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| Friday,
December 29, 2000, Chandigarh, India |
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Heart diseases up
among North Indians: study CHANDIGARH, Dec 28 — Heart diseases are rising alarmingly among North Indians, particularly the Sikh community, concludes a study following a series of studies in the USA indicating highest coronary mortality rate among the Asians. The study comes up with revealing facts on changed lifestyles, increasing anger, anger expression styles and immigrant rootlessness in a changing life scenario with clouds of globalisation. Frustration and depression are another prominently visibly strong factors in today’s society. The team here was headed by Prof Jitendra Mohan from the Department of Psychology in Panjab University. Dr Vijay Mahajan, director of Tagore Hospitals, Jalandhar, and Dr Meena Seghal, PU, were the main collaborators. The sample included 150 males with cardiovascular diseases and 50 females. There were 50 normal health individuals for the study. The study will figure in an international symposium on psychology at London next year. Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, Professor Mohan said the main thrust was to discover the psychological and lifestyle correlates of coronary artery diseases in addition to the classical risk factors. The impact of modernisation, globalisation, immigrant rootlessness and certain psycho-social nutritional -health factors were the broad areas of the study. The study also took account of biomedical parameters, including T.lipids, acid, uric acid, sugar, blood pressure and body mass. The psychological parameters included anger and anger expression, state-trait anxiety, psychological well-being, daily hassles and uplifts, and stressful life events. The study is a protocol of scientifically and professionally accepted tests. Professor Mohan said cardiovascular disease patients were significantly higher with tendency to over-arousal, anger and aggression. Speed, impatience and hard driving in competitiveness dimensions also figured high in a changed scenario. He said the intake of alcohol had gone up considerably. The study exploded a popular myth that women did not have heart problems. In fact, they were shown an equal scale. Lifestyle changes had also brought in several cardiovascular areas understudy systematically. The study suggested early childhood intervention in terms of positive thinking, anger management and self-control. The study also suggested networking for cooperation and love. “Do not hesitate in consulting the experts. Take charge of your life, you have only one,” said Professor Mohan. |
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Israel won’t give UAVs to
IAF CHANDIGARH, Dec 28 — While an IAF team has returned from Israel after undergoing a training stint on unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAV), it will be some time before it can make its newly acquired expertise useful and start training programmes for IAF personnel to operate and maintain UAVs in the country. Though it has trained a small number of IAF officers, it is understood that Israel is not willing to provide equipment to the IAF for training officers and men in India. The IAF will have to wait till its own UAVs and related paraphernalia are procured from Israel. Giving equipment to the IAF for training, sources opine, will reduce its effective life span for the Israel’s own use — something the West Asian country is not keen on. Though the process of setting up the infrastructure for establishing two UAV bases, one in the western sector and the other in the south-western sector, is under way, training of personnel is expected to get delayed. This, consequently, may further delay the UAV establishment becoming fully operational. The IAF, according to sources, was keen on its personnel getting trained on UAVs by the time these mini aircraft are inducted into the IAF, so that the UAV squadron becomes fully operational at the earliest. A $ 300 million deal has recently been signed with Israel for the supply of UAVs. The Army has already procured a limited number of Searcher UAVs and has its own UAV establishment. These were seen for the first time during Exercise Shiv Shakti, a massive training exercise designed to test futuristic battle concepts. Following a reported tussle between the services for the control of UAVs, the Defence Ministry had decided earlier this year that each service to have its own UAV establishment to meet its requirements. The 12-member IAF training team sent to Israel comprised officers qualified on missile systems, drawn from various IAF bases, including Chandigarh. The team returned last month after spending about eight weeks in grasping the basics of operating and maintaining UAVs. These officers are likely to form the core of the Air Force UAV establishment, with some of them forming its first UAV squadron, while others being based at headquarters would handle the technical, training and administrative aspects. Today’s battlefield environment calls for availability of “real time” intelligence to field commanders and this is where UAVs come in. Without these mini aircraft, tactical surveillance and reconnaissance are considered grossly inadequate. UAVs can plug the existing holes in aerial surveillance and can also be deployed along the Line of Control, whose terrain and weather makes patrolling extremely difficult. |
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Cops, police
thyself CHANDIGARH, Dec 28 — They were arresting people under a notification that had ceased to exist. “Prostitutes” were arrested, but their bail bond was furnished by a cop. The police kept on looking for a noted film personality, while he surfaced at the Sector 17 district courts, before surrendering. Cops were all set for challaning drivers zipping down the streets without seat belts, till they realised that their own vehicles were without them. Year 2000 was embarrassing for the police. The notification making it mandatory for landlords to inform the police about the antecedents of the tenants lapsed in August. But for over three months, the cops kept on rounding up residents — three to four persons a week. It was a great shock for the police department, when one of its sub-inspector furnished a bail bond for an alleged call girl, whose arrest, the police had earlier claimed, was a major achievement. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had made fastening of seat belts mandatory for drivers. The Cops were, in all serious, ready to implement the direction till, much to their embarrassment, they realised that the official Gypsies were without the mandatory belts. The realisation came only after it was pointed out by the Chandigarh Tribune. The SSP immediately ordered the installations of belts in all the official vehicles of the police department. Last but not the least, test cricketer and film actor Yog Raj Singh, accused of selling adulterated petrol, walked into the District Courts and surrendered before a magistrate. The Chandigarh Police came to know of this only after the entire episode was over. This was not the first time an accused, wanted by the police, submitted to the jurisdiction of the Court before the police could arrest him. Chandigarh’s former Chief Engineer, K.K. Jerath, escorted by his family, had also surrendered before a magistrate in the engineering department kickbacks case, even though his arrest was a prestige issue with the UT Vigilance Department. Another embarrassing moment came during the strike by the Haryana employees. On November 18, the police registered a case under the Essential Services Maintenance Act, against 13 Haryana Government employees. The case was dropped when the cops realised they were not under proper jurisdiction to register the FIR. |
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R.S. Gupta likely
to head PEC CHANDIGARH, Dec 28 — Prof R. S. Gupta, Head of Mechanical Engineering Department, Punjab Engineering College, is likely to be appointed the Principal of the college. The present Principal, Prof Rajnish Prakash, retires on December 31. Although next in seniority to Prof Prakash is Prof Y.C.Chopra, Head of Electronics Department, he also supreannuates on the same day as Prof Prakash. Sources say also in the fray are Dr Nag Sarkar, Head of Electrical Department, Engineering Department, and Dr S C Dhawan, Head of Civil Engineering Department. The decision now rests with the Chandigarh Administration. The PEC Principal had earlier given a representation to the Chandigarh Administration to consider increasing the age of retirement from 58 to 60 following a similar decision taking by the Punjab Government regarding technical colleges of Punjab. But it seems that the college has overlooked some vital details in the Punjab Government’s decision regarding technical colleges. The order of the Department of Technical Education and Industrial Training, dated August 14, stated that the government had decided that age of retirement of teachers of government aided/private engineering colleges would remain 60 years. But later the Director, Technical
Education, Punjab, clarified that there were no government engineering colleges in Punjab and also stated that the age of retirement of Punjab Government employees remained 58 years. The Chandigarh Administration, under whose jurisdiction, PEC functions, follow the Punjab Civil Services rules. Since there is no change in the age of retirement for Punjab state employees, chances are the age of retirement of PEC will remain 58 years. |
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E-greetings set to replace New Year
cards CHANDIGARH, Dec 28 — New Year greeting cards have found a least expected adversary in Information Technology, with e-greetings finally bringing down the sales of cards in the city this year. A random survey carried out by The Tribune here today, revealed that sales of New Year cards have gone down this year, with more and more people preferring to send their “God speed” to friends and relatives through the Internet. It is learnt that on an average, the sale of new year cards in the city has gone down by a few lakhs this year. According to rough estimates, it is learnt that last year, the city had registered a sale of New Year cards by the corporate sector alone worth Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. Another couple of lakhs was raked in through the sale of cards in the non- corporate sector. However, it is learnt that this year it was the Christmas greeting cards that showed an upward trend in the city because of rapid globalization and various city residents making many a friend during their frequent travels abroad or through the Internet. On the contrary, personal New Year cards sales showed a decline, while the number of corporate New Year wishes through the cards has remained steady. Mr Diwakar Sahoonja, Director of Dewsun India Pvt. Ltd., one of the oldest card galleries and fun shops in Chandigarh, while talking to TNS today, lamented that forty per cent of customers for buying New Year cards, comprise the youth — mainly college going crowds. “With Information Technology revolutionising our lifestyle, most of the city youth this year have preferred to send in e-greetings as this is also a cheaper and faster mode of sending good wishes,” he lamented. His views are supported by Ranjan Sud, a local college-going youth, who claims to have already sent in e-greetings to more than 50 of his friends, relatives and other accomplices. He says that the postal strike earlier this month also proved a deterrent for sending greeting cards, for fear that these would not reach their destination on time. However, the sale of cards in the corporate sector has been the saving grace for most greeting card-dealers and retailers. Mr Sarabjit Singh, a local industrialist, says that for most people in the corporate sector, New Year greeting cards remain the most convenient way of being in touch with their clients/regular customers as well as the dealers. “ No modern means of communication can erode the greeting cards, as they can serve to be formal or informal-as desired by the customer.” Interestingly, it is also learnt that most of the city residents showed their humane face by buying more and more cards from various charitable organisations. This inspite of the fact that cards for charity are sometimes more expensive. With UNICEF no longer in the run for greeting cards, it was the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF), Helpage and the cards printed by the Blood Bank Society of Chandigarh that remained popular. Cards printed for raking in charity for the Special Olympics and Child Relief and You (CRY) were also on display in most of the shops. Though the price range of the cards available in the market ranges from a mere Rs 4 to an astounding Rs 175 per card, the sale of the cards between the price range of Rs 16 to Rs 22 per card have shown the maximum sale. |
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THE ANCHOR CHANDIGARH, Dec 28 — The parents of the inmates of the Government Institute of Mentally Retarded Children in Sector 32, feel that their wards are facing problems of adjustment in the absence of permanent instructors at the institute. These instructors are appointed for a period of six months. However, the authorities maintain that the services of the instructors are “often” extended. Moreover, these special children get attached to their teachers and find it difficult to adjust to the new ones. This often results in nullifying the efforts of the outgoing instructors, complain the parents of these children. ‘’As they are slow learners, these children take time to get used to new teachers, says Mr B S Chavan, Head of the Psychiatry Department, GMCH Sector 32, who is also Director of the institute. For the 160 students in the institute, the 20-member staff includes eight special instructors, two permanent teachers and nine sub-instructors. Mr Balbir Singh, President of Parents Society for the Welfare of Mentally Handicapped Children, says , ‘’There is no pre-vocational or vocational training centre throughout Northern India. There is only one institute in Chandigarh which can admit only 150 to 200 children, whereas this ‘city alone’ has about 5000 mentally challenged children. More than 4000 such children are without any health care. ‘’The parents feel concerned about their children after every six months and the teachers feel insecure. The shortage of staff will become a major problem in the near
future, said Mr S.P Singh Saini, Senior Vice-President of the parents society. The institute was established in 1964 to provide educational and vocational training with a small class of five children. It has instructors for physical fitness, outdoor sports, yoga and gardening at this institute. The school curriculum includes teaching of languages and other adaptive skills. Vocational training includes candle making, caning of chairs, clay modelling, knitting, book binding, operating photostat machine etc. Earlier admission used to be done on the basis of the age of the children 6-14 years. Now admission is given on the basis of the child’s IQ. Talking about the change in the behavior of his son Rommi, Mr Sher Singh said,’’ I have seen a remarkable change in my son. He has made improvement in extra-curricular activities. He is now taking interest in singing and dancing. |
Minor crimes up in 2000:
IG CHANDIGARH,
Dec 28 — Believe it or not. It’s true. In 2000, 17,500 police personnel were deployed for providing security to VIPs. As many as 1,26,000 man-hours were spent in making necessary arrangements. At the annual press conference hosted today by the Inspector-General of Chandigarh Police, Mr B.S. Bassi, it was also revealed that 1667 functions were attended by the VVIPs. Thirtynine programmes were attended by the Governors of other states. It was also disclosed that the conviction rate in Chandigarh was the highest — 73.27 per cent. Out of the 1680 decided cases, 1231 culminated in convictions. Till November, 2644 cases were sent to the courts for trial. Over 1035 cases were reported untraced. As many as 79 cases, including the one against the striking Haryana employees, were cancelled. A total of 2819 cases under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code were registered by the police in 2000. The increase was of 3.07 per cent. The cases included white collar crime, even the theft of cycles. More than 100 proclaimed offenders were also taken into custody. No one was above law. The cops proved the fact by dismissing 12 of its own men. This was not all. The cops ordered reduction in rank of three personnel, awarded major punishments to 61 officials, minor to 452. Till December 15, 390 complaints were received against police personnel. All complaints were looked into by the gazetted officers. The number of fatal accidents were less compared to the previous year. In 1999, 122 persons were killed. This year, the number was less by four. Murders this year were more. In the first year of the new millennium, 19 cases were registered under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. In 1999, the number was 17. The police has been able to solve 13. The motive behind the crime was personal enmity, property dispute or illicit relations. The unsolved cases included the ruthless murders of minors. Chain snatching continued to haunt the police. Fourtysix cases were registered. Sixteen more than the previous year. The cops were reportedly able to arrest two gangs of snatchers. As many as 36 cases of snatching were reportedly worked out with the arrest of Randhir and Raghbir. Nine cases of dacoity and robbery were reported. Six of them were solved successfully, including the Sector 24 double murder and robbery case. In 1999, seven such cases were registered. Motor vehicle thefts were a matter of grave concern. Three hundred and nine cases were registered. Just 61 were solved, reflecting upon the inability of the police to handle such cases. More cases of eve-teasing were registered this year. Over 115 first information reports were lodged compared to 108 last year. The success rate in solving the cases was 100 per cent. No one was kidnapped by members of organised gangs for ransom. Except for two cases, all were of elopement. In all, 87 cases were registered. Over 70 were worked out successfully. As many as 1018 rallies and demonstrations were held in addition to 720 meetings. Over 820 dharnas were staged, while 44 processions were carried out in the city. The Traffic Police also remained active. Over 3600 persons were challaned. Available statistics revealed that 2956 challans were issued for the use of black film, another 1732 were issued for smoking while driving. Over 250 drivers were challaned for talking on the mobile phone while zipping down the city roads. Another 129 challans were issued for installing a red-light atop the vehicle without authorisation. |
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Id celebrated in
city CHANDIGARH, Dec 28 — Id-ul-Fitr was celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety in the city, here today. Muslims in the city and its surrounding areas gathered at various mosques to offer prayers at the end of the month-long fasting of
Ramzan. Muslims were greeted by their friends from other communities and traditional dishes like sevian were offered and relished. At the main mosque in Sector 20, the Chandigarh Administration had made adequate arrangements for parking and security. Meanwhile, the National Muslim Welfare Movement and the Minority Morchas of the BJP held an Id-Milan programme at Burail village, Hallo Majra and Bapu Dham colony. A press release of the movement crticised Mr Bal Thackereys reported statement, in which he had said that Muslims in India should not be given a right to vote. Meanwhile, the NSS unit of SGGS College, Sector 26, celebrated Id under the supervision of their coordinator, Mr Kulwinder Singh. The principal, Mr P.S. Sangha and Coordinator, NSS, Panjab University, Mr C.L. Narang spoke about the unity of all religions and the significance of the festival. They also stressed on the universal brotherhood of mankind. The NSS unit of GGDSD college visited Colony Number 5 and the volunteers made the residents aware of cleanliness, personal hygiene, ill effects of alcohol and smoking. In the afternoon, the principal, Dr A.C. Vaid celebrated Id with volunteers and highlighted the significance of
Ramzan.
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Little fun in partying
this year PANCHKULA, Dec 28Dec 28 — Parting out on new year may not be much fun for city residents hoping to usher in the millennium in city clubs and hotels, with little planning going into the designing of the programme and schedule. The only programme likely to rock the city is being hosted by the Gymkhana Club in Sector 6, where plans to make the new year bash memorable are afoot. Right from the menu to the music, the minutest detail is being taken care of. With absolutely no charges for members on entry, the club will allow guests at Rs 100 per head. A DJ from Delhi and other local artists are being contacted for staging a colourful programme on the eve, while the department is also taking up lighting up of the venue. Arranging crackers to light up the sky at midnight has also been taken care of. In North Park, at Rs 850 for a couple and Rs 450 for singles, an eight-piece band has been arranged by the poolside, which will be lighted up by bonfires all over the place. Hotel Pallavi in Sector 5 has a musical evening on the cards, with only regular customers being invited. With Rs 1500 for a couple and Rs 700 for a single, a DJ will perform till the clock times in the new millennium. Games for couples and prizes in a number of categories will also be given. In Prabhat Inn, Sector 10, and Red Bishop, Sector 1, though nothing has been planned so far, the programme is likely to be confined to wining and dining with music playing in the background. A dance floor for the interested would also be available. |
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Golf Club poll: no discrepancy
in counting CHANDIGARH, Dec 28 — Recounting of votes polled by candidates during the Golf Club elections was done at the club today and it was found that there was no discrepancy in the counting held earlier. The elections were held on December 9 to elect the 11 executive members of the managing committee of the club. The results of the same were declared on December 10 after the counting. Col Iqbal Singh, after two days of the declaration of the results had sought recounting on the plea that he is not satisfied with the result. He was the first among the loser and had polled 323 votes. While Col J.S. Kang had polled 332
votes. This is perhaps for the first time in the history of the club elections that one of the contestants had expressed doubt in the counting process and sought a recount. The returning officer, Col J.S. Gill, had then ordered that recounting of votes polled by both Col Iqbal Singh and Col Kang be done, so that in case of any change the latter is not affected. Reputed members namely Brig B.S. Bains, Brig J.S. Phulka, Mrs Gayatri Singh and Ms Jayshree Thakur were the ones involved in recounting with the returning officer. Colonel Gill disclosed that for a thorough check, they went through all 882 ballot papers and at the end of recounting not even a single vote difference was found. This only indicates the accuracy of the members in the counting of votes held earlier, he added. |
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‘Spy’ breaks fast CHANDIGARH, Dec 28 — Mr Roop Lal, the spy, who was on indefinite hunger strike against the alleged government’s apathy towards him, broke his fast, here yesterday at the Plaza in Sector 17. The President’s Police Gallantry Awardees Association, today provided him a rent-free furnished office at Sector 17 to open a dectective agency. In a press release, Mr S. K. Madan, president of the association in a press note, said that they would assist Mr Lal in fulfilling his dream of opening a detective agency. The Chandigarh Country Club would provide him place for conducting training. He has also been provided with telephone and other office equipments by various people of the city. Mr Lal spent 26 years in Pakistani jails when he was caught by the Pak troops for spying. |
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Nagar kirtan in SAS Nagar
on Dec 30 SAS NAGAR, Dec 28 — A nagar kirtan procession will be organised here by the Gurdwara Coordination Committee on December 30 in connection with the birthday of Guru Gobind Singh. The procession will start from Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Phase I at 11 a.m. and culminate at Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Phase VIII in the evening. |
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Bansal, Dhawan in AICC list CHANDIGARH, Dec 28 — Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal has been figured on the All-India Congress Committee list for the Chandigarh unit, a press note of the territorial Congress committee said here today.
Others who have been figured on the list include Mr Venod Sharma, a former Member of Parliament, Mr B.B. Bahl, president of the CTCC, and Mr Manish Tewari, a former president of the IYCC. Mr Harmohan Dhawan, a former MP of the SJP, Kamlesh Banarsi, Mr Lalit Joshi, Ms Bhupinder Kaur and Mr Amarnath Sarhadi have also been figured on the list, the note added. |
Servant murder accused
surrenders PANCHKULA,
Dec 28 — The main accused Rahul, responsible for the death of 11-year-old Gopal, a domestic help in Pinjore, surrendered before the police this evening at the Pinjore police station. Accompanied by his father, Mr S.K. Malhotra, Rahul had been summoned by him from a marriage he was attending following instructions from the police. The 20-year-old boy, pursuing a computer course and B.Com simultaneously, seemed shaken by the turn of events. It may be recalled that Gopal had joined as domestic help with the Malhotras, residing at Pinjore, five months ago. On December 18, he was beaten up by Rahul who caught him stealing money from his pocket. However, on December 20, the Malhotras went to attend a marriage, leaving Gopal with his relative, who had introduced him to the family where he fell ill out of fear and anxiety. On December 22, he was discharged from a private hospital in Sector 9 and taken back home. Again, on December 23, he developed a medical problem and was brought to the PGI for treatment, where he died the next day. Subsequently, the police registered a case under Section 302 IPC against Rahul, believed to be responsible for the severe thrashing. Sources said that the district police had been planning to despatch teams to the residences of relatives of the Malhotras to locate the accused.
Rahul will be produced in court tomorrow.
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Scooterist killed in
mishap CHANDIGARH, Dec 28 — A scooterist was declared dead on arrival at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in the evening today. He and another person were admitted to the institute after the scooter they were riding was hit by an unknown vehicle in Balachaur near Ropar. According to sources in the police department, the deceased has been identified as Narmail Singh of a village near Mullanpur. The condition of Amrik Singh is reported to be stable. Cyclist injured |
Industrialists meet
DC PANCHKULA,
Dec 28 — A two-member committee was consituted at the single-window meeting of industrialists chaired by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Monga, which would submit its report on the existence of truck and tempo unions and their conflict with the industrialists in the next fortnight. Comprising the SDM and the DSP, the committee would go into the reasons leading to the conflict, whereby two trucks were forcibly taken away by the members of the union. Also, the DC directed the police to arrest those involved in the incident, their laxity in the matter coming in for criticism by industrialists. Submission of a report for levying of extra charges for installation of electronic meters in place of the existing electromagnetic ones in industrial units has also been asked for, from the electricity department officials. A decision with regard to allotting a separate electricity connection for tenants at industrial plots was given the nod by the electricity department following a demand of the industrialists. Earlier, this matter was kept pending in view of rules of the department, which said that a separate connection was admissible only under the condition of a separate entry for the tenant. This demand could not be met since it amounted to violation of HUDA by-laws. HUDA officials informed that recarpeting of roads in the Industrial area of the city was in progress and that pipes had been laid for disposal of water. However, the industrialists were of the unanimous opinion that the laying of plastic pipes served little purpose and that these should be replaced by cement pipes. Expressing satisfaction over the improved power situation in the city, Mr Monga took up the review of decisions taken in previous meetings of industrialists with officials of various departments. |
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