Administrator UT Chandigarh Releases Annual Report of Chandigarh Right to Service Commission; Directs Officials to Bring Remaining Services Online

Chandigarh, October 8, 2026: Shri Gulab Chand Kataria, Hon’ble Governor of Punjab and Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh, today released the Annual Report of the Chandigarh Right to Service Commission for the year 2025–2026.

The programme was attended by Dr. Mahavir Singh, Chief Commissioner, Chandigarh Right to Service Commission; Shri Vivek Pratap Singh, Additional Chief Secretary to the Hon’ble Governor of Punjab; Shri Mandip Singh Brar, Home Secretary; Shri Diprava Lakra, Finance Secretary; Dr. Sagar Preet Hooda, Director General of Police; Ms. Prerna Puri, Secretary Education; Shri Swapnil M. Naik, Secretary Personnel; Shri Nishant Kumar Yadav, Deputy Commissioner; Ms. Kanwardeep Kaur, Senior Superintendent of Police; and Shri Rajiv Tewari, Member-Secretary, Chandigarh Right to Service Commission.

On the occasion, Dr. Mahavir Singh made a presentation on the functioning of the Commission. He informed the Administrator that 556 services across 35 departments of the Chandigarh Administration have been notified under the Right to Service Act. Of these, 432 services are available online, while 124 services continue to be provided offline.

The Administrator directed the officials to take immediate steps to make the remaining 124 services available online. He also directed them to bring more services under the ambit of the Right to Service Act and organise public awareness campaigns to inform citizens about the notified services and how to access them.

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Closing Ceremony of Poshan Maah 2026

Chandigarh, October 8, 2026:The closing ceremony of Poshan Maah 2026, being observed under the theme “Hamari Anganwadi Hamari Jimmedari,” was organised at Vikas Nagar. The programme marked the culmination of various nutrition and community-awareness activities undertaken throughout the month.

During the programme, a review of the activities conducted during Poshan Maah 2026 was carried out, highlighting the efforts made at the community and Anganwadi Centre level to promote nutrition, health and early childhood care.

As part of the closing activities, a rally was organised at Maloya Colony, with participation from Anganwadi workers, beneficiaries and community members. The rally focused on spreading awareness regarding healthy nutrition, child care and community participation in nutrition-related initiatives.

Several awareness and counselling activities were also conducted, including nutrition counselling for mothers, awareness regarding the importance of seasonal fruits and vegetables, immunisation awareness, a lecture on drug awareness and sensitisation on exclusive breastfeeding during home visits.

During home visits, beneficiaries and families were further sensitised on reducing plastic waste, age-appropriate feeding, responsive feeding, menstrual hygiene and appropriate care of newly born children. The activities aimed to strengthen community awareness and encourage families to adopt healthy and sustainable practices.

The closing programme reaffirmed the commitment of the Department towards strengthening community participation and ensuring that the messages of nutrition, health, hygiene and responsible childcare continue beyond Poshan Maah.

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‘Liver Safe Chandigarh Initiative’ Launched to Promote Liver Health Among Youth

Chandigarh, October 8:The Chandigarh Institute for Transformation–State Support Mission (CIT-SSM), NITI Aayog, today launched the ‘Liver Safe Chandigarh Initiative’ to promote awareness, early detection and prevention of steatotic liver disease (SLD) among the city’s youth. The initiative was launched during a seminar on ‘Healthy Liver, Healthy Life: Understanding and Preventing Steatotic Liver Disease’ held at Post Graduate Government College, Sector 11, Chandigarh.

The initiative aims to take the message of liver health to colleges and communities, with a focus on early awareness and adoption of healthy lifestyle practices to prevent the progression of fatty liver disease.

Speaking at the seminar, Special Secretary Finance Smt. Anuradha Chagti, Chief Guest, formally launched the initiative and highlighted the importance of collaboration among policymakers, administrators and medical experts to address liver disease through early intervention and preventive measures.

The seminar was organised by CIT-SSM in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education and Department of Health Services, Chandigarh Administration, and the Department of Hepatology, PGIMER. Senior officials, public health experts, hepatologists from PGIMER and students participated in the programme.

Dr. Nidhi, Programme Officer, NP-NCD, Department of Health Services, Chandigarh Administration, highlighted the role of the Health Department in translating medical evidence into preventive action and promoting liver health among young people.

During the technical sessions, Dr. Ajay Duseja, Professor and Head, Department of Hepatology, PGIMER, discussed the growing burden of fatty liver disease, while Dr. Nipun Verma, Additional Professor, explained its development and the role of modern, non-invasive diagnostic methods in early detection. Dr. Arka Dey, Associate Professor, spoke about clinical management and prevention, emphasising the importance of a balanced diet, regular physical activity and reducing sugar intake.

The initiative marks the beginning of a sustained city-wide effort to promote healthy habits, improve awareness and encourage early action against a largely preventable liver disease among Chandigarh’s youth.

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NETRA Digital Library to Empower Persons with Visual Disabilities

CHANDIGARH, 08.10.26-The Chandigarh Child and Women Development Corporation, functioning under the Department of Social Welfare, Women & Child Development (CCWDC), Chandigarh Administration, is operating a digital library named ‘Nurturing Empowerment Through Reading Access’ (NETRA) for persons with visual disabilities at the Rehabilitation Centre for Special Children – Prayas, Sector 38-B, Chandigarh.

The facility provides persons with visual disabilities free access to modern assistive technologies. Specialised equipment available at the centre includes Lex Instant Reader and Scanner (English) for reading books and other printed material through auto-capture; a 3.5-inch handheld video magnifier; Orbit Reader, which converts digital text into tactile Braille characters and has an in-built keyboard for reading and writing; Brailler, an over-the-air Perkins keyboard with six-dot entry and a bell that alerts the user before the end of a line; SuperNova software, an assistive technology that enables persons who are blind or have low vision to independently use Windows computers through HD-quality screen magnification and customisable speech/text-to-speech output; and a Talking Calculator, which provides spoken feedback for every number, key or operation pressed and also announces the final calculated result.

These assistive devices enable persons with visual disabilities to access printed materials and digital library resources quickly and independently, thereby supporting their education, learning and overall development.

This is the first and only digital library for persons with visual disabilities in Chandigarh. The facility is open from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday to Friday, and from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Saturdays. Persons with visual disabilities can visit the digital library during these hours and make use of the specialised facilities. The initiative is expected to significantly enhance their learning experience and support their greater participation in and contribution to the development of the nation.

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Administrator UT Chandigarh Conducts Surprise Inspection of Sector 26 Mandi; Directs Action against Erring Staff and Timely Completion of Development Works

Chandigarh, October 8, 2026: Shri Gulab Chand Kataria, Hon’ble Governor of Punjab and Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh, today conducted a surprise inspection of the Sector 26 Mandi. This was his fourth visit to the Mandi in the last one and a half years.

During the inspection, the Administrator expressed strong displeasure over the poor condition of roads, sewerage and sanitation in the Mandi. He stressed the need for prompt action to improve basic infrastructure and cleanliness in the market.

He also observed that the public toilets in the Mandi were in poor condition and directed the Municipal Corporation to take necessary measures for their proper maintenance and to ensure cleanliness and hygiene.

The Administrator also visited the Market Committee office, which is presently housed in a private building, and checked the attendance of staff deployed in the Mandi. He directed that strict action be taken against officials who reported late or were absent without authorisation.

He further directed that action be taken against staff failing to discharge their duties satisfactorily and that non-performing outsourced personnel be replaced.

The Administrator also directed that road recarpeting and sewerage works be completed within a stipulated timeframe. Shri C. B. Ojha, Chief Engineer, U.T. Chandigarh, was directed to furnish details of the action taken by the Engineering Department to carry out development works in the Mandi.

The directions issued during the visit focused on improving basic amenities and cleanliness in the Mandi, ensuring timely completion of development works and strengthening staff accountability.

Deputy Commissioner Shri Nishant Kumar Yadav and Secretary, Marketing Board, Shri D. Karthikeyan were also present during the visit, having been called to the spot by the Administrator UT Chandigarh.