HEALTH

Patients checked for TB, chest diseases
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 24 — More than 300 patients were examined at a free medical camp organised by the Department of Chest Diseases and Tuberculosis of the Sector 32 Government Medical College and Hospital at Maloya Government Senior Secondary School on the World Tuberculosis Day.

The camp was inaugurated by Mrs Shanta Abhilashi, Mayor, while Dr V.K. Kak, Director-Principal of the Government Medical College and Hospital, was the guest of honour.

Prof Ashok Kumar Janmeja, Head of the Department of Chest Diseases and Tuberculosis, said majority of patients were from Maloya and Maloya Colony, while others were from adjoining Dadu Majra and Dhanas.

He said that nearly 90 per cent of these patients were suffering from acute bronchitis, asthma, upper respiratory infection and 22 patients were found to be suffering from tuberculosis of the lung. Sputum was examined for tuberculosis in 28 patients, out of which four tested positive.

Chest X-ray was also done in 20 cases. All tests were done free of cost. Medicines for tuberculosis and other respiratory dieseases were given to the needy patients free of cost. Some of these patients were also advised to visit the OPD.

Meanwhile, the Haryana Minister of State for Local Government, Mr Subash Goyal, released “Sanjivani — health for all” magazine on the occasion of the World Tuberculosis Day.

Mr Goyal lauded the efforts of Sanjivani in creating awareness about the ill-effects of TB.

Dr Pawan Sharma, Executive Trustee of the Sanjivani, briefed the members about the activities of the trust which recently persuaded some of the corporate houses and others to adopt one TB patient each for regular treatment.

Epilepsy care model developed
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 24 — The Department of Community Medicine at the PGI has successfully developed a population-based epilepsy care model, which covers about 30,000 people in 40 rural areas near the city.

The major areas covered under the project include a centre at Naraingarh, having Lalpur, Ferozpur, Andheri and Kanjala, among other villages.These facts have been reported in the document highlighting 25 years of the community medicine wing at the PGI.

Dr Rajesh Kumar, Head of the department, talking to TNS, said the centre studied the effectiveness of training of traditional birth attendants for management of asphyxia in home delivery using a mucous extractor and bags in 54 villages.

A community-based diarrhoea disease control programme has been implemented in 25 villages through health workers and in 22 villages through volunteers.

A Rural Health Training Centre at Naraingarh, about 60 km from the city, serves as the nerve centre for surrounding areas. Besides community medicine, junior residents from departments of paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology are also posted at the centre.

The centre also covers Ramgarh, Kheri, Kakrali, Raipur Rani, Janata Colony, and Mandi Gobindgarh. The focus areas include family health care, school health, training of primary care workers and adolescent health care workers.

Dr Rajesh said another important area of the care centre was to detect the cases early and to improve the awareness of school teachers and ‘ anganwari’ workers about common health. Children found with health problems were given proper advice for medicine and parents are called where they are counselled.

Another important area of the centre was regular training of traditional birth attendants every month. The important issues of education include ante-natal, natal and post-natal care at centres, including Raipur Rani and Naraingarh.

The evaluation mentioned that a secondary prophylaxis strategy for rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease control was successfully initiated and maintained in a rural development block covering 140,000 of the population, through the existing family care infrastructure.

The list, along with the report, mentions at least 84 research projects. Important partners in the projects include CTC, ICDS, UNFPA, UNICEF, and ICMR, among others.

Few important studies include a micro-level study of TB control programmes, immunisation of adolescent girls in Haryana, epidemiological study on abortion in rural North India, a study of successful and unsuccessful community health projects and effects of health sector development activities on health and nutrition, besides others.

The list includes mention of about 177 books published during this period and seven chapters in books. The list also mentions at least eight projects being carried out at the moment.

SPORT

Residents oppose golf course
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, March 24 — Final modalities for the ultra-modern golf course to be brought up in Sector 3, Panchkula, by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) have almost been completed. However, the proposal which came under severe criticism from the residents a year ago, seem to evoke a similar response this time, when work on this ambitious project is scheduled to begin next month.

Most of the residents have expressed their disgust and concern over the decision which they assume is untimely and extravagant. They feel the project would cater to only the smallest elite and the upper middle class in the township and the common man would hardly benefit from it.

Former Chief Minister Bansi Lal, during one of his visits here in 1997, had expressed his opposition to the idea of setting up of the golf course at Panchkula. Despite all opposition, the proposal was finally given the green signal after almost one-and-a-half year of delay.

The General Secretary of the Resident Welfare Association, Panchkula, Dr Sunil Dutt Rabra, said that the government had expressed its financial limitations many times over several projects which needed to be dealt with on priority. “Squandering huge amounts and a vast area in bringing up the golf course, and that too to cater to the smallest elite segment, is undemocratic. The government should instead underline its utmost priorities in the interest of the masses”, he said.

The 18-hole golf course, based on international standards, will occupy almost 140 acres of land along with the Ghaggar and involve a huge cost of approximately Rs 50 crore, which the HUDA plans to lease out to private parties.

The President, Citizens Welfare Association, Panchkula, lamented the decision. He said that the vast area could instead be utilised for more productive purposes like setting up of government model schools, technical institutes, old age homes, housing flats for the economically weaker sections and a girls college, demand for which has been pending since long reportedly due to paucity of funds.

Mr Diwan Tandan of Sector 11, at 74 years of age and deserted by his two sons, still feels that he needs shelter in an old-age home rather than to play golf, for which he lacks the resources and the time.

Sources reveal that the initial expenses of designing and execution of the golf course, would be around Rs 12 crore. The golf course, which would be subsequently handed over to professional golf superintendents and additional maintenance officers for its upkeep, would incur a high cost of nearly Rs 6 lakh a month.

Claims of making the project a public golf course do not hold correct, said Col BNL Kaushal (Retd). A average golf kit of 12 sticks costs around Rs 20,000, plus Rs 50 to Rs 100 a day for the caddy and almost 4 to 6 hours of play required to complete a full set of game of 18 holes, which by no means is affordable by a common man, he added.

Contrary to this, the rich few in the township feel that the golf course would give new dimensions to the town, and their being rich can by no means be treated as a disqualification.

Several local non- government organisations in the town feel that the HUDA land, where the golf course is to be set up, should be used to provide accommodation for the economically weaker sections and other useful purposes.

MCM-36, DAV-10 overall champs
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, March 24 — It was a proud moment for MCM DAV College for Women, Sector 36, and DAV College, Sector 10, when both were given the overall sport trophies in women's and men's sections, respectively, at the Panjab University sport function held today at Gymnasium Hall.

MCM DAV College and DAV College also won the PU General-Effciency Sport Shield for the fourth and 29th year in succession, respectively.

Ms Sneh Mahajan, Principal of the MCM DAV College, said this year, her students had taken part in 21 sport conducted by the PU Sports Committee. The college stood first in seven games, runners-up in four, third in six and fourth in three. In hockey, badminton, swimming, cricket, cycling, yoga and softball, it won the championships. It was runners-up in basketball, kho-kho, lawn tennis and volleyball meets. It got the third place in cross-country, table tennis, gymnastics, weightlifing, relay races and football events. It stood fourth in kabaddi, athletics and powerlfting meets.

The sportswomen of college who did well were Sapna Jain (skating), Kirandeep (rowing), Kavita (athletics) and Simarjot (powerlifting).

DAV College, Sector 10 had always excelled in sport, said Mr R.C. Jeevan, Principal of the college. He also said the college laid emphasis on all sport, but, the promiment included cricket, athletics and powerlifting. In all, 47 players represented the PU at the inter-varsity meets and 38 in national championships.

In athletics, Sunil Yadav and Amardeep Singh represented the PU in the All-India University Championship. Sunil got the third place in the meet. Hardeep Singh, an international powerlifter, secured the fourth position in the Junior Asian Bodybuilding Championship, besides winning the 'best physique' title in the Inter-univesity Championship. Yuveraj Singh was one of the members of the Indian youth team which won the the World Youth Cup in Sri Lanka recently.

In kho-kho, the college won the PU Inter-College Championship. In lawn tennis, too, it won the PU Inter-College Championship under the stewardship of Sarbrinder Singh, Robin Singh and Vikas Sharma. Sarbrinder also took part in the Asian Schools Tennis Championship. Rohit Sharma and Rakesh Chand represented India in cycling and baseball, respectively.

In badminton, the college got the second place in the PU Inter-College Championship. In badminton, basketball and boxing, it won the second place in the inter-college meets. In cross country, gymnastics, Judo, relay races and wrestling, also, it won inter-college meets. In the Inter-College Yoga Meet, it secured the second place, while in swimming it got the third place. In squash, it bagged the third place and in cycling and water polo, it won the fourth positions.

Uphill task for mountain bikers today
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, March 24 — The first Hero National Mountain Bike Championship organised by the Chandigarh Amateur Cycling Association under the aegis of the Cycling Federation of India will begin here tomorrow. More than 150 cyclists of 15 state units of the country are vying for top honours on the semi-hill terrains behind Panjab University.

Briefing newspersons today, Mr J.S. Grewal, Secretary-General of the CFI, said the meed would be made an annual feature. He also said the International Cycling Union (ICU) recognised this sport in 1990, though it originated in California (USA) in the early eighties. The ICU also gave clearance for holding world championships in the event in Colorado and in 1998. Two events — cross-country and downhill were conducted in this championships.

He also said in the cross-country event, the mountain-bike racing did not take place on a mountain, but, on a range of terrain from the remote Alps to city parks. It was a mass-start race and riders had to carry their own means of carrying out repairs. There are also cross-country circuit racing, point-to-point racing, cross-country short-course racing and country enduro racing.

In the downhill racing, which was a time-trial event, riders began from the top of the hill stretch at intervals varying from 30 seconds to three minutes, depending on the stage of the meet. The event also had hill climb and the stage race.

Mr Grewal, who for the past many years, has been the CFI Secretary-General, said in this meet, rugged bikes would be used by the participants.

Mr Rakesh Mohindra, Organising Secretary of the meet, said the total budget of this championship would be about Rs 3 lakh. The Hero group has covered almost 80 per cent of the expenses of the meet. It has also agreed to be the regular sponsor for the national meets in the coming years. Tomorrow, Mr Suresh Munjal, MD of Hero Cycles, will flag-off the Hero Rally. After this, Mr R.S. Verma, Chief Secretary of Haryana, will inaugurate the national meet. Tomorrow's events include junior boys', girls', women's and senior men's cross-country point-to-point races.

City tennis meet begins
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, March 24 — The Chandigarh State Tennis Championship began here today. The seeds had a smooth sail on the opening day of this three-day meet being organised by the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association. Even veteran players like Rajan Kashyap and M. Ramsekhar, both IAS officers, are in the fray.

The official referees of the tournament which is being played according to the 2000 ITF rules are Birbal Wadehra and Praveen Kumar.

The results are as follows: Boys (under-16) (first round) — Yuveraj b Paras Thakur; Ardaman Sidhu b Preetam Singh; Uday Sandhu b Mehar P. Singh; Sanjoj Kapoor b Sandeep Singh; Tushar Liberhan b Kinshuk Sharma; Manjeet Singh b Gurtej Pannu; Jatin Bishnoi b Simran J. Singh; Gursher Singh b Raj Kanwar; Dilpreet Singh b Vishav Pratap; Digvijay Singh b Harminder; Izreek Singh b G. Singh.

Under-14 boys (first round) — Gursher Singh b Adil; Udai Puniha b Himanshu Sharma; Manjeet Singh b Tushar Narang; Pranav Kapoor b Abhimanyu; Paras Thakur b Rijul Chopra; Viraj Gandhi b Anshul Garg; Simranjit Cheema b Anirudh Mitra; Vishav P. Singh b Andrew Roy; Harminder b Harinder Bajwa; Gurtej Pannu b Dipinder Singh; Karan Patnayak b Aditya Verma; Izreek Singh b Simmer Veer Singh; Raghav b Sandeep Chaudhary; Saurabh Suri b Tanveer Sandhu.

Boys (under-18) (first round) — Anindya Gupta b Digvijay Sharma; Mehar P. Sandhu b Akhil Sharma; girls (under-14) — Inayat Khosla b Nihar; Taskeen b Kriti Puri.

CULTURE

Swapna Sundari performs in the city today

THE famous dancer, Swapna Sundari, will enthral the art lovers of Chandigarh with her performance of Kuchipudi dance on Saturday evening at Tagore theatre as part of the ongoing 30th All India Bhaskar Rao Nritya and Sangeet Sammelan, organised by the Pracheen Kala Kendra.

Kuchipudi, the classical dance form of Andhra Pradesh, originated around 2nd century BC. Performed by devdasis in the temple precincts and kalikas in the courts, Kuchipudi’s future seemed bleak when the devdasi tradition become outmoded. However, the Brahmin gurus took the initiative to preserve the historic dance tradition. Performing dance dramas, they saved Kuchipudi from extinction, in the process giving birth to the Bhagvata Mela tradition. This tradition found its most worthy exponent in Sidhendra Yogi. Kuchipudi owes much to his ceaseless efforts. He carved a place for this dance among the prominent classical dances of India. He set up a school in Kuchipudi village, where young Brahmin boys learnt the Vedas and holy scriptures, apart from music and Natyashastra. They had to perform vandana three times a day. Under strict disciplinary code of timings, the young boys were trained in the final nuances of Kuchipudi. His compositions reflect his films belief that the final aim of human existence is to seek a union with God. The soul stirring Parijata Harnam, a poem in the shingara mood, exemplifies this belief. One of the most beautiful pieces in Kuchipudi is Bhama Kalapam, a diversification of Parijata Hamam.

It is mesmerising display of Satyabhama’s unfathomable love for Krishna and her poignant yearning for him. The poem begins with the picture of a beautiful Satyabhama waiting for Kishna. When he comes, she asks for the celestial flower Parijata. But Krishna has already given it to Rukmini and departs in anger. After he leaves, Satyabhama becomes so depressed and sad that nothing enchants her any more. Not even the rustling leaves, rippling streams, and the fragrance of sandalwood. With agony reflecting on her face, the dancer performs to gentle music. Her expressions change from elation to utter dejection and hopelessness. Elaborate abhinaya is interspersed with quick footwork to weave a magical spell. This sequence is a fine example of the fusion of the dance of devdasis and court dancers.

The theme and manner of performing Kuchipudi has seen subtle changes with passing years. However, all Kuchipudi compositions are invariably set to Carnatic music. Originally the themes were mainly drawn from Mahabharta, Bhagvadgita and Shiv Purana. However purandardasa kirtans, Hindi bhajans and tillanas have been inducted into Kuchipudi performances by modern composers.

The style has also undergone changes. The traditional gurus laid emphasis on abhinaya while nrita (pure dance) came secondary. But modern compositions portray a delightful fusion of nrita, abhinaya and natya. Nrita consists of theermamams and jatis, nritya (expressive dance movements) of sabdams,while natya (mime) and songs. Theermamams and rapid footwork based on the ancient adavu tradition has found a firm place in the present day Kuchipudi.

Both in the lasya (relaxed) and tandav (vigorous) form, Kuchipudi presents a rare blend of the ancient and the modern approaches. While enriching itself with themes, lyrics and manner of ornamentation, Kuchipudi manages to retain its pristine flavour.

For many years, female roles were played by male dancers. This tradition carries on even today, finding a worthy exponent in Vedantam Satyanarayaha Sharma. He is adept at Vachikabhinaya i.e. display of emotions through voice. The list of artistes, who have earned wide acclaim in the field of Kuchipudi dance, includes such names as Padamshri Raja & Radha Reddy, Mallika Sarabhai, Shobha Naidu, Vanashree Rao and Kaushalya Reddy.

— Thakur Paramjit