 |
|
| Saturday, August 5, 2000, Chandigarh, India |
|
|||
Tobacco consuming
children CHANDIGARH, Surveys by a non-government organisation active in the city reveal that many school students pick up these habits when they are in Class VI or VII. The problem is more grave in schools on the city's periphery and where slum children study. The surveys also reveal that school children indulge in these habits either in the recess or after the school is over. They are often seen in groups near the school after it is over, sharing cigarettes, bidis or
gutka pouches. The NGO says that the evil is growing unchecked. Children manage to keep it secret that they have picked up the habit. Soon, they become addicted to it and the problem becomes more serious. We have even talked to teachers many times. They inform us about students using these substances. We talk to students about their problems, but usually, there is no follow-up. Moreover, children do not come to us themselves for counselling, says a worker of the NGO. The problem is alarming and authorities are aware that it can affect students of any school. Mr Shiv Kumar Sharma, Principal of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 23, says, We have held seminars to create awareness about the effects of various addictions among school children. We have repeatedly told them to come to us if they are addicted to these substances or provide us with information about their addict friends. The surveys by the NGOs reveal that children pick up these habits due to peer pressure. Their fascination for smoking after watching themselves exhale smoke makes them vulnerable to the habit. Moreover, the easy availability and low cost of pan masala, tobacco, cigarettes and bidis encourages them. The children, unaware of what the habit is doing to them, continue to fall in the trap. According to Dr Sardhana Pandit, a paediatrician in General Hospital at Panchkula, tobacco chewing can cause diseases of the oral cavity, including the mouth, the tongue and the throat. A disease called submucus fibrosis of the tongue can affect such children any time. Leucoplakia or formation of whitish patches inside the oral cavity can be an alarming sign for them. These patches, although benign, can turn into cancerous growths and cause cancer of the mouth. Tanning of the teeth and stomatitis are the other harmful effects of chewing tobacco. Smoking can cause lung cancer; otherwise, its local effects are wheezing and coughing. Children who smoke are more prone to these diseases. All these things contain nicotine. It affects the central nervous system, causing addiction among people," says Dr Pandit. The way to check the growth of these habits is that students are provided with information about the harmful effects of consuming these substances. The media and the school environment can also play an important role in checking the spread of these habits among students. Moreover, we need to be friendly with students and hear their problems with compassion, so that they don't feel isolated," says Dr Pandit.
Hepatitis-B camp
held CHANDIGARH,
The camp was held at Labour Colony No 4 in the Industrial Area and the Janata and Kumhar colonies in Sector 25. It was organised under the Swarana Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojna (SJSRY), a sponsored scheme of the Government of India, in association with the Rotary Club and the Jan Shikshan Sansthan, a non-governmental
organisation. |
|
Therapy to control urinary
incontinence CHANDIGARH,
Highlighting the magnitude of the problem, Dr Jan revealed that the incidence of urinary incontinence is more than the common medical problems of the heart, hypertension and diabetes. Patients suffering from this problem continue to dribble urine as they cease to have any control over their muscles. It is more common in middle-aged females, but most of them do not come forward to seek medical help because of the social stigma attached to it. The perineal
muscles in case of men get damaged following trauma and surgery and in women, they get affected during child birth or due to advanced age. At least 1 per cent of male patients develop injury to the urinary tract following surgical intervention. The leakage is more when they cough, laugh or lift heavy objects . According to Dr Jan, the problem is serious and needs to be attended to. In the USA, for instance $ 10 billion are spent every year to provide relief to the patients. It is not only a social problem, but also brings about inverse psychological changes in the patient. The patients feel miserable as there is no definite treatment available. Though multiple therapy is on option, but it does not provide 100 per cent relief and hence, the cure rate is bad. Dr Jan later demonstrated the working of Myomed 932, incontinence therapy system on two patients. It helps in strengthening and stimulating the perineal muscles so as to control the urine flow. The current passed helps in muscle contraction and the patient gets the confidence to reproduce the same amount of contraction gradually. The treatment is slow and may extend up to 12 weeks . Dr Jan emphasised that after surgery, a doctor should chose physical therapy and not depend on medicines. In the West, physiotherapy and EMG pressure feedback is used to give electro-stimulation to gauge what is happening inside and make
adjustments accordingly. |
|
In search of a kidney donor CHANDIGARH,
The sole bread earner of his family comprising his wife, two daughters and a son, he got to know about his renal failure a month back. Doctors at the PGI after examining him asked to arrange Rs 1.50 lakh for the kidney transplant surgery and the essential drugs needed after surgery. None of his family members are in a position to donate a kidney to him and he has to look for help from outside for he does not know from where to arrange this huge amount to buy a kidney. The doctors have also written to his employers to give him major financial assistance for treatment. Gurmeet is waiting for help in the form of donor, whose blood group is B positive or some voluntary organisation that can help him with money. |
|
Bank donates wheelchairs CHANDIGARH, Aug 4 Employees of the Oriental Bank of Commerce today presented ten stretcher trolleys and five wheelchairs to the PGI for the use of patients. The trolleys and wheelchairs were handed over to the PGI officials by the new Chairman and Managing Director of the bank, Mr B.D. Narang, during his first visit to the city after assuming the charge. While the money for the trolleys was collected by the Oriental Bank Union (northern region), the wheelchairs were donated by the employees of the bank in Chandigarh. The PGI Director, DR S.K. Sharma, and the Medical Superintendent, Dr A.K. Gupta, praised the gesture of the bank employees. Mr Narang said the bank was considering several other welfare schemes. Those present on the occasion were the General Managers of the bank, Mr P.K. Sharma and Mr J.S. Tomar, besides leaders of the employees' union of the bank, including Mr Yog Raj Gupta, Mr T.K. Dutta and Mr Vinod Sharma. |
|
New OPD in PGI waiting for a VIP CHANDIGARH,
The PGI Director, Dr S.K Sharma, said We are keen to get the new OPD inaugurated from the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, and sent a formal request to him almost a month back. We are awaiting a reply, and as soon as we receive one, we will finalise the procedure for shifting. He further said that a major part of the furniture for the five-storeyed building had been purchased. The process of computerisation would, however, be done in phases. A committee, set up under the chairmanship of the Director is working out the finer prints of the shifting process, it is learnt. The authorities were earlier thinking of doing a mock trial of shifting the OPDs to the new block for a day or two to test the functioning, but the same has been cancelled now for then the inauguration becomes meaningless. The building has been lying ready since March but has so far not been put to any
use. While the authorities are determined to wait for a VIP to inaugurate it, the patients continue to rough it out in the OPDs during the hot and humid months. |
Visiting
Americans beat Punjab in extra-time thriller CHANDIGARH,
At the end of the regulation time, the score was 61-61 and more than 500 persons who had turned up to watch the match were becoming increasingly excited. The Americans were down, 69-70, in the last minute when they scored two points to win the match. Before the match, both sides exchanged gifts. The Americans scored the first basket and stretched the early lead to 13-2. Kuldeep Singh, the Punjab coach, made his team change its strategy and it paid off. Punjab took the lead for the first time in the match at 22-21. After this, Orris and Steven helped the Americans gain momentum and finish at the halftime with a seven-point lead. The score at the halftime was 37-30 in their favour. The second half even was more exciting and both teams had equal points on many occasions. The coach of the Punjab team and a former international player, Kuldeep Singh Cheema, who is also the chief coach of the BSF at Jalandhar, said some of his boys could not make it to the match because they were busy elsewhere. Punjab team: Satya Narayan (captain), Paramdeep Singh, Amit Prashar, Ravi Kumar, Lakhvinder Singh, Varinder Kumar, Deepak Kumar, Jasjit Singh, Devinder Hooda, Surjit Singh, Harsimranjit Singh and Ashish Gill. Motor sport event:
A motor sport event, Maruti Autocross, will be held on August 6 at the Sector 17 Circus Grounds. The event will include races in four categories Maruti 800; Zen and Maruti 1000; Maruti Esteem; and Gypsy 413 and Gypsy 410. Each event will have three categories amateurs, women and general, said Mr Shashi Garcha, President of the Chandigarh Motor Sport Association. Tomorrow, screening and briefing of the drivers will be done. The main event will begin on Sunday. Mr Sarabjit Singh, Director General of Punjab police, will flag off the event and Mr Ramsekhar, Deputy
Commissioner of the UT, will preside over the closing ceremony.
|
|
Sector 16 GMSSS a hub of
sports CHANDIGARH, Aug 4 Though the city boasts of many schools which have good infrastructure for sports, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16, has become much sought-after school regarding sports. The Principal, Mr Ram Kumar, said the school sports in-charge, Ms Ajinder Kaur, is an Arjuna Awardee and former international hockey player. Harsimran Brar, a class XI student and versatile swimmer, has won the bronze medal in the National School Games held at Patiala. He also claimed the silver medal in the 100 metres backstroke. Harsimran also impressed with his cycling in the Federation Track Cycling in 3,000 metres in individual pursuit in the under-18 section. The badminton players who have hogged the limelight are Mala Gaba, Parnita Verma, Isha Sharma. Mala was a member of the Indian school team which won the gold medal in the Federation International Schools Badminton Meet held in Belgium in 1998. Mala of class XI also secured the third position in the National School Games in 1998. She helped Chandigarh bag the second place at the North Zone Inter-state Badminton meet in Faridabad in October, 1998. Parnita Verma too went with the Indian school team to Belgium and was runner-up in the doubles section. A student of class XII, she says that the school has given her a good chance to grow in life. Isha Sharma also went to Belgium, took part in the National School Games, Mini and Sub-Junior Nationals and attended all-India coaching camps held in Jalandhar and Bhiwani. The two tennis players of school are Khushleen Kaur and Izreek Singh Randhawa. Khushleen of class XII took part in the all-India Tennis Circuit in 1999, reached the pre-quarterfinals in ITF, won the bronze medal in National School Games in the under-19 section, and reached pre-quarterfinals in singles in AITA tournaments. Izreek, a student of class X has also taken part in various AITA meets, in Delhi and Chandigarh and reached last 16. Pushpa Devi and Kanchan Sharma of class XI are the two basketball players who have given a pride of place to the school. Pushpa took part in the National Youth Basketball Championship in 1999 and also participated in National School Games held at Chandigarh in 1998. Kanchan also took part in the National School Games and remained runner-up in the under-14 basketball meet in the state. Sarpinder Jit Singh and Satinder Pal Singh are the two cricketers studying in class XI who have taken part in inter-school matches. Satinder also took part in the Edmund Rice tournaments. Dilmeet Kaur is a superb carrom player and has represented UT in nationals held in 1997 and last year took part inter-school organised for the first time in the UT. Ruchika Sharma of class XII holds promise in softball and represented UT in the junior and sub-junior national meets. Amita Sohal of class XII won the gold medal in the National Karate Meet and also remained state aerobics champion. She also took part in the National Gymnastics Championship. The Principal further informed that school has coaching centres for tennis and basketball where regular coaching is imparted to trainees who also come from other schools. |
|
Sub-junior soccer meet
begins CHANDIGARH,
New Public School beat St Peter's School, 6-0, and GMSSS-22 won their match, 4-1. In the first match, the halftime score was 2-0, while in the second match, both teams did not score in the first half. Tomorrow, Guru Teg Bahadur School, Sector 15, will play against St Soldier's School, Sector 28. This will be followed by the match between Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, and the OCF Club. Vivek High School, Sector 38, will play against Tribune Model School, Sector 29, and Government High School, Sector 37, will meet St Kabir's School, Sector 26, in another match. After this, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 20, will play against Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 15. The last match of the day fill feature Liberty Club and another team. Powerlifting meet:
|
Tree plantation
drive by ITBP CHANDIGARH,
Mr
N.S. Rathore, ADIG(L&C), and Mr H.S. Sohal, Deputy Conservator (Forest), Chandigarh Administration, jointly planted a sapling of mango. Mr
S.V. Tyagi, ADIG (Engr), Mr A.S. Chhina, Commandant, TPT BN, Mr Kabul Singh, CS (L&C), Mr Raj Singh, second-in-command, TPT Bn, and 150 personnel of the ITBP participated in the drive by planting one sapling each. Mr Rathore urged all those present to plant at least two saplings each which could help balance our eco-system. Mr Chhina said: "At present we have 3,043 fully grown plants on our campus and 450 new saplings of shady and fruit-bearing trees are being planted during the vanamahotsava. |
|
ERO announces poll schedule SAS NAGAR,
The Election Commission, under Section 35 of the Punjab State Election Commission Act, 1994, has fixed August 10 as the last date for making nominations and August 11 as the date for scrutiny of the nominations. For withdrawal of the nominations the last date is August 12. The polls would be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on August 20. A case regarding the delimitation of wards of the civic body is pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. |
|
IGP visits Police Lines CHANDIGARH,
According to sources, he directed the cops to send the particulars of all the vehicles impounded or lying unclaimed to the National Crime Records Bureau. Efforts would be made to find their owners or to dispose of the vehicles. He also said that an Inspector would visit the site of any fatal accident and submit his report to the SP, Traffic and that all mottos be displayed prominently at the challaning branch with advice on how the money spent on challans, could have been used for other purposes. He also said that all the blind crossings/curves should be identified and steps taken to remove them. He later interacted with some persons who had come to settle challans and advised them to obey traffic rules. |
|
Encroachments removed PANCHKULA,
The drama started late in the afternoon when employees of the enforcement wing descended upon the market and began removing encroachments. The shopkeepers had encroached upon the corridor as well as the pavement for the display of their items. After one consignment was lifted in the presence of the police, the shopkeepers threatened against the action initiated against them by closing down their shops. Later, talks between the shopkeepers and the officials were held in which they agreed to withdraw from the corridors. The President of the Market Welfare Association, Mr B.B. Kochhar, said the paucity of space was a major bottleneck in the market and proper display of items was not possible. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 120 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
