Heavy rush for BBA admissions
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 1 — Though it was a Sunday and a holiday, yet the grounds of Government College, Sector 46, were crowded with parents and students and the air was agog with excitement here today. The college was the venue for admission to Bachelor of Business Administration course.

After days of ceaseless waiting and suspense, eager students had come with their parents not only from the city but also from various cities of Punjab. Students who ranked high on the merit list were calm, poised and were confident that they would secure admissions in the college of their choice. Those down the line in the list were nervous, unsure of where destiny would land them.

Some were worked up into a state of intense emotional excitement while others were in a state of dejection. Three girls, Ritu Sarin, Shalini Bansal and Deepika Verma, hailing from Ferozepore, said, "We had come with the expectation of getting a seat in Government College for Girls, Sector 11. Our only hope of staying in the city is gone. We had persuaded our parents to stay in the city and they had agreed to give in to our demand if we got a seat. That hasn't happened, which means we will have to take admission in one of the colleges in Punjab.''

The whole driveway to the college and the porch were full of parents of students, most of them squatting on the floor or sitting on the stairs, with small briefcases or bags to store a few eats and books to pass time. Those at the reception were besieged by parents and students making enquires even though announcement of the ranks being interviewed was being made from time to time.

A hundred students were called at a time to the room where eight city colleges had set up separate counters for admitting students. After confirming their presence, the students were guided to the counter of the college of their choice where they completed all formalities and went their way. It was clear that teachers would not be hurried by the pressure of a large number of students with the way they spent time scrutinising every certificate and dealt with papers carefully.

Admissions to colleges of Punjab will be held at the same venue tomorrow and 20 out of the 24 colleges will be coming for counselling. Principal D.P. Singh, Co-ordinator of Admissions, said that seats in all city colleges were filled by late afternoon after which admissions for students seeking admission in the reserved category were taken up. The Registrar, Prof Paramjit Singh, visited the venue to ensure the admission process went on smoothly.

Films on cruelty to animals
By Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 1 — To create awareness among people about cruelty against animals, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) is making six short-duration 35-mm animation and documentary films, in various Indian languages, depicting all aspects of cruelty on animals.

It is for the first time that the cash-strapped board is undertaking such an exercise, aimed at involving people at grassroots level in its move against cruelty and other animal welfare exercises. It has earmarked a budget provision of Rs 10 lakh for the purpose. Additional resources for the project, if need be, would be generated by the board by involving business houses in the venture.

According to official sources, two films of two-to-three minutes' duration were being shot on the animation format while the rest four films will feature artistes like any other film. While 20 to 25 per cent shooting of the animation films has already been completed, the shooting of three other films is likely to commence soon.The process of selection of artistes is on.

Talking to TNS, Swami Svayam Bhagwan Das, in charge of the project, who was on his way to Kargil to supervise the animal relief programme of the board there along with Mr Jasbir Ralhan, another executive member, said the board was planning to show these films on various TV channels and in cinema houses to reach a wide range of people.

"One of the main reasons for shooting films on the 35 mm format is that we want to show these in cinema houses so as to reach maximum people in the rural part of the country," said Mr Das.

He said the films would be based on the heroic deeds of people saving animals and on ancient Indian legends associated with cruelty to animals. The board is of the view that cruelty cannot be stopped unless people in rural areas are involved and this is possible only by communicating the message through a simple way and in their own language.

An animated film is based on the story of King Martand of South, who sentenced his own son to be crushed under a chariot as the latter had done with a calf accidentally. Similarly, the theme of another film is based on the valour exhibited by Geeta Ben, an Honorary Animal Welfare Officer in Gujarat, who was done to death while saving a cow from the clutches of butchers in 1996. For her heroic deed, she has already been nominated by the board for the prestigious 'Prani Mitra' award 1999 posthumously.

The animated format has been selected to cut costs as the board cannot afford to make costly sets to show the huge palaces and other structures related with the King, added Mr Das.

All units of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in the country and the other Animal Welfare Organisations (AWOs) associated with the board would get sets of all films after their completion within this year. They, in turn, will go to people with these.

Three out of six films depict actual cruelty being inflicted on animals in all forms in slaughterhouses and on dogs, monkeys, rabbits and other load-carrying animals, said Mr Swami. He is an experienced documentary film maker, who has made 18 short-duration films on family planning. He said to get financial help for the project, the board will rope in some business houses which would be given slots for advertisements in the films.

Breast-feed your baby to make him healthier
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 1 — Breast feeding helps in saving the lives of babies by enhancing their immune system to protect them from external infections and malnutrition, thus controlling the infant mortality rate (IMR), besides making them more intelligent and stronger.

Mother's milk contains anti-bodies to prevent diseases. Besides, the country's economy would get a major boost if all mothers feed their babies with breast milk. A whopping Rs 1,300 crore will be the approximate saving from consumption of milk that is sold in its powered form.

More money is required to buy powder milk than what it will cost to supplement a woman's diet to produce more milk while she is in the lactating stage, opine experts.

At the moment the Chandigarh has an IMR of 33 per 1,000. This means annually 33 children among 1,000 newly borns die before they reach the age of one. The countrywide rate is 60 per 1,000. These issues are among the core of the ''promotion of breast- feed '' week that started today.

Mother's milk, if given to the child for the first six months, can also prevent cases of diarrhoea and respiratory tract infections that occur in babies who are not on breast milk. The anti-bodies contained naturally in breast milk are not present in cow or buffalo milk, said Dr M.P. Minocha, Director Family Welfare, while explaining the importance of breast milk.

The other available option is powder milk which is expensive. With more and more women working they are unable to feed their children and to save cost of powder milk they dilute it, thus the child does not grow. Most lactating women can produce anything between 450 ml and 700 ml of milk a day.

This is more than sufficient for a baby till the age of six months. Even after six months breast feeding must continue. Though breast feeding alone may not be sufficient it will act as natural vaccination, opine doctors.

This is being jointly organised by the UT Health Department in collaboration with the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, Chandigarh Chapter. Experts, who discussed these issues in the past few days were Dr Joginder Singh, Director, Health Services (DHS), Prof Anil Narang, President of the Chandigarh Chapter of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, Dr Rama Mahajan and Dr Uma Arora of the PGI Dietics Department.

Further advocating the need for breast milk, Dr Minocha said breast milk could be used as an effective tool for spacing children. The process of ovulation stopped in a lactating mother, thus acting as a natural contraceptive.

Few admissions in classes XI, XII
From Our Correspondent

DERA BASSI, Aug 1 — The local Government Degree College has admitted few students in classes XI and XII because of the low pass percentage of the matriculation results declared by the Punjab State Education Board during the last academic session.

The admission in the science stream of class XII in the college has declined this year as compared to last year while the number of students registered in humanities group has gone up. The commerce group comes second in the registration graph.

Only three students have got admission in medical group and 14 in non-medical in class XI (Science). The college has admitted 35 students in commerce and 90 in arts for the 1999-2000 session. The admissions in different streams is less than the previous academic year.

Students have preferred other schools and colleges for admission because of the poor results of this college. The students also say some of the college teachers are not friendly with them. They feel insecure from the employment point of view and instead of going for higher studies, they like to join the private concerns in this subdivision to earn their livelihood.

A student of the college feels that after passing out the matriculation or class XII from school, one aims to enjoy college atmosphere. He also desires to be loved or be in love. But the aims are washed away because of the strictness of the teachers. This has also led to less admissions in the college.

Another student, who has left the college and joined a private concern, says the college teachers have created a school-like atmosphere in the college. They do not allow girls and boys to sit together during free periods. The teachers see them with suspicious eyes.

Meanwhile, the Principal of the college, Ms Satwant Juneja, says bad results of the education board has led to less registration in the college this year. She says the “set system” of the question papers adopted by the board has restricted copying.

The other reason for less admission in science stream is Punjabi being the medium of instruction in matriculation. After passing their matriculation with Punjabi medium, the students follow slowly the science subjects in English when they join the college. Strictness is compulsory to maintain discipline on college premises, she adds.

DAV institutions’ role lauded
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Aug 1— A Congress member of the Rajya Sabha, Mr Lachman Singh, said here today that by opening public schools the DAV movement had responded in a positive manner to the controversy over religious conversions.

Speaking after laying the foundation stone of a girls hostel on the premises of Hansraj Public School in Sector 6 here, Mr Lachman Singh said the DAV movement had done a lot in making the nation literate. The DAV institutions not only provided quality education but also inculcated nationalist spirit in students.

He regretted that people in rural areas still paid little attention to educate girls, though an educated girl could help in improving the lot of two families — one of her parents and the other of her husband.

The Chairman of the Local Managing Committee of the school, Justice Amarjeet Chaudhary, who is also the Chairman of the Haryana State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, said the school had made great strides in a short span and had become a name in the region.

The Principal of the school, Dr Rajani Thareja, said the Rs 1.25-crore hostel would accommodate 100 girls and would be completed by April, 2001. Admission would be given to students of Class V to plus two. The hostel would have all amenities, he added.

The Principal of DAV College, Chandigarh, Mr R.C. Jeewan, paid tributes to Mahatma Hansraj, one of the founders of the DAV movement, after whom the hostel would be named.

Students of the school presented a brief and impressive cultural programme. Mr Lachhman Singh also gave away certificates and trophies to certain outstanding players of the school.

Among those present on the occasion were Justice P.C. Pandit, Justice A.L. Bahri ADC, Panchkula, Mr Anurag Aggarwal, and S.P. Mr Alok Mittal and heads of various DAV institutions of Panchkula and Chandigarh.

SP offers ticket to Raj Babbar
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 1 — The local unit of the Samajwadi Party has offered the city Lok Sabha ticket to noted actor and party's Rajya Sabha MP Raj Babbar.

Stating this at a press conference here today, the President of the local unit of the party, Mr Shivi Jaiswal, said at a national executive meeting in New Delhi on July 26-27 Mr Babbar expressed keenness to contest from Chandigarh.

However, the local unit has also recommended the names of Mr Devinder Singh Dhillon, Major P.P. Singh (retd) and Mr Bhupinder Kakkar to the Central Parliamentary Board headed by party President Mulayam Singh Yadav.

He said the party would try to form the third front comprising the non-Congress and non-BJP parties. The failure of the BJP on the Kargil front and foreign origin of Congress President Sonia Gandhi would be the main issues of the party during the elections, he said.

The failure of the SAD-BJP in the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh, erratic power and water supplies, extension of "lal dora", an amendment to the building bylaws and rehabilitation of the slum-dwellers would be the local issues the party would focus on, he added.

Petrol station site allotment cancelled
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 1 — The UT Estate Office has cancelled the allotment of a site from which a petrol station is operating in Sector 35 located on the Dakshin Marg. The dealer, Mrs Madhu Bansal, was allegedly found guilty of having entered into a partnership deed in violation of the terms and conditions of the lease deed signed at the time of the allotment.

According to the order of the Estate Office, a retail outlet site measuring approximately 666 square yards in Sector 35-B was allotted to Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Sector 19, on a leasehold basis for further allotment to Mrs Madhu Bansal for a period of five years on June 7, 1994. However, the site was cancelled when the authorities found that Mrs Bansal, dealer of BPCL, had entered into a partnership deed with Mr Pawan Kumar Garg and also parted possession of the site where a petrol station by the name of Shyama Shyam Filling Station functioned.

Following the complaint filed by Mr Garg, a show-cause notice was served upon Mrs Bansal who was required to appear in the Estate Office by July 28. During the hearing, she admitted to entering into a partnership and also confirmed her signatures on the partnership deed. The Assistant Estate Officer, Mr S. K. Sharma has observed that the lessee has committed breach of terms and conditions of the allotment of site. Hence, the lease of retail outlet be treated as terminated on the expiry of five years on June 7, 1999.

Meanwhile, Mr Garg has in a letter written to the District Magistrate-cum-Estate Officer sought the cancellation of the NOC /explosives licence and suspension of petroleum products of Shyama Shyam Filling Station, Sector 35-B. The copies of the same have been sent to the Joint Chief Controller of Explosives, Deputy Chief Controller of Explosives and Chief Divisional Manager, BPCL. He has also sought the cancellation of dealership from BPCL.

On the other hand, Mrs Madhu Bansal may file an appeal before the Finance Secretary, UT, against the orders of the Estate Office for restoration of the site within 30 days.

SNIPPETS

Martyrs’ families honoured
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Aug 1 — Kargil heroes were remembered by the Punjab Youth Congress by organising a function here today. The function started with bhog of ‘Shri Akhand Path’, followed by ‘kirtan’ and homage to the martyrs.Mr Davinder Singh Babbu, President of the Punjab Youth Congress, presented gold medals to the families of martyrs. He assured the families that the rank and file of the organisation was at the disposal of the bereaved families.

Residents’ memo to Mayor
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 1 — The Sector 46-D Residents Welfare Forum has urged the local Municipal Corporation authorities to solve various problems being faced by residents of the area.

The forum, which submitted a memorandum to Mr K.K. Addiwal, Mayor, during his visit to the area, demanded that congress grass should be eradicated from the area and officials concerned be directed to ensure proper cleanliness.

Mr M.L. Jindal, General Secretary of the organisation, said residents were facing the problem of stray cattle and the area was without streetlights. The Mayor assured them to get the problems solved.

Workshop on body movements
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 1 — As many as 35 participants from different backgrounds are attending a week-long workshop on body movements, which is being conducted by Navtej Johar at Government College for Girls, Sector 11, since yesterday. The workshop will conclude on August 6.

The focus during the workshop was on warm ups, which helps strengthen and stretch body and thereby relax. While making the participants move their bodies, he kept emphasising that the body should be used as a tool of expression. He made the entire experience interesting by playing varied music from all over the world. He also talked about two kinds of body weight, the internal and external weight and how they were connected.

“It is important to negotiate body weight in terms of movement,” he said. Though some of his earlier workshops were specifically directed towards theatre artists and dancers , this was more challenging since it had a crowd of teachers, students and housewives.

The workshop was the second in the series, started by Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Academi. Earlier, they had organised a puppetry workshop of Varun Narayan. The Chairman of the academi, Mr G.S. Channi said the idea behind organising such workshops was to make the local population oriented towards arts. Moreover, organising such workshops was within the budget of the academi.

Sikh women take out processions
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 1 — Women members of various local Sikh bodies opposed to wearing helmets took out processions in various parts of the city here today.

In a press release of the local unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Gurpartap Singh Riar, President, said a procession of women on two-wheelers passed through various sectors, offering themselves for “challans”.

A delegation comprising Mr Mohinder Singh, General Secretary, said it had a talk with Mr L.K. Advani, Union Home Minister explaining to him that wearing helmets “was against tenets of Sikh religion”. Mr Advani responded positively, it claimed.

A press release of the Sikh Nari Manch said a procession was taken out from the Sector 34 Gurdwara.

Tree plantation function
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 1 — A tree plantation function was organised by the Lions Club Chandigarh Shivalik at the Sector 38-W Society for Prevention of Cruelty against Animals (SPCA) Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre here today.

According to Mr J.S. Bhatia, President of the club, a number of saplings of fruit and other trees were planted to provide a cleaner environment at the hospital.

The club donated money for fodder and medicines for the sick and injured animals as part of its animal welfare project to Dr J.C. Kochhar, Honorary General Secretary of the SPCA.

‘Reorganise panel’
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Aug 1 — The Panchkula Seva Samiti has urged the Chief Minister, Mr O.P. Chautala, to reorganise the police-public advisory committee in the township.

The convener of the samiti, Mr Kapil Chadha, said the advisory committee constituted in the past had only remained on files.

Humidity level increases
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 1 — After a relatively cool day yesterday the cloud cover and rain were replaced by the sun as the day-time temperature rose to 34°C, 5 degrees more than yesterday. Besides, the humidity level rose to an unbearable 97 per cent. This was 2 per cent more than yesterday but it made people sweat due to the heat. Today was the first day when day-time temperature touched 34 degrees celsius after July 26. The Meteorological Department has predicted that there is the possibility of a spell of rain or thundershower for tomorrow.

INLD workers' plea to CM
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Aug 1 — Workers of the Pinjore block of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), have urged the Chief Minister, Mr O.P.Chautala, to take up all development projects left incomplete by the Bansi Lal government.

Mr Jarnail Singh, a member of the Pinjore Block Samiti, and Mr Devi Lal, Mr Ajit Singh, and Mr Bhag Singh, all workers of the INLD, said the Raitan and Doon area of Pinjore had been neglected by the previous government.