My friends,
My heartiest congratulations to you all, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Indian Independence! This year holds a special significance, as it also coincides with the 150th year of the beginning of the Indian struggle for Independence.
On this occasion, we pay rich tributes to our freedom fighters and martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for our country. We also express our solidarity and gratitude to the Armed Forces, who are continually protecting the unity, integrity, sovereignty and the borders of our country.
I would also like to congratulate you all, for making Chandigarh the first smoke free city of India, with effect from July 15, 2007. Chandigarh is the face of modern India. The city has been progressing in leaps and bounds, ever since its inception, in 1966. We are committed to providing the residents of Chandigarh with the best quality of life, and to introduce new initiatives to develop the city further.
HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
The health sector is one of our top most priorities. Government of India has accorded its approval for the up-gradation of the School of Nursing to a College of Nursing. Under the National Rural Health Mission, various steps have been taken, like making immunization certificates a pre-requisite for admission in schools in UT, in order to boost immunization.
All deliveries in respect of pregnant mothers residing in urban slums, colonies and villages have been made free-of-cost, in Health Institutions. The Janani Suraksha Yojana has been implemented.
Under the Revised National TB Control Programme, which was launched in January 2002, nearly 12,000 TB patients have been put on DOTS, with an over 85% cure rate and approx. 3,000 lives of TB patients have been saved during this period.
FOOD AND SUPPLIES AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS
The nutritional status of the public is one of the most important factors determining the quality and productivity of the public, which in turn affects national productivity. We have launched a scheme for the fortification of wheat products. The scheme requires installation of micro feeders, in the roller floor mills and Chakki units, as well as the procurement of pre-mix, to be used in the process of fortification. This scheme is being implemented in UT covering all the sources of production of ATTA.
SOCIAL WELFARE
The Department is implementing various schemes for the welfare of the children, women, handicapped and the elderly citizens of Chandigarh. We have launched a thoughtfully structured Action Plan, in the form of a document entitled “Chandigarh Cares for its Children” for protecting children from abuse, exploitation and
neglect. This innovative project plans to ‘put children first’ in every sphere of activity, besides asking every one in our social system to show concern for the problems of child abuse and to contribute in a big way to protect children’s rights and to create a safe and child friendly society.
The Administration has also introduced a new scheme, ‘Financial Assistance for Dependent Children of Widows and Destitute Women’, to extend financial assistance to children who are fatherless, or whose parents have died. Assistance of Rs. 200 per
month per child, up to two children in a family per month, will be given to meet the cost of maintenance.
Chandigarh Administration has decided to establish a Vocational Training and production centre for the disabled, in a building to be constructed in Sector 46, Chandigarh for which, a site measuring 1.12 acres has been earmarked. This centre would be a hub of training, trades and self-employment activities. It would not
only cater to the needs of deserving persons from UT Chandigarh, but also to the neighboring states.
A vocational training centre for street children is also being set up at Maloya. The main objective of this institution will be to reach out to homeless street children and youth, provide them counseling services, leading to their rescue from the unhealthy, abusive and hazardous environs associated with street-life.
TOURISM
Chandigarh Tourism is taking a series of initiatives to promote the city as a destination for tourists and visitors of all categories and nationalities. Visitor arrivals in the city indicate that about 7.5 lakh Indian visitors and 30,000 foreign visitors visited Chandigarh in the past one year, an increase of 15% since last year.
We have tied up with Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh for this purpose. We are also organizing a Northern India Tourism Conference-cum-Expo (N-Tour) on October 6 and 7, to highlight North India as a destination for all seasons and all reasons.
We are also in the process of implementing plans for setting up of a mega Theme-cum-Amusement Park on the outskirts of Chandigarh and a Multimedia-cum-Film City. The Theme Park would be set up over an area of 73 acres and would highlight Indian culture and mythology, while entertaining visitors and holding their interest
for at least two to three days. This project would place Chandigarh on the tourism map as it would be first of its kind in the country. We are expecting 500,000 visitors annually. The Project is likely to be opened to the public by 2009.
Le Corbusier’s original plan of setting up a Museum of Knowledge in Chandigarh will be implemented by the Administration with necessary modifications, as per the requirement of the present time. The Museum of Knowledge will showcase issues facing the evolving India.
TRANSPORT
We are determined to implement an efficient public transport system in the city to supplement the existing services. A Mass Rapid Transport will be introduced, after getting approval from the Government of India.
The second phase of ISBT, Sector 43, is scheduled for completion during this year and ultimately all inter-state buses will be shifted to ISBT, Sector 43 in order to decongest Sector 17 ISBT, which will then cater to local bus service only. CTU is in the process of acquiring new AC buses with a view to strengthen its fleet and
provide efficient service to the citizens. It has further been decided to replace all non-AC buses with AC buses.
EDUCATION
This year, the Education Department brought out a common Prospectus for centralized admission to class-XI in Government Senior Secondary Schools. There are certain changes that have been made in the admission process this time. An additional 1 per cent marks for holders of NCC ‘A’ certificate, will be added. Also, 1 additional seat per section has been reserved for Kashmiri migrants.
Under the ‘Fashion Designing and Clothing construction’ vocational stream, 10 additional seats have been reserved, in two schools i.e. GSSS-45 and GSSS- Mani Majra Town, for Muslim girls. In GMSSS-37, an additional section has been made to accommodate 60 students in the humanities stream.
The Government College of Yoga Education and Health Sector 23 has been established, with effect from June 2, 2007. The Government Yoga Health Organization, Sector 23 has been upgraded and has been renamed as the Government College of Yoga Education
& Health. Punjab University has given affiliation to an innovative programme of a Post Graduate Diploma Course in Yoga Therapy, from 2007-08.
A new College of Commerce and Business Administration has started functioning in Sector 19. Many new courses have also been introduced in different educational institutes. For simplifying the procedure, the Education Department has a common prospectus for all five Government Art and Science colleges. To enhance the
faculty’s exposure level and experience, teachers are encouraged to participate in various national and international seminars and conferences.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY and TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Chandigarh Administration has been promoting Chandigarh as a Knowledge City and has also been attracting investment in the knowledge sector i.e. IT, ITES, Financial Services, Management Services, Hospitality and Tourism etc. For this purpose, companies which have been inclined to invest in Chandigarh have been stressing
on the fact that adequate qualified human resources should be available here, in order to cater to the requirements of this sector in the coming years.
With a view to promoting world class educational facilities, we have decided to set up an Education City over an area of 150 acres. Recent developments in the field of Information Technology have also led to significant improvement in the working of various other departments of the Administration. Patients can now get appointments for the Government Multi Specialty Hospital (GMSH)-16 and Government Medical Hospital (GMCH), 32 at e-Jan Sampark and Gram Sampark centres of Chandigarh. The facility has been launched by Department of Information Technology.
The e-Gram Sampark project has been inaugurated at Khuda Jassu and Dhanas villages and is fully functional. Two more Gram Sampark Centres are ready for launch in the villages of Kaimbwala and Raipur Khurd and the remaining villages will be covered in a phased manner by 31 December 2007. Information services in these Centres will be provided free-of-cost to the people, on the lines of Jan Sampark Services.
The UT Administration has also decided to start e-tendering for its various projects.
Under Chandigarh IT Reach Out Program (CITROP) which is an initiative of the Chandigarh Administration, three batches of basic computer training program and one C-TOSS batch for the children's of the under-privileged segment have been started at Bal Bhawan.
Training will equip these children with necessary computer skills and will further encourage them to excel in specific areas, as per their aptitude and talent. Special batches, for basic computer programming and soft skills, have been launched for the women of minorities to enhance their computer and soft skills and help make them independent.
The Chandigarh Administration, in collaboration with NASSCOM, has set up the Cyber Security and Research Centre (CSRC) at the Punjab Engineering College. CSRC is a security research centre the primary focus of which is to conduct high quality research in the general areas of security, and performance optimization in Networking, at affordable
costs. The Centre is also a platform to provide defence against threats
such as information warfare.
FORESTS
In addition to Sukhna Lake, 191 water bodies or rain water harvesting structures have been established by the Administration so far. This year new water bodies have been created in Patiala-ki-Rao forests, Sukhna Choe Reserve forests and Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary.
Chandigarh Administration is also establishing a world class Aquarium, which will be a part of the Aquatic Park near Regulator End of Sukhna Lake. This Aquarium will have fish of salt and fresh water, and will spread over an area of three acres.
POLICE
There has been a new focus on the basics of policing and a proactive approach to reach out to the public. An anti-smoking drive has been launched in the city
have been decided by the courts and there have been 697 convictions as against 399 acquittals i.e. conviction rate of 63.59 %. In the present period, 1,765 cases pending investigation has been disposed off.
The Police has taken an initiative for obtaining lSI 9001:2000 certificate for all the police stations, Community Relation Unit (CRU) and public window system at the police headquarters with the objective of achieving excellence and standardization in delivery of police services to the citizens.
MUNICIPAL CORPORATION
The Municipal Corporation has taken various measures to strengthen the existing water supply system for the residents of Chandigarh including Manimajra. It has been able to enhance the water supply hours in the entire city of Chandigarh from 13 to 16 hrs, and up to 19 hours within the zone Water Works Sector 37 consisting
of sectors 35 to 43 during the current year, by augmenting the pumping machinery at Water Works in Sectors 12, 26 and 32.
The water supply system of village Burail has been strengthened by laying water supply lines in the left out lanes as well as by augmenting the existing lines keeping in view the population to be served.
SPORTS
The Cricket Stadium of Sector 16 has been upgraded and renovated and its seating capacity has been enhanced from 18,000 to 27,000. The swimming pool in Sector 23 has been converted into an all weather swimming pool, using solar heating system. We have
established two highly specialized multi-gym fitness centres, at the Lake Sports complex and Hockey Stadium Sector 42. A new children’s pool has come up at the Lake Sports Complex.
The Department of Sports has also entered into a tie-up with Egidius Braun Sportschule in Germany for providing specialized training to football trainees of the Academy. The renovation and upgradation work of various stadia and sports complexes in Chandigarh has already been started.
CHANDIGARH HOUSING BOARD-
123.79 acres of land have been earmarked by Chandigarh Administration, for the provision of residential facilities in Chandigarh Technology Park. About 1600 flats will be constructed along with other infra-structural facilities, within 36 months.
To make the city slum free, Chandigarh Administration has directed CHB to construct 25,000 Small Flats to rehabilitate all the slum dwellers of the city under the "Small Flats Scheme - 2006". The sites identified for construction are Maloya, Dhanas, Manimajra, Ram Darbar, Maulijagra and Sectors 38 (West) and 49. The work has been started. The Board has embarked on an ambitious project of Computerization of CHB, to achieve the objective of a 'Less Paper' office.
INDUSTRIES
As per the decision of the Chandigarh Administration, the Industries Department has set up a Centre for Artisans called ‘Kala Darpan’ at Panchayat Bhawan, Sector 18 to sell the products of artisans without charging any rent, or profit.
The Administration has also constituted a Chandigarh Economic Advisory Committee under the chairmanship of the Adviser to the UT Administrator in lieu of the Chandigarh Industrial Advisory Committee. The scope of the committee is not only industrial development, but also the growth of IT and IT enabled and financial
services.
ENGINEERING
The Engineering Department has completed the construction of a 2 lane dual-carriage way concrete road 1.2 km long between Sector 31 and 32 and 6 feet wide footpath on both sides along with efficient drainage system and cross ducts for laying any future services. Water bodies in Botanical Garden and Patiala-ki-Rao have been
created by erecting temporary bandhs besides constructing a recreation site which will also help in conserving water.
We have also upgraded various road infrastructure facilities by carpeting 60 km long various type of roads and strengthening and widening 6.4 km of road. Sukhna Lake has also been upgraded, by providing a colour water fountain and windmill, besides landscaping of the area. Various other infrastructural developments have also
been made for providing better living conditions to the citizens of the city.
A 3.8 km 2 lane dual-carriage way (route No.2) taking off from road opposite village Hallomajra to Industrial Area, Panchkula is under construction. It will be an alternate route for the residents of Panchkula and will reduce the load on the Chandigarh-Kalka road. Two 66 KV Grid Sub stations have been constructed in Sector
18 and Manimajra.
RURAL DEVELOPMENT –
Piped water supply and electricity has been provided in all UT villages. Six health sub-centres are functioning in villages- Kaimbwala, Dhanas, Khuda Lahora, Raipur Kalan, Daria and Mauli Jagran. All the villages have been provided with basic facilities like sanitation, proper roads, bus service etc. As many as 14 schools,
including three senior secondary, eight high schools, one middle school and two primary schools, have been opened in UT villages to provide educational facilities to the rural children The upgradation of villages is planned to be completed by 31 Dec.
We have achieved our goal of making Chandigarh a fine example of harmonized activity, by created partnerships in various fields and thus contributing to the city’s growth and development.
We must continue to work together, for an even better future. On this momentous occasion, I once again call upon all of you, on a higher level, to contribute to the progress and prosperity of India. If we all work together and harmonize our endeavour, we will take India to new heights.
Jai Hind!
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