Bathinda, December 1
Continuing its second colourful date with the city, the inaugural ceremony of the third edition of the Kabaddi World Cup today drenched the city in festivities.

Starting with the national anthem, the show started with performers dancing with eight colourful zorbing balls lit with LED lights. The performing arena was washed in blue incandescent lights. A laser show followed the dance wherein school students made formations with long "dupattas" indicating the five rivers of Punjab. Students also put up boards together highlighting the picture of CM Prakash Singh Badal embracing his son Sukhbir Singh Badal.

The captains of all the participating teams made an entry in style riding the pillion of a Bullet motorcycle. The teams were introduced to the audience. The Scotland team stole the show with their kilt. Dressed in their traditional skirts, Scotland was the only team to do a "Namaste" while the others preferred to wave at the gathering. People missed the players of Turkmenistan and Pakistan who could not make it on time.

A huge crowd watches.

The mascot for the games, Jaanbaaz, started the torch relay that went around the stadium before being handed over to Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal who declared the event open. Jaanbaaz passed on the torch to judo champion Bhupinder Singh, the bronze medal winner at Commonwealth Games who further handed it over to Beant Kaur, an ASI with the Punjab Police and a national gold medallist, Harmail Singh, the winner of the fifth Asian taekwondo championship. The torch was passed on to KPS Brar, Manjit Kaur and Balwinder Cheema.

The group Stereo Nation also performed and the mood picked up when they played their famous number, "Nachchange Sari Raat Soneyon Ve". Akshay Kumar came dancing in a truck singing "Hune Hune Hoyi Mutiyar" and performed the "Balma" song from the film "Khiladi 786" with actress Claudia and Asin. Claudia was dressed in a polka dot shirt and black slacks while Asin wore a flowing lehenga. They went around the stadium in a blue Mercedes.

Sidelights

• At the onset of the programme, when the national anthem was being played, CM Prakash Singh Badal enthusiastically waved towards the crowd while Sukhbir Badal told him to keep his hand down as the national anthem was being played.
• Actors promoted their movies and albums. While the star attraction, Akshay Kumar, promoted his movie "Khiladi 786" at the Kabaddi World Cup inaugural ceremony, Punjabi singer Miss Pooja promoted her movie "Kivein Aa Pooja" and anchor-turned-singer Satinder Satti promoted her music album. Apart from the movies, the sponsors of the event too promoted their products. The tractor on which Miss Pooja entered the stadium was also a part of the promotional strategy.
• A minute-long silence was observed in the memory of former Prime Minister IK Gujral whose cremation took place today. The programme was dedicated to him. Fireworks that were the highlight of the second edition of the kabaddi cup, were cancelled because of Gujral's death.
• While anchor Satinder Satti regaled the audience with her signature poetic style, Joy Batth retained his crisp Punjabi with English accent.
• Foraying into Punjabi cinema, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar declared that he was launching his maiden Punjabi venture, "Bhaaji in Trouble". A comedy movie, "Bhaaji in Trouble" will have comedian Gurpreet Ghuggi and singer-turned-actor Gippy Grewal. Pairing with them would be the screenplay writer of the film "Carry on Jatta" Sumit Kang. Akshay promised to deliver a film full of entertainment. 

Bathinda, December 1
Having watched Shah Rukh Khan perform at the inaugural ceremony of the Kabaddi World Cup last year, the audiences in Bathinda soaked in the joy of watching super khiladi Akshay Kumar entertain them.

For people like Ashima, a student of SSD Girls College, it was a dream come true to watch Akshay perform live. "It took a lot of pleading and persuasion to extract a VIP pass. But seeing Akshay was worth taking the trouble of standing in the queue," she said with a smile.

Bhupinder Singh Brar from Kotkapura and his bunch of six friends had come all the way to have a glimpse of Akshay. "We are very fond of martial art. As Akshay too has mastered martial art, he is our ideal. We came here to watch him. It was wonderful to see him dance as well as sing, something which he rarely does," he added.

For the residents of Manocha Colony and Kanhaiya Nagar, putting up with loudspeakers and songs over the last few days had become unbearable. "We are happy that the event has finally been held. Moreover, we enjoyed watching the entire function standing on our rooftops. Though we could only catch a glimpse of them, it was enjoyable," said Ashok Kumar, who lives near Chhabra Palace.

Even the men in khakhi had their special moments with Akshay. The actor promptly obliged a handful of new recruits by posing with them for pictures.

Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Government Elementary School and the junior wing of the Delhi Public School had been closed for the day. Two hospitals situated on the road leading from Bhatti Road to the stadium were also cordoned off for the smooth movement of the VVIP traffic. Patients had to opt for the lanes to reach the hospitals. — TNS

Bathinda, December 1
The door-to-door cancer detection campaign began in the district today. Deputy Commissioner Kamal Kishore Yadav and Civil Surgeon Dr Ajay Sahni flagged off the campaign. The DC thanked the institutes taking part and encouraged the nursing students.

The Deputy Comissioner appealed to the people to cooperate with the teams visiting their homes for the survey.

Under the campaign, the employees of the health department will conduct the survey in each and every village and town.

The Civil Surgeon said that ANM training school students (multi-purpose female health workers) from the Adesh Institute, Punjab Public Nursing College, Mahant Gurbanta Dass Nursing Institute, Baba Moni Nursing College, Guru Nanak Nursing School, Deep Nursing Institute and Dasam Guru Gobind Singh Nursing Institute will conduct the survey.

The students will create awareness as well as inform the people about the treatment of cancer. Special information will be given about the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for cancer patients in Punjab. The major 12 symptoms of cancer will be discussed during these visits.

The emphasis is on early detection of cancer so that the treatment is initiated timely. Besides collecting information about the number of cancer patients, a list of people cured of cancer will also be given.

The cancer detection campaign also aims at registering cancer deaths over a period of five years.

"The survey will be helpful in creating sensitivity among the health workers as well as in dispelling myths related to the disease," said District Health Officer Dr RS Randhawa. As many as 1130 teams of ANM and ASHA workers have been formulated.

Bathinda, december 1
The 41st State Students Science Exhibition was formally inaugurated at the Baba Farid Group of Institutions here today by the additional state project director of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Authority, Punjab, Parampal Kaur Maluka. She dedicated the exhibition to the former prime minister of India, Inder Kumar Gujral.

In her inaugural address, Parampal Kaur Maluka said the late PM was very keen on promoting science and the teaching of science amongst the students. She said although teaching of science was important, inculcation of scientific temperament was equally important.

She said many government schools in the state were going beyond classroom teaching for the welfare of the students and the department of school education would soon release a book on it. She praised the schools which had started growing vegetables on the school premises to use the same for mid-day meals.

Some schools, she said, with the help of the NGOs had even set up special coaching classes to prepare the students for competitive exams.

She also highlighted how latest inventions and development in science had led to an increase in the average lifespan of humans and the production of more foodgrain for the increasing population.

While delivering his welcome address, Jagtar Singh Kularia, deputy director, State Institute of Science Education (SISE), Punjab, said developments in science had played a key role in solving many problems faced by humans and added that the students should be encouraged to develop a scientific temper.

He also enlisted the events of the four-day science exhibition. He appreciated the efforts of the district authorities of the education department and BFGI for making all the arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the science fair.

BFGI director Gurmeet Singh Dhaliwal urged the teachers to be role models for the students.

Dhaliwal claimed that many of the problems faced by the students were due to the lack of good role-models.

He also listed the various social and environmental activities being undertaken by the BFGI.

District Education Officer (Secondary) Hardeep Singh Taggar said it was a matter of honour for his team that a number of state level events were being held in Bathinda district. He said despite being a holiday today, a large number of female teachers had visited the science exhibition along with their students.

Jarnail Singh, District Science Supervisor (DSS), said the results for slogan writing and essay writing competitions were also declared today. While the first prize was bagged by Sukhwinder Kaur of Hoshiarpur, the second prize was won by Manjot Singh of Faridkot. Harvinder Kaur of Sangrur stood third.

Ramandeep Shukla of Rupnagar won the first prize in the essay writing competition. Prabhdeep Kaur of Hoshiarpur won the second prize, Gulafsha Parveen of Mukatsar bagged the third prize.

Mohinderpal Singh, assistant district science superviser, who is overseeing this exhibition, said that more than 2000 students and nearly 150 teachers of 58 schools visited this exhibition today.

Bathinda, December 1
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Mohammad Tayyab flagged off an awareness rally on the occasion of World AIDS Day today. Also present on the occasion was civil surgeon, Dr Ajay Sahni.

The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘Getting to Zero: Zero New HIV Infections, Zero Deaths from AIDS-related Illness, Zero Discrimination’.

The rally was taken out from Dhobi Bazar, railway station, Gole Diggi Chowk and concluded near the fire brigade chowk on Mall Road.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ajay Sahni said there were 1,490 HIV positive cases in the Bathinda district.

The Civil Surgeon added that 966 of these were undergoing free anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment. The other patients had appreciable CD4 immune cell count and hence they had been kept under observation, he said

He said protected sex prevented AIDS by 88 per cent. Only in five per cent of the cases, the infection was transmitted from an HIV positive affected pregnant mother to her child.

Around 700 people including representatives of various non-government organisations, Indian Medical Association (IMA) unit of Bathinda, ANM nursing school students, National Social Service (NSS) volunteers of Desraj Memorial Senior Secondary School and school children participated in the awareness rally.

The state health department also held an exhibition creating awareness about AIDS and distributed pamphlets educating people.

In the evening, UN AIDS coordinator Narinder Bassi organised an AIDS awareness programme at the railway station where people lighted candles to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS. People were urged to remain vigilant and prevent the incidence of the disease.

Bathinda, december 1
Ramesh Kumar, a resident of Subhash Basti, stated that his Splendor motorcycle was stolen from outside Jeet Palace on Barnala Road. The motorcycle was worth Rs 20,000.

In another case, a resident of Guru Gobind Singh Nagar stated that he had parked his Activa scooter near Bibiwala Chowk and had gone to Lehra Mohabbat thermal plant.

When he came back, he found his scooter missing. Police have registered cases against unknown persons. — TNS