HEALTH

Workshop for handicapped kids
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 10 —Goldi has negligible feet movement and literally non-functional hands. Many care taking institutions see little point in sending such children to creative workshops. Goldi, however, challenges these beliefs through beautiful rendering of musical compositions on his ‘dafli’ at a workshop. He is participating at a special workshop for handicapped children, being organised at the local Dev Samaj College of Education. Success stories like Goldi’s give strength to special children around. The strength has gone up from 64 to nearly 85 days within a week.

What is interesting is that parents of these children are learning techniques of handling the latter and also see potential in them. The venue is cramped with ‘ special children’ and visually handicapped ones.

Not very different is Viju’s story. The institute did not deem it fit for him to attend the workshop. Dr Jyoti Khanna, project director, argued with the school authorities to give the child an opportunity and was able to get him at the workshop. It is not surprising now to see Viju involved in world of painting. He likes one to see his creations and give comments.

Saleem and Kallu, besides several others, have similar success stories. These children come from institutions like Mother Teresa’s institute, Institution for the Blind and the Bhavan Vidayala, besides others. However, in a large number of cases, their inner potential and demands for a platform for self-expression are often ignored, Dr Khanna said.

Mrs Satinder Dhillon, Principal, said this was the second such workshop for special children. Great care has been taken about the involvement of parents. Pointing out the creations by blind children, especially faces of humans, describes the inner feelings, Mrs Dhillon said.

Mrs Dhillon said similar workshops were also beneficial for the college students. Even today despite the ongoing annual examination , a number of students could be seen immersed in a group of children and helping them create what was in their minds.

A parent said she was surprised to see the involvement of her child in her work. The child cannot even talk. Yet her hands do show a world which she dreams of.

Govind works on jute curtains on his arm-chair. He is among select few who have normal body functioning. The work can definitely generate money. Among buyable goods are envelopes, statues and other art works by children.

Mr Rajesh Kumar Arya, a blind music teacher , said parents often ignored a special child in comparison to other children. Others took more than necessary care.

Dr N.S. Rathore conducted the music classes.

Latest cataract surgery machine at Command Hospital
By Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 10 — Surgery for cataract will now be a lot simpler for the patients as well as doctors at the Western Command Hospital, Chandimandir, following the installation of a state-of-the-art phaco-emulsion machine.

The equipment was installed at the hospital yesterday and already four cataract operations have been performed by using it. All these operations are claimed to have been 100 per cent successful.

Acquired from Germany with its cost estimated to be between Rs 8 to 10 lakh, this is the first military centre in the region to be equipped with this equipment. Sources added that phaco-emulsion machines will be set up at four more centres in the region. This process for removal of cataract, though not very common, is also available in select military hospitals in the country.

The phaco-emulsion process involves making an incision of just 2 millimetres in the cornea of the eye. The eye lens, which has become opaque due to cataract, is emulsified by the machine and sucked out. The damaged lens is then replaced through the micro-incision by a new foldable lens. Only two or three stitches are required for closing the incision.

In comparison, the conventional technique for removing cataract involves an incision of about half the length of the cornea and about a dozen stitches to close it.

Another advantage of the phaco-emulsion process vis-a-vis the conventional surgery is that the total hospitalisation time required is very less, saving both medical costs and manhours. Post operative care is significantly reduced. Besides, by this process, the chances of infections become minimal.

Another interesting aspect of the phaco-emulsion process is that the results of the surgery are known on the operation table itself, unlike as in conventional surgery where the result of the surgery can be obtained only after some days.

Family Health Week from June 1
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, May 10 — A Family Health Week will be observed by the Haryana AIDS Control Society from June 1 to 8 as part of the drive to awaken the people to the threat posed by STDs.

Chairing the meeting of the AIDS Control Society, Mr SK Monga, Deputy Commissioner, told the officials that the jhuggis and rural belt should be the thrust area of the drive. While inspecting preparations for the programme, Mr Monga added that these people mostly prefer to remain away from such programmes owing to little information which made it all the more important for health workers to undertake a door-to-door mission to educate them.

On the occasion, the Civil Surgeon, Dr HC Nagpal, informed that the health workers would go from house to house and check all persons between the ages of 15 and 49 years and a target of 20 ,000 people had been fixed for the same. Also, a talk on the spread of STDs and AIDS would be given and two doctors would be stationed at every centre.

He said that a camp each would be held in the rural areas of Kalka, Pinjore, Hangola, Panchkula, Morni, Raipur Rani, Barwala and Kot while camps would also be held in Rajiv and Indira Colony where medicines would be provided to patients free of cost.

Dr Nagpal added that the second phase of the programme would be held from June 9 to 15 during which an assessment of the treatment of patients would be carried out and the programme would give a rough estimate of the number of patients in the district.

Contests for children on World Red Cross Day
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, May 10—Various programmes were organised on the occasion of World Red Cross Day in the district by the District Red Cross Society, here today.

Students of 10 schools participated in a declamation and painting contests which saw a participation of 14 and 25 students respectively. Keeping in tune with the theme of ``Millennium Priority Youth Solidarity’’ this year, the topic drew an enthusiastic response from the participants. The chief guest, Dr HC Nagpal, gave away the prizes. He appealed to the youth to come forward and contribute their mite to the Red Cross movement.

The winners include (Declamation contest): — Hindi: Pallavi Vashisht — Blue Bird School (1), Sahiba Jain — Satluj Public School (2), Suman Sharma-Government Senior Secondary School (3); English: Pooja Arora — Blue Bird School (1), Rajiv Goel — Satluj Public School (2), Ravi Inder-DAV Senior Secondary School (3).

Painting contest (Class VI to X): Vaishavi Gupta-Little Flower (1), Robin Masih-Satluj Public School (2); Class XI and XII: Navdeep Singh (1) and Jagdeep Singh (2)-Satluj Public School, Suman Kumari-Janendra Public School (3).

Also, a blood donation camp was organised at the Gandhi Library in Kalka which saw 28 donors. The camp was held by a team of doctors from Panchkula. Also, the Red Cross society distributed fruit to patients in the health centre at Kalka and Raipur Rani, General Hospital and Saket hospital in Panchkula besides Bal Niketan and Bal Sadan. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr SK Monga, distributed fruit amongst the children at the two homes for the destitute and Saket.

SPORT

Women footballers given kits
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, May 10 — The city women's football team is confident of reaching the last eight stage of the eighth senior women's national football championship, to be held at Diphu in Assam from May 14. Seventeen players were provided with kits by the founder president of the Chandigarh Football Association (CFA), Mr K.B. Malik, at the Sector 17 football ground here today.

Mr Rakesh Bakshi, Secretary of the CFA, said they took over the women's section of the association two years ago and it was their second attempt to send the team for the nationals. Last time the team comprised school girls but this year they had drawn players from colleges, he added.

The team underwent a camp prior to its departure for the nationals tomorrow. The team played an exhibition match against the under-14 boys' team today. Mr Ravinder Talwar, President of the CFA, was absent.

The team will be led by Gurpreet Gill of GGS Khalsa College for Women, Sector 26. Other members of the team are Surbhi, Harpreet, Monika Sharma, Gagandeep, Pooja, Loveveer Grewal (all MCM, Sector 36), Vidushi, Seema Kaushik, Renu Prabha, Sneh (all SGGS Khalsa, Sector 26), Anita, Rinki, Aarti (all Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 8), Shelly Prabha, Gurpreet Kaur (both GCG, Sector 11) and Surbhi (PEC). The team will be accompanied by Rakesh Bakshi, C.P. Malik and I.P. Nagi as officials.

Under-14 cricket: CL DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 11, and Army School, Chandi Mandir, won their matches in the under-14 cricket tournament being organised by Panchkula Cricket Association at Sector 5 cricket ground, Panchkula. CL DAV School defeated Satluj Public School, Sector 11, by 47 runs, while Army School beat Hansraj Public School's junior team by 22 runs.

Baseball tourney: The Baseball Association, Chandigarh, will hold UT sub-junior and junior baseball championship for boys and girls for under-15 and under-17 age groups at DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, on May 13 and 14. Entries close with the Secretary of the association on May 11. The UT team for the sub-junior national championship, to be held at Solan in Himachal Pradesh from May 24 to 29, will also be selected, according to Mr Tilak Raj Kaila, Secretary of the association.

Ravi, Saloni win: Ravi and Saloni won the under-14 and under-17 boys' and girls' singles title, respectively, in Bhavan Hawk's eighth Bhavan Vidyalaya school table tennis tournament, which concluded at Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 27. Nearly 30 players of the school took part in the tournament.

ADMINISTRATION

Administration appoints 28 vigilance officers
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 10 — The Chandigarh Administration has appointed 28 vigilance officers for various departments to strengthen the vigilance set-up and achieve the twin objective of expeditious disposal of vigilance cases, complaints and ensure transparency in the working of the departments.

The responsibilities of the new vigilance officers shall be to identify officers, and officials having doubtful integrity and report to the Chief Vigilance Officer besides monitoring follow-up action on enquiry reports of the Vigilance Cell and to assist the Presenting Officers in the matter of departmental inquiries pending against Group “A” and “B” officers of their respective departments.

They would also keep a watch on the loopholes in the proceedings of the department and bring the same to the notice of the Chief Vigilance Officer and carry out instructions and guidelines issued by the Chief Vigilance Officer from time to time.

Those appointed vigilance officers are Dr J.C. Kochar (Animal Husbandry); Mr A.K. Sabharwal (Department of Architecture); Mr Asho Sanghwan (College of Art, Weight and measure Department); Mr Rajnish Wattas (Chandigarh College of Architecture); Ms Varsha Joshi (Chandigarh Housing Board); Mr Amar Pal Singh (CTU); Mr Gurmel Singh (CITCO); Mr M. Ramsekhar (Cooperatives, Labour and DC Office); Mr D.S. Saroya (Education Department); Mr S.P. Arora (Estate Office, House Allotment Committee): Mr P.S. Gill (Excise and Taxation, Jail Department); Mr Gopal Dutt (Food and Supplies); Mr H.S. Sohal (Forest Department, BDPO): Mr V.N. Singh (Govt Museum and Art Gallery); Mr Juldip Singh (Engineering Department); Dr J.L. Chaudhary (Health Department);Mr R.K. Kaushik (Industries, State Transport Authority); Mr Jagdish Syal (Law and Prosecution Department); Mr Chandersekhar (Medical College and Hospital); Mr Satish Joshi (Planning and Evaluation, Local Audit, Treasury and Statistical Cell): Mr Ajay Kashyap (Police, Home Guards); Mr Pritam Singh (Printing and Stationery ): Mr Rajnish Parkash (Punjab Engg College):

Mr Vinod Sharma (Regional Employment Exchange); Mr Prithi Chand (Social Welfare and Chandigarh SC Financial Dev Corp): Mr JPS Sidhu (Sports): Mr S.L. Sapra (Technical Education) and Mr Satish Ahlawat (UT Secretariat).

SHO transferred
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, May 10 — The Station House Officer of the Phase 8 Police Station, Sub Inspector S.S. Virk, has been transferred to Faridkot Range and his place has been taken by Inspector Pritam Singh.

‘Use computers to boost Hindi’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 10 — Ms Surender Paul Kaur, Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, North Western Region, today emphasised the need for use of computers to encourage Hindi.

Speaking at the meeting of Town Official language Implementation Committee at Kisan Bhavan here today, she said that Hindi should come as spontaneous outflow and not as a translated version.

She said the officers should take initiative in using Hindi in their official work. for the progressive use of Hindi in the Central Government offices here, several steps have been taken in the past two years, she added.

Heads of Central Government offices here took part in the meeting and work done in Hindi in these offices was reviewed.

Dr Raj Bahadur Singh, Deputy Director, took part as the representatives of the Rajbhasha Vibhag, New Delhi.