HEALTH

Centre for deaf in Panchkula
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 20 — A regional welfare centre for hearing and speech impaired will be set up at Panchkula at a cost of over Rs 90 lakh. This was disclosed by the Haryana Governor, Mr Babu Parmanand, at the annual general meeting of the Haryana Welfare Society for Hearing and Speech impaired here today.

This modern diagnostic centre will also have rehabilitation, educational, vocational training and treatment facilities.

The Governor said that the job of training and educating the handicapped was a tough one and it required sensitivity and dedication. "It is our duty as a nation to make the speech and hearing impaired part of the mainstream."

The centre will also have a separate research and training unit to develop the latest modalities and in-service training to doctors, nurses, health workers and teachers.

Mr Parmanand appealed to all those present on the occasion to educate, motivate and persuade people for extending financial assistance to strengthen and promote welfare activities. He also complimented the society for extending a wide range of services for the welfare of hearing and speech impaired through its six welfare centres in the state.

Dr Sushma Miglani, Honorary Secretary of the society, apprised the Governor of the efforts to provide outdoor and indoor game facilities with special coaching to improve self-expression in the deaf and the dumb.

Later, presiding over the executive committee and annual general meeting of the Hind Kusht Nivaran Sangh, the Governor said that leprosy had become curable and the attitude of society towards them had improved ."We need to make a concerted effort to rehabilitate and integrate them as part of our society. It will go a long way in removing the evil of begging from the state," he added.

The annual budget estimates for 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 of over Rs 2.39 crore and Rs 2.61 crore, respectively, for the Haryana Welfare Society for Hearing and Speech Handicapped was approved at the meeting. For the sangh, the budget estimates of Rs 43.65 crore 1999-2000 and Rs 43.12 crore for 2000-2001 were also approved.

Mrs Sudesh Kumari, wife of Mr Parmanand, was made the Vice-Chairperson of the Haryana Welfare Society for Hearing and Speech Impaired and the Hind Kusht Nivaran Sangh.

Mr Rishal Singh, Minister of State for Social Welfare, Dr B.N.S. Walia, Chairman of the society, Dr Bhushan Kumar, Chairman of the Hind Kusht Nivaran Sangh, senior officers and social workers also attended the meeting.

SPORT

Good quality football ends goalless
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, July 20 — The newly selected 21-member Indian schools football team, including three standbyes, today played a match against Sanjay School Club, Sector 44, at Sector 17 Football Stadium. Though both teams played good quality soccer, the match remained a goalless draw. Thagit of Assam was the captain of the Indian schools team, which came specially from NIS, Patiala, to play this match.

Mr Rohit Parashar, SAI football coach, and Mr Ali Hassan, football coach with the Education Department, Punjab, were present. Asked about the Indian team’s chances at the forthcoming Asian Schools Football Championship, to be held at Bangkok from August 1 to 11, they said the main efforts would be to clear the pool. They were of the opinion that the team should have played more matches to get exposure and that was why today’s match was organised. Another match was planned at Mahilpur before their departure on July 26 to Delhi.

At NIS, Patiala, the boys were earlier called for a camp, where they had 67 probables, out of which 24 were shortlisted and finally were 21 selected. China and Korea were leaders in Asia and they could never think of beating them at this juncture. Some players from Manipur were good, but they could not make it to the trials at Patiala in the first week of July. In 1997, when Asian schools tournament was held at Patna, India had secured bronze medal.

Mr T. Sethi, who took the initiative of organising this exhibition match, was thrilled as local players from Sanjay Club would have gained more confidence. Mr Pritam Singh Chhabra, Secretary General of the School Games Federation of India, today gave the list of the 18-member team, along with three standbyes, who were selected after the two-day trials at Patiala.

The Indian team is: Samit Deb Nath — goalkeeper (Tripura), Lakheshwar Kakati — sideback (Assam), Rupesh Singh — stopper back (Madhya Pradesh), Sukhjinder Singh — stopperback (Punjab), David Gayatry — sideback (Assam), Thagit Sonowal — Stopperback (Assam), Sankar Sil — halfback (West Bengal), Kamal Chetri — halfback (Assam), Dinesh Sawar — halfback (West Bengal), Bhim Kanta — forward (Assam), Sanjeeva Rongpi- forward (Assam), Amit Dey — forward (WB), Mukesh Kumar — halfback (Gujarat), Randip Das — sideback (WB), Anthony Mongkhlaw — GK (Meghalaya), Kalarjit — forward (Chandigarh), Harbakshish Singh — halfback (Punjab) and Harish Chander — forward (Chandigarh). The standbyes are Digvijay Singh — stopper (Gujarat), Deepak Kumar — forward (Punjab) and Shard Patil — Forward (Maharashtra). The coaches are Rohit Parashar and Ali Hassan.

The selection committee comprised Mr C.L. Negi, President SGFI, Mr P.S. Chhabra, Secretary SGFI, Mr T.R. Chauhan, treasurer, Mr Biru Mall, SAI football coach, Mr Rohit Parashar, SAI coach, and Mr Ali Hassan, Punjab coach. The team of Sanjay School was Bir Singh, Ravidner, Sanjeev, Pardeep, Suraj, Brijesh, Mohan, Amrinder, Anil Saini, Rajiv, Gurpreet, Narinder, Rajinder, Ram Bilas, Gopal and Vinay.

Two players of Sanjay Public School, Sector 44, Kalarjit and Harish Chander, were selected in the Indian schools football team announced today at Patiala. Kalarjit is a student of Class XII, while Harish Chander studies Class X. Ms Urmil Sethi, Principal, was delighted.

Inter-state badminton meet in Delhi
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, July 20 — The North Zone inter-state badminton championships will be held at Delhi in the last week of September, as per communication received by Mr D. K. Mukerjee, executive member of the Badminton Association of India (BAI). The results of the draws for the inter-zonals, which will see the participation of seven states — Punjab, Haryana, J&K, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chandigarh — will be declared in the executive committee meeting of the BAI, slated to be held on July 30 at the National Stadium, Delhi, said Mr Mukerjee.

He further said that the East Zone Inter-state Meet would be held in Bihar, the west zone in Maharashtra, the south zone in Sivakasi (Tamil Nadu), the north-east zone in Meghalya and the central zone by Combined Universities.

He also disclosed that the executive meeting would also discuss the progress made by respective units for various nationals to be held such as, mini and sub-junior meets at Mandya (Karnataka), junior nationals at Chandigarh, senior nationals at Rajasthan, veterans at Pondicherry and other major ranking meets. He told that the decision of resignation submitted by executive president of the BAI Prakash Padukone would be one of the debatable topics.

In the letter sent to the BAI, which had been circulated to all members, Mr Padukone had only cited personal reasons as the cause for his resignation.

He expressed gratitude to the President, Mr V. K. Verma, for his cooperation during the past three years. Mr Padukone had said that he had worked hard for the growth of badminton, his first love, which was evident by the winning of four medals by the Indian players at the Commonwealth Games in 1998 and due to that badminton was accorded a priority game by the Government of India. Then after 12 years in February 2000, Indian men qualified for the final league of Thomas Cup. Also, the extraordinary performances by Gopi Chand, Aparna Popat, Sachin Ratti and Siddharth Jain in various international level tournaments helped improve their rankings.

Mr Padukone further stated that he would like to devote most of his time for the PP Academy at Bangalore and put his best foot forward for the cause of badminton.

Parminder betters record
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, July 20 — The 25th Chandigarh State Shooting Championship began here today at Patiali Rao Ranges, Sector 25, with Chetanpreet Kaur leading in Air Rifle (ISSF) in senior women’s section with a score of 345 out of 400. Priti Sharma was ahead at 252/400 in air pistol (NR) for senior women, closely followed by Tamanna at 244/400.

Parminder Singh of Chandigarh Police bettered his own record of 566/600, made in 1998, by scoring 570/600 in air pistol (ISSF) for men. Karan Brar was leading with 270/400 in air rifle (OS)-NR in senior men and at 270/400 in sub-junior section. Param Pratap with 258/400 was leading in junior men’s section. Gaganbir Singh was ahead in .22 STD Rifle Prone (NR) in senior men’s section.

Mr Vijay Pal Singh, General Secretary of the Chandigarh Rifle Association, and organisers of this four-day meet said prize distribution would be held on July 23. Sabeeha Dhillon missed this meet due to her participation in the 2000 Atlanta World Cup, in progress at Atlanta.

Basketball tourney: The Chandigarh Basketball Association will hold UT Sub-Junior Basketball Championship for boys and girls from July 27 to 29 at DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8. According to Mr KS Bharti, Secretary of the association, on the basis of their performance in this meet, 18 boys and 18 girls will be selected for a 15-day coaching camp prior to their participation in the 27th Sub-Junior National Basketball Championship, to be held at Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Pondicherry, from August 28 to September 1. The players born on or after January 1,1987, are eligible to participate.

ADMINISTRATION

Panel to settle tax disputes quickly
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 20 — The Centre has constituted the Customs and the Excise Settlement Commission to settle disputes relating to customs and excise duties, the commission Chairman, Mr D.S. Solanki, stated here today.

The commission, which was set up in June last year, became operational in November, was designed to provide a channel whereby indirect tax disputes could be settled expeditiously in a spirit of conciliation rather than through prolonged litigation, Mr Solanki said.

Mr Solanki, a former Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes, hoped that an amount of about Rs 12,000 crore held up at various levels by way of duties would be recovered without lengthy litigation.

The commission provides for a quick and easy settlement of tax disputes involving high revenue stakes. The commission has the power to grant immunity from prosecution for any offence under the Central Excise Act, Customs Act and other Acts.

The commission also has the power to grant immunity from the imposition of any penalty, fine or interest under the central excise and customs Acts. Cases where the appeals had been filed before the Customs and the Excise Tribunal before February 29, 2000, could also be brought before the commission after withdrawing the appeal from the tribunal.

The only qualification for the central excise assesses, importers and exporters is that the they should disclose admitted additional duty liability of over Rs 2 lakh over and above the duty paid by them at the time of the clearance of goods, he added.

Mr Solanki informed that the Mumbai Bench had received over 40 cases valued at more than Rs 65 crore. While the Chennai Bench has received eight cases, the Delhi Bench has received five.