided to take up the matter of the Janata Rehri Market on compassionate grounds as a major fire had damaged the market in 2007 and shopkeepers had been demanding pucca booths since long. It was then decided that at the time of calculating the allotment price of booths that still had to be constructed by GMADA to accommodate all the shopkeepers, the cost of the land should remain the same as in the case of 130 booths constructed about six years ago. But the allotment price should be fixed after taking into account the present day cost of construction. It was, however, stressed that the case of the Janata Rehri Market should not be taken as a precedent while deciding any case in the future.
|
||
|
A peep into medieval period
Chandigarh, April 3 The play “Salaam India” brought to the city by the Durga Das Foundation with The Tribune group of publications as its media sponsor depicted the life in India in its varied manifestations. The play structured in the contemporary life depicted the unity in diversity with a peep into the medieval and contemporary period that reflected the sharing impact of the Aryan, Moghul and the Hindu culture. Inspired particularly by Pavan Varma’s literary classic “Being India” as also the “Discovery of India” and
“Gitanjali”, Lushin designed the production “Salaam India” scripted for stage by Nxicholas
Kharkongor. Structured into various sequences all the four lead actors, Lushin
Dubey, Shena Ghamnat, Ashish Paliwal and Andrew Hoffland each enacted over sixteen characters in all. Their instant shifting to the new diverse roles with consummate ease and perfection was a testimony to their perfect synchronisation.The Tribune trustees Justice SS
Sodhi, Prof RP Bhamba and general manger Sanjay Hazari graced the function.
|
||
|
Ex-SHO booked for duping Advocate-General
Panchkula, April 3 The complainant Rajesh Bhardwaj said the accused Rana was former SHO of Sector 7, reached his house recently and asked for help stating that the wife of his brother attempted suicide and was struggling for life in hospital and he was in need of Rs 20,000.
Bhardwaj, however, arranged Rs 5,000 for Rana who claimed to be elevated to the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police and posted at
Bhondsi. Rana was posted to Sector-5 police station as SHO and it was then that he came in contact with
Bhardwaj. The house of Bhardwaj was burgled in 1999 and Rana used to visit him for the investigation of case. But it was a shock of life for Bhardwaj when he came to know that Rana not only retired in 2003, there were many complaints with the police against him regarding cheating and duping. The police officials at Sector-5 police station confirmed that there were numerous complaints against the accused. Now after the police has registered a case under Section 420 IPC against
Rana, the efforts were being made to contact other victims also.
|
||
|
Zirakpur flyover: Routine checks to continue
Zirakpur, April 3 An official claimed that yesterday the flyover was partially closed only for few minutes to clean the joints on the flyover and it was a part of an operation and maintenance. Officials stated that a few days back, a minor accident occurred during daytime cleaning process in which a car hit into the maintenance tractor while overtaking another vehicle. “From that point of view, we have decided to do major works related to flyover during night time and it will not cause any problem in traffic movement,” said an official.
|
|
Rickshaw-pullers get tips on
traffic rules
Chandigarh, April 3 In charge of the Children Traffic Park, Sector-23, SI Poonam Dilawari told the TNS that rickshaw-pullers were taught about traffic rules at Auto Pond in Sector 34 and near Gurdial petrol station in Sector 22. They were also told to strictly use the cycle tracks while on road. The traffic police also delivered lectures about safe driving and road sense to the rickshaw pullers.
— TNS
|
|||||
|
De-addiction awareness drive
Chandigarh, April 3 The slogan for the event was ‘Drugs, mess with your body, mess with you?’ Club president Sandeep Singh said: “Drug misuse is not a disease; it is a decision, like the decision to step in front of a moving car. One will not call it a disease but an error of judgment. The event will be followed by a drug rehabilitation centre soon.” He added: “The campaign provides a platform to eradicate the evil effects of drugs abuse on youths. The campaign is being organised to create awareness on the growing problem of drug abuse in the city and to prevent the youth from getting deeper into the world of drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse.”
|
|||||
|
|||||
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Mohali, April 3