C H A N D I G A R H

Vocational courses fail to deliver results
CHANDIGARH, Sept 3 — Launched with great fanfare by the University Grants Commission, the fate of vocational courses in Panjab University hangs in balance.

Irate residents block traffic, damage vehicles
CHANDIGARH, Sept 3—Residents of the Colony No 5 went on the rampage late last night as they blocked traffic and damaged vehicles and injured a few persons near Mataur Chowk in protest against the failure of power supply in the colony for the past two days.

Damaged causeway cries for help
SAS NAGAR, Sept 3 — It has been over three months since the causeway linking Nadha village with Nayagoan, North-West of Chandigarh, collapsed during the monsoons but no official of the Punjab Public Works Department has visited the site.

Women in traditional dresses making Pookalam to celebrate the Onam festival organised by Chandigarh Malayalee Association at Banga Bhawan Sector-35 in Chandigarh on Sunday. — Tribune Photo by Pankaj Sharma.

COMMUNITY

Kala Devi Award presented
CHANDIGARH, Sept 3 — Air Marshal K.S.Bhatia(retd), while describing information technology as vehicle for knowledge, said today that there was no dearth of finances and infrastructure for the development of IT in Punjab.

Folk songs reflect social message
CHANDIGARH, Sept 3 — The origin of folk dances and songs, along with their eternal relationship with the changing times and mores, was discussed here today at Punjab Kala Bhavan, Sector 16.

Seminar on Canadian immigration
CHANDIGARH, Sept 3 — A seminar on "Canadian immigration process", organised by Can-Asia Immigration Consultancy Services Ltd, was held at Tagore Theatre, here today. Mr Ron Batth, Managing Director, and Mr Doug Macaulay, Director of the placement and education cell, spoke on the occasion.

Police calls meeting of school heads
SAS NAGAR, Sept 3 — In the wake of recent cases of kidnapping of school-going children for ransom in Punjab, the local police has called a meeting of the principals of local schools at the Phase 1 police station. The Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), City, Mr Sukhwant Singh Gill, said the principals would be asked to adopt certain measures to prevent any such incident.

Punwire unions trade charges
SAS NAGAR, Sept 3 — The Punjab Wireless Systems Employees Union and the Punwire Employees Coordination Committee have accused each other for working against the interest of the employees. The issue came to light during a gate meeting of the two unions in front of the Punwire unit in Phase 6 here today.

Tribune employee bereaved
CHANDIGARH, Sept 3 — M.L. Sharma, father of Mr Sunil Sharma, Sectional Head, working in the Internet section of The Tribune, died here today.

CHANDIGARH CALLING

Quraishi a multifaceted personality 
THE appointment of Dr S.Y. Quraishi as Principal Secretary to the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, may have surprised many. An IAS officer of the 1971 batch, Mr Quraishi is a multifaceted personality with a doctorate in social marketing. He is also well versed in German, Arabic and Persian, besides being an expert in media and communication, social marketing and communication for women and children.

READERS WRITE

Petrol prices
The recent hike in petrol prices in the city has hit the middle class the most. In September, 1997, the price of petrol in the city was Rs 20.58 per litre. It now stands at Rs 27.60 per litre, an increase of 34 per cent in less than three years. Chandigarh is already the costliest city in the country and the hike in petrol prices has added to the burden of its middle class. 

KIDS SPEAK OUT

Without playgrounds, life is no child’s play
PANCHKULA, Sept 3 — In the meticulously planned city boasting of wide roads and lush green gardens where youngsters are on a trip of their own every evening, those on the better side of the 30s take time off for a brisk walk while the old sit together and chat till late into the evenings, little children believe they are virtually existing in no-man’s land.

CRIME

One killed in accident
ZIRAKPUR, Sept 3 — One person was killed and another injured in an accident between a truck and a scooter on the Zirakpur-Patiala highway at Dyalpura village, 2 km from here, on Saturday night. Both are residents of Dyalpura village and travelling on a scooter.

Pedestrian dies in mishap
CHANDIGARH, Sept 3 — Two deaths have been reported from the city during the past 48 hours.

Youth booked for kidnapping girl
SAS NAGAR, Sept 3 — The Sohana police has booked a youth of Kumbra village for allegedly kidnapping a girl of Sohana village.

COURTS

Bar for action against Kaithal lawyer
CHANDIGARH, Sept 3 — At a meeting held here today, the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana unanimously resolved to call on the government for initiation of disciplinary action against a Kaithal advocate who allegedly stabbed a woman judicial officer in her chamber.

HEALTH

‘Club foot 100 per cent curable’
CHANDIGARH, Sept 3 — Two to three out of every 1000 children born in India suffer from Club Foot or Congenital Talipes Equino Varus (CTEV), as it is known in scientific terms. However, all the orthopedic specialists attending the XIV Annual Conference of the Indian Foot Society said it is a problem which is 100 per cent treatable, provided it gets the attention of an expert before the deformities set in. Left unattended, the problem magnifies when the joints become stiff and the arthritis sets in.

‘Balanced diet, exercise keys to good health’
CHANDIGARH, Sept 3 — Balanced diet, vegetarianism and exercise are the keys to good health and long life. This was the message of the Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme on diet management in medicine organised by the Department of Dietetics and Medicine, Government Medical College and Hospital, here today at the CSIO auditorium. More than 275 delegates from the region participated in the programme.The programme was inaugurated by Prof S.K. Sharma, Director, PGI.

Talk on eye donation held
CHANDIGARH, Sept 3 — The Bharat Vikas Parishad, Chandigarh (West) held an eye donation education talk at DAV College, Sector 10, as part of observing the national fortnight on eye donation, Aug 25 to Sep 8.

Health care products launched
CHANDIGARH, Sept 3 — A herbal-based pharmaceutical company launched 20 healthcare products in the north India at a focal meet of doctors held here today.

Alternative medical check-up camp
CHANDIGARH, Sept 3 — A two-day alternative medicine and check-up camp concluded on the premises of Tribune Model School here today.

10 pc suffer from coronary heart diseases: expert
CHANDIGARH, Sept 3 — More than 50 per cent of deaths above 65 years of age are due to coronary artery diseases and more than 75 per cent of deaths from ischaemic heart diseases (IHD) occur in elder individuals. This was stated by Dr H.K. Bali, Professor, Department of Cardiology, PGI, at a health talk held for senior citizens at Lajpat Rai Bhavan, Sector 15 here.

SPORT

Kelvinator XI win Samuel Banerjee tourney
CHANDIGARH, Sept 3 — Rakesh Jolly was the star in the Kelvinator XI fine six wickets victory over the Industrial Cricket Club (ICC) and bagged the Samuel Banerjee Memorial Tournament, which concluded here today at the Sector 16 cricket stadium. Mrs Phylis Banerjee, wife of late Samuel Banerjee a former Sports Editor of The Tribune, was the chief guest and gave away prizes and trophies to winners.

Kerala girls win ball badminton meet
CHANDIGARH, Sept 3 — Kerala eves displayed their prowess when they defended the girls ball badminton title at the 20th National Sub-Junior Ball Badminton Meet, which concluded here today at Shivalik Public School, Sector 41. In the final they overpowered Karnataka by 29-21and 29-15. In boys final, it was Karnataka which outclassed Hyderabad by 29-8 and 29-17.

ADMINISTRATION

Panel to preserve city’s bio-diversity formed
CHANDIGARH, Sept 3 — The Chandigarh Administration has constituted a steering committee to prepare a strategy and action plan to conserve bio-diversities in the city and the adjoining areas.