CHANDIGARH: The two-hour public hearing session by the Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh, Gen. (Retd.) S.F. Rodrigues,  and  Jean Rodrigues at UT Secretariat turned out to be a fruitful forum.

Many aggrieved people, especially the disadvantaged, destitute and handicapped, got possible solution to their problems on the spot and the remaining were assured of speedy action as their requests needed examination by the concerned departments.

Directions to the senior officers, to find solutions in a time bound programme, fixing the timings of the aggrieved with the concerned officers during the session and orders for expediting the issues with deadline were the other highlights.

The representations which the Administrator received today pertains to Estate office, Chandigarh Housing Board, Rehabilitation of handicapped and mentally retarded children, names omitted in the biometric survey for rehabilitation of slum dwellers, improvement in Shastri Market, besides personal property disputes. General  Rodrigues, while dealing with the requests made it clear to the officers that every representation must be examined from the legal point of view and expedited.  In many cases, the applicants received appropriate counseling and guidance, as the issues involve legal problems. 

While, listening to a representation from Traders of Shastri Market, Sector 22, General Rodrigues offered them a partnership with the Municipal Corporation for bringing about improvement and upgrading the infrastructural facilities.  He told them that this kind of strategy has been a very successful experiment in markets of various sectors in the City and the others should also follow suit. He made it clear that the traders and residents must develop a sense of “ownership” and help the Administration in the removal of encroachments and illegal structures, to create a better environment and working conditions.

Sharing his concern with the parents who came with their mentally retarded and crippled children, General Rodrigues asked the officers to take speedy steps for the completion of the first phase of projects pertaining to mentally retarded children, crippled children and street children, already undertaken by the Administration. He told the officers to set up separate teams for finalizing the modalities and necessary support structure for vocational education and the empowerment of needy children in these most vital projects of major societal concern.  He advised the parents to make use of these facilities for making their children self-reliant and independent in their lives. 

A few persons approached the Administrator with their grievances for including their names in the biometric survey conducted by the Administration for rehabilitation of slum dwellers.  General Rodrigues asked the Finance Secretary and Deputy Commissioner to undertake a fresh exercise for all such cases who have not been covered earlier. He told the officers that this drive must be totally transparent and expedited speedily.  He asked the Chairman, Chandigarh Housing Board to take steps by 15th May, for completing the necessary formalities for the process for the construction of 25,000 flats for slum dwellers and also simultaneous planning for properly utilizing the land vacated in this process. He also directed the Deputy Commissioner to initiate legal proceedings against the management of different cooperative societies, who have committed regularities in allotment of houses and also defaulters who did not follow the guidelines.

Later, General Rodrigues released a Coffee Table Book entitled “Chandigarh the City Beautiful” with captivating collection of photographs from award winning entries in various competitons. Some of the photographs are also from the collections of eminent residents of the City. Divided into sections depicting “modern heritage’, ‘life and its colours’ and ‘Gardens’, this delightful presentation depicts Chandigarh in all its glorious colours. Appreciating the effort, he asked Director Tourism, Mr. Vivek Attray to bring out publication on “Moods of Sukhna” and also execute various schemes for promotion of tourism in the City. This book is available in the Tourism Department, UT, Chandigarh.