Soldier recalls battle for Point 4812
By Amarjit Thind
Tribune News Service

CHANDIMANDIR, July 22 — "We were assigned the task of capturing the strategic Point 4812 in the Yaldor subsector in Batalik. It was spelled out to us that further advance in this area would be possible only after the enemy bunkers atop this ridge were cleared as infiltrators could keep a tab on our movement, besides bringing down accurate fire, pinning the men."

Convalescing at Command Hospital here as a result of injuries suffered while trying to capture the peak, Subedar Roshan Lal of 12 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, recalls the long hard haul up the steep face of the peak in the dead of a cold windy night.

Although the peak was won, the casualties suffered tell the tale of bravery and valour of the men who did not hesitate to make the supreme sacrifice to carry out their orders. Those who fell in the line of duty that day (July 1) included Lieut Clifford Nongrum, three JCOs, besides 35 other ranks.

"It was a victory that proved to be a turning point in the hostilities in this sector," the soldier says with pride.

"We were briefed before the midnight on July 1 about the way the entire operation would be carried out. Three companies would make the ascent from different sides in pitch dark conditions. The men were ready and we began the arduous climb.

Although other parties started their ascent before us, we made good speed and were the first to reach a ridgeline from where a gulley led all the way to the top. On the top were two bunkers, which according to reports, were being manned by about 15 to 20 heavily armed men.

The enemy was so sure that there would be no attack that they were caught napping at about 3.30 a.m. We could see two bunkers on the skyline about 15 to 20 yards ahead of us. Not a soul stirred. As one section dug in before one of the bunker, others tried to make their way to the other bunker some distance away.

Then all hell broke lose. Probably, the enemy had been alerted by some sound but the opening bursts from the MMG cut down some of the men in their tracks. The rest ducked for whatever cover they could find in the dark and returned fire."

"Lieut Nongrum asked the men to rally around and make their way to the top. He and I were lying side by side, returning the fire, when the Sun came out. Now we could see the layout clearly. Since we were the closest to a bunker, I was asked by the Lieutenant to lob some grenades into it, while he gave me covering fire. I threw four but such was the incline that they bounced off a retaining boulder and exploded without doing any harm," he said.

His voice falters when he describes the death of the brave Lieutenant. "We were returning fire and had killed three to four infiltrators between us, when at about 7.15 a.m. the Lieutenant was hit in the head by a machine gun burst. He breathed his last in my arms."

"By this time, one of the other attacking parties had managed to reach another ridge facing this one and was also engaging the enemy. At 9 a.m. I was hit by a burst in my leg and some minutes later, from splinters of a granade launched from an automatic grenade launcher fired by the enemy. I could not leave my position as retreating now would have meant certain death for boys lying some meters down."

"Others retreated as I provided covering fire. When they were safe and it was my turn to do so, it took me about 45 minutes to descend just about 100 meters," he recalls while shaking his head.

We took cover behind some boulders but kept on returning the sporadic fire from the enemy which meant that we had managed to silence many of them. At about midnight, stretcher-bearers came and those of us who were in bad shape were brought back to base camp and treated for our injuries.

Another attack was launched and finally the tricolour was hoisted on the peak. As many as 10 enemy personnel were killed and one was captured alive, he added.

"I am waiting to be discharged and eager to to join my comrades to do the needful for the motherland," he says with a fervour that warms the cockles of one's heart.

Health institute in sick condition
By A Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, July 22 — The State Institute of Health and Family Welfare (SIHFW), Phase VI, SAS Nagar, near here, constructed at a cost of Rs 4.96 crore by the Punjab Government under the Indian Population Project of the World Bank (WB) has been lying deserted since its inauguration on April 22 this year by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal.

According to sources, though the construction work of the institute started in March, 1997, it could not be completed within the earmarked time-frame which was slated to be on April 30, 1998. The sources say due to the non-availability of funds, the construction work was stopped for 11 months last year.

Stating that the World Bank project formally lapsed on June 30, 1998, the Director, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, Dr R.S. Sandhu, said on the request and inspection done by officials of the World Bank, the deadline was extended till October 31 last year. Dr Sandhu further said the WB funds were meant only for construction of the building and as a result the furnishing work was not done.

Disclosing that he had written a letter to the Government of India regarding allotment of funds to furnish the institute, Dr Sandhu said the construction company would have to finish the construction before the allotted deadline of August 26 this year.

Though most of the construction work has been completed the institute neither has a provision of sewerage nor permanent water and electricity connections. When asked about this shortcoming, Dr Sandhu said after its takeover they would apply for a permanent connections for power and water as well as for sewerage. It would start functioning from October under the directorship of the Deputy Director, Health and Family Welfare, Dr Sukhdev Singh, he added.

The institute, spread over 4.5 acres, houses an administration and teaching block. There is a provision for a hostel comprising 55 rooms, excluding a dinning hall and an auditorium. It also houses staff quarters.

Besides imparting training to in-service doctors and health workers of Punjab, it would cater to the training needs of the health workers and medical officers of Jammu and Kashmir.

For the development of human resources, including medical and paramedical staff, and to guide and train the district and block-level officials in the implementation of various health programmes, the institute would play a vital role.

Along with this, it would conduct orientation and reorientation programmes for medical officers, senior medical officers, health supervisors, multipurpose health worker for male and block extension educator.

There is also a provision of an induction course for fresh medical officers.

In addition, the district training officers, principals of MPHW (female) schools, key trainers, mass education and information officers (MEIO) and deputy mass education and information officers (DMEIO) would get on-job training here.

Subsequently, the institute would further impart six months' promotional training to MPHW (male) for their next promotion. It would also provide basic training to MPHW (male). Similarly, the institute would organise training programmes to create awareness about reproductive and child health (RCH).

Besides, the foundation training for auxiliary nurse midwives (ANM); lady health visitor (LHV); nurses at community health centre (CHC); MOs at primary health centre (PHC), the CHC and rural hospital (RH); health workers; and health supervisors would be conducted regularly. It would also organise awareness programmes from time to time.

Under the training of trainers (ToT) programmes, the institute would train district immunisation officers (DIOs), district family planning officers (DFPOs), gynaecologists, paediatricians, surgeons and MOs from first referral units (FRUs).

The institute appointed as collaborating institution by the Government of India would conduct ToT from the selected training institutions of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. Besides conducting foundation skill training for MOs of both the states, it would evaluate the training programmes carried out by the training institutions of the region.

While procuring the training materials, translating it in the local languages and printing copies as per requirement of the state government, it would also guide the districts in planning their action training programmes. It would also impart training to the voluntary organisations related to the medical and health services.

Besides organising seminars, it would also highlight preventive and curative measures related to health and family welfare.

Big rush for migration
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 22 — With the admissions to Class XI in government schools of the city hardly over, the Education Department is flooded with requests for migration and change of school. The most common reason cited by parents seeking migration is the lack of transport facility.

After a long wait for their turn, the parents are able to meet the DPI (Schools), Mr D.S. Saroya, requesting him to shift to a particular school because "we live far away from the school to which the child has been given a seat ".

In case after case, Mr Saroya, asks for the application. After a quick glance at the letter, he finds the same missing points. The marks of the candidate are not mentioned, the cut-off percentage of the school he wants a migration to is absent and so is the school he or she has got a seat in. The parents are only too eager to jot these down and return the application while continuing their pleas about how far the school is from home and the inconvenience involved in reaching the school as also indulging in some name -dropping.

Mr Saroya narrates to every applicant the example of a very senior officer whose child has taken admission to Class XI who stays in Sector 16, right in front of the government school. His son has not performed very well and has managed to secure a seat in Sector 20. "Does his place of residence, in any way, have a bearing on the admission of the child or, for that matter, entitle him to a seat in the school in Sector 16 ,'' he asks.

Though the parents agree in principle yet , most of them continue to persist with their demand till Mr Saroya picks up a pen and marks the application to the District Education Officer, Mr Brahmjit Kalia, or the Deputy DEO, Mr Chanchal Singh, for consideration. A word of recommendation from the DPI is half the battle won for the parents.

Then begins the trip to the DEO's office, one floor above. Day in and day out, the office keeps checking the cut-off percentages in various streams and accepts an application only if the marks of the student seeking migration conform with the cut-off percentage of that particular school.

"Only 10 per cent of the people visiting me come with a genuine problem. The remaining come with the request for a migration, not knowing that we can do very little in the matter if the application is not backed by the requisite marks. Each school has a cut-off percentage and we are willing to help provided there are vacant seats in the particular school,'' Mr Saroya says.

Even as this process is on, the department is gearing up for the admission process of compartment candidates which begins tomorrow.``We have called all the candidates to Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 18, and will decide the further course of action on the spot,'' The Deputy DEO, Mr Chanchal Singh, says. There are over 2000 candidates who have applied for admission in spite of having a compartment in the Class X examination.

Interacting through puppets
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 22 — “Puppetry comes naturally to me, because I am not communicating with people, but always my puppet(s). I am into interactive theatre with puppets, and feel that communication becomes so much easier this way, and also much more cathartic”, said Delhi-based puppeteer Varun Narain, in an interview with the TNS today.

A product of the Mass Communication Research Centre at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, Varun has been invited by the Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi to conduct a five-day workshop in Guru Harkrishen Public School, Sector 38. The Akademi plans to culminate the workshop by organising a carnival of puppets.

Varun Narain, who works with non-government organisations (NGOs) mainly in the field of sex education, says puppets not only allow him to express himself freely but also seem to empower him. “Especially in the field of sexuality, where we as a society are so clamped up. A tool is needed to work in the area of sexuality and that is what the puppet provides in my kind of work. The whole dialogue becomes so much more effective and meaningful”, he added.

Talking about his work on sex education through puppets, he said at times he did face a lot of opposition and resentment while working on the issue. “But my puppets make it easier for me to trivialise all matters relating to sexuality, which obviously makes people open up fast”.

For someone who turned into a puppeteer from a television producer, and who has already made about 25 to 30 films, it is definitely easy to state that it is simply a bias to relegate puppetry to a lower form of art and term film-making as an elevated art form. Varun said, “I am too impatient with the electronic media and feel much much better with my puppets, which take just about three days to get ready”.

Varun works with his own set of contemporary puppets which he designs and makes himself, and not traditional puppets, which he says have been lost or left only to the Indian festivals. “With my puppets,it is easier for me to experiment with not only the form but also present alternatives in many ways. There are a lot of gender issues that I deal with, and my puppets give me a lot of space to develop interactive communication”, he said.

The workshop, which has been divided into two sessions, is working with a mixed group of adolescents and the elderly, something which he claims that he never did before. “I am quite liking the response that I am getting in this city. Something that used to take me three days to finish in my workshops has taken me only a day here. People here seem to be comfortable with the idea of interacting with a puppet”, Varun said.

Resentment against insanitation
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, July 22 — Residents of Sector 6 here have resented the callous attitude of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) towards the deteriorating condition of cleanliness and sanitation in the sector.

Mr Vijay Dheer, a former member of the Advisory Committee of Panchkula, said that the Estate Officer and the Sanitary Inspector of HUDA had assured at the time of demolition of the hedges that all the debris in front of the houses would be removed as early as possible. Till date no action had been taken in this regard by HUDA which had led to blocking of sewer pipes and waterlogging on the roads during rain.

The patron of the Laxmi Narayan Mandir Sabha, Sector 6, Ms Kaushalaya Dheer, said that the drive launched earlier by HUDA had hurt the religious sentiments of the people here as the authorities did not spare the area which had displayed religious symbols on it. Also the debris had not been cleared despite assurances by HUDA.

The residents alleged that out of the total eight sweepers in the sector, six of them were looking after the Haryana Government officers' colony here. They appealed to HUDA to ensure adequate maintenance in the sector by handing over the sector to a contractor as had been done in other sectors in the township.