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TRIBUNE IMPACT
Admn swings into action on VAT issue
Excise officers directed to organise awareness camps
Chandigarh, March 8
After initially dragging itself on the outstanding value added tax (VAT) issue, the UT Administration now seems to be swinging into rapid action. Earlier, despite repeated uproars in various state Assemblies over the proposed VAT Act coming into force across the country from April 1, the response of the Chandigarh Administration to the whole affair was quite slack.

Student commits suicide
Chandigarh, March 8
The body of a first-year student of hotel management at the Dr Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management, Sector 42, was found hanging from the ceiling of a bathroom in a Sector 40 house here this morning.

Discussions, contests mark Women’s Day
Chandigarh, March 8
International Women’s Day brought a ray of hope to underprivileged women in Makhan Majra today as the Chandigarh Social Welfare Advisory Board, in collaboration with a voluntary organisation, the Survival of Young and Adolescent Foundation, popularly known as the Surya Foundation, launched an awareness campaign ‘Swasth Naar, Sukhi Parivar’ as part of the national campaign by the Department of Women and Child Development under the Ministry of Human Development.

Young blood in MC out to prove worth
Panchkula, March 8
No matter how dull and dreary the current political set-up may be, for the young newly elected municipal councillors, there is still hope for making their roles as true representatives of the masses more meaningful.

Spring Fest opens amid riot of colours

Panchkula, March 8 The 17th Spring Fest Flower Festival was inaugurated amidst a riot of colours lent by the beautiful flowers of spring and artistes from Rajasthan and Punjab, who enthralled the visitors to the festival at Town Park today. Gatka performers and a rope-walker enthral visitors at the Spring Fest Flower Festival at Town Park, Sector 5, Panchkula, on Saturday. — Photo Manoj Mahajan

COMMUNITY

‘Punjab has lowest sex ratio’
SAS Nagar, March 8
Fatehgarh Sahib district has the lowest male-female ratio followed by Patiala district. Ropar district is ranked third in this regard where the birth ratio is 870 females against 1,000 males.

Tiny tots of Linnet Preparatory School, Sector 43, take part in a fancy dress contest at Pracheen Kala Kendra, Sector 35, Chandigarh, on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

Tribute to empowered women
Chandigarh, March 8
Eminent playwright Sardar Gursharan Singh could not have made a better offering than this one on the occasion of International Women's Day. Through his play "Mera laung gwacha", staged at Tagore Theatre this evening, the theatre veteran bared the festering wounds of hundreds of women who have been consumed by the fire of dowry.

Blood donation camp on Women's Day
Chandigarh, March 8
The Tribune Employees Union organised a blood donation camp on the occasion of International Woman's Day on the premises of The Tribune here today. This was the 15th consecutive blood donation camp and the first on International Women's Day organised by the union.

Kalpana Chawla remembered on Women’s Day
Sangrur, March 8
A district-level seminar on Female foeticide was organised by the district health authorities here today on the occasion of Women’s Day. Mr A.S. Rai, SSP, told the health authorities that the police would extend its support against the violators of the PNDT Act.

Nagar sankirtan by ISKCON Chandigarh, March 8 The local chapter of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) today organised a Sri Gaur Purnima nagar sankirtan as part of celebrations of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s appearance day that falls on March 18, according to Maharaj Dasa Prabhu, a spokesman of the unit. ISKCON devotees participate in a nagar sankirtan in Sector 44, Chandigarh, on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph.

Wares by slum women displayed
Panchkula, March 8
Param — a stall set up during the 17th Spring Fest outside Town Park here displayed nightwears and napkins, especially made by women from lower economic strata.

‘Samaritans need to be awarded’
SAS Nagar, March 8
‘‘Persons who bring road accident victims to the hospital or inform the police about such victims lying unattended on the roads deserve to be given awards and appreciation.

Mixed reaction to STD code change
SAS Nagar, March 8
Following the decision of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited to change the STD code of SAS Nagar from 0172 to 0160, there have been mixed reactions from residents of the township.

• Seminar organised
• Cong rubbishes BJP claim
• Jain asked to join probe

CRIME

Liquor seized from MC ex-chief’s factory
SAS Nagar, March 8
Over five cases of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) were allegedly seized by a team of the Excise Department during a late evening raid on the factory premises of Mr Harinder Pal Singh Billa, former president of the municipal council, SAS Nagar, here today. Factory caretaker Kalu Ram was arrested.

‘Dairies need brand building’
Chandigarh, March 8
Dairying in India has emerged as an important sector of the economy and is growing at a rate of 5 per cent per annum. The total milk production, about 60 million tonnes, is only second to the USA, but the productivity is far below the world average. These views were expressed by the national experts in the dairy sector gathered here to participate in a three-day 32nd Dairy Industry Conference, North Zone.

EDUCATION

PU Syndicate to take up fee concession issue
Chandigarh, March 8
The issue of grant of concession to wards of employees of affiliated colleges who are seeking admission to various courses under the non-resident Indian (NRI) quota or NRI-sponsored seats is expected to be taken up afresh at the Panjab University Syndicate meeting, scheduled to be held on March 15.

1,200 take part in YPS meet

Chandigarh, March 8 It was a real test of endurance and stamina for more than 1,200 students of Yadavindra Public School, SAS Nagar, when they participated in the Inter-House Cross Country races this morning. Stating this, Mr Harish Dhillon, Principal of the school, said every year these kind of long distance races were organised. Jubilant junior students of Yadavindra Public School, SAS Nagar, buck up participants at the annual cross-country races of the school on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

225 students donate blood
Chandigarh, March 8
The Institute of Engineering and Technology, Bhaddal, today celebrated International Women’s Day by organising a blood donation camp and a paper-reading contest. In all 225 units of blood were donated by students at the camp, which was organised by the NSS unit of the institute.

Nine caught cheating during examination
Panchkula, March 8
As many as nine students appearing for their English compartment examination of class XII under the Haryana School Education Board were caught cheating during the examination held yesterday.

City teachers to visit Europe, USA
Chandigarh, March 8
Two city teachers, Mr Ravinder Talwar, Principal of DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8 and Dr Vikas Kohli, a teacher from the same school, have been selected to take part in a series of seminars on environment awareness and AIDS across the Europe and the USA from May 14.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
Land acquisition: hearing tomorrow
Chandigarh, March 8
A bunch of writ petitions challenging a notification issued by the Chandigarh Administration expressing intention to acquire 29.07 acres in the revenue estate of Mani Majra “for developing residential complex” will come up for further hearing before a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday.

CULTURE

Irshad group enthrals audience
Chandigarh, March 8
A spiritual feeling engulfed the venue of Plaza Carnival in Sector 17 today as the Irshad Rehmat qawal group from Malerkotla presented an evening of rousing, rich qawalis based on Sufiana Kalaam and Bulle Shah’s ‘kafi’.

SPORTS

Bengal lift women’s doubles TT title
Chandigarh, March 8
Montu Murmuru and P. Banerjee of Bengal lifted the women’s doubles (above 40) title in the 10th National Veterans Table Tennis tournament under way in Sector 23 TT hall here. 

• Total Tennis

• GMCH sports meet

• Golf tourney

Postal services from new building
Chandigarh, March 8
Postal services to the people of Mani Majra will now be offered from a new building which was inaugurated by Mr Vijay Bhushan, Member (Operations), Postal Service Board, at a function organised here today.

Police transfers
Chandigarh, March 8
The Inspector-General of Police, Chandigarh, yesterday ordered transfers of seven inspectors, including those who were promoted on an ad hoc basis on Thursday. The following have been transferred.