HEALTH

Steps to save eyes
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 17
After instructions from the UT Administration to control the incidence of visual impairment in schoolchildren, the State Resources Centre for Disabilities has drawn a plan to conduct a survey of government middle schools in and around the city.

In this regard, the Head of the Department of Ophthalmology of the Sector 32 Government Medical College and Hospital, Prof Sunandan Sood, and his team of specialists will hold detection-and-awareness camps in 30 government middle schools. The first such camp will be held in Government Middle School of Sarangpur on July 21.

Prof Sood said, under the survey, children upto the age of 10 will be examined for Vitamin A deficiency, refractive errors, squint and trachoma. About 10 per cent of schoolchildren in this age group usually suffer from these ailments.

“If undetected, these ailments can cause permanent visual impairment. Till the age of 10, these ailments can be effectively cured and controlled,” said Dr Sood.

Children will be receive treatment at the camps itself, but those requiring special care will be referred to the resource centre of the Sector 32 GMCH. Private schools of the city will be covered in the second phase of the programme.

More immunity, fewer pricks for the newborn
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 17
The Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) today recommended the use of combination vaccines in “The Jenner Plus” symposium on current trends in immunisation.

Speaking on new combination vaccines, Dr Neeraj Kumar, Secretary, IAP; Dr A.K. Gupta, Convener, IAP; and Dr Vijay Aggarwal, a noted child expert, said that there was evidence emerging from international trials which showed the efficacy of combination vaccines like those against DTP and HB.

The doctors said that a new-born baby had to take six vaccines, leading to multiple pricks in the first year of life. “Besides this, the WHO also recommended vaccination against Hepatitis B as the seventh childhood vaccine, which meant three more pricks, additional pain, agony for parents and additional visits to a clinic.”

However, the latest vaccines manufactured by GlaxoSmithkline ensured that the baby was not pricked often and got the necessary protection against various diseases. “The unique tetravalent vaccine was a combination of DTP and Hepatitis B vaccines which gave the baby protection from diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and haptitis B in one shot. And the child was pricked three times instead of six for being protected against four diseases.”

On this occasion, an IAP guidebook on immunisation was released by a former Director of the PGI, Prof BNS Walia. Also present were Prof O.N. Bhakoo, Prof Anil Narang and the UT Director the Health, Services, Dr Rameshwar Chander.

Haryana offers land for senior citizens’ hospital
Our Correspondent

Panchkula, July 17
The Government of Haryana has offered to provide land free of cost and asked the centre to fund the setting up of a hospital meant exclusively for the senior citizens and retired personnel at Panchkula.

The Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, has also written a letter to Mr C.P. Thakue, Union Health Minister, offering him a piece of land to set up the hospital. He wrote the letter to the Union Minister after reviewing the working of the Health Department, here yesterday.

Mr Chautala had also suggested that a nursing college for B.Sc. Nursing Course be set up in the state. The college should have a hostel to accommodate the students.

Authorities of the Health Department told the Chief Minister that effective measures had been taken to control malaria and no case of death due to malaria had been reported from any part of the state during the Past three years.

SPORTS

City karatekas in limelight
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, July 17
The karate team, representing the Amateur Karate Association of Chandigarh, achieved third place in the recently concluded selection karate tournament, held at Kaithal from July 13 to July 15. The players secured a rich haul of medals in this meet and two boys — Naresh Gupta and Puneet — were selected for the camp for the international karate tournament to be held in Nepal.

Maximum number of players belonged to Shaheen Public School, Maloya.

Results: Himanshu, Paramveer Thapa, Arvind Kumar, Vivek Sharma (all gold medalist), Baljit Singh and Surinder Kumar — both silver medalists (from Shaheen Public School, Maloya). Nitin, Abhin Sharma and Jubin (all from GMHS-41), Naresh Gupta and Puneet (both from St Joseph’s-44).

Golfers to golftoons, CGA has all
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 17
A very interesting and hilarious collection of cartoons on the theme of golf went on display in the bar and restaurant of the Chandigarh Golf Association, Sector 26, from today. The collection, titled Golftoons, created by the reputed city-based artist Satwant Singh, will be a permanent feature in the CGA.

The collection comprises 12 pieces, done in black and white (in brush and ink and pen and ink style)/ The cartoons depict the lighter side of the serious sport that golf is and touches upon its fun-filled and witty aspect. The cartoons reflect spontaneity, which is the hallmark of humour. It features golfers in their bubbly best, sporting heavy drinks and light hearts.

ADMINISTRATION

Administration’s offer to unemployed youth
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 17
The Chandigarh Administration has invited unemployed youth who are eligible under the Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana to get financial assistance in the form of loan and subsidy on easy terms and conditions to start their own business.

The age of the applicant should be between 18-35 in the in general category. A 10-year relaxation for SC/STs, ex-servicemen, physically handicapped and women has been permitted. The minimum qualification required is VIII standard. Preference will be given to those who have been trained for any trade in government-recognised or approved institutions for at least six months.

The family income, including that of the spouse or the income of parents of beneficiaries, should not exceed Rs 40,000 per annum. The applicant has to be a resident of Chandigarh for the past three years. The scheme envisages a reservation of 22.5 per cent for SC/ST and 27 per cent for the Other Backward Classes ( OBCs). In case SC/ST/OBC candidates are not available, other categories of candidates will be considered.

The loan will allow all economically viable activities including agriculture and allied activities, but excluded direct agricultural operations like raising crop or purchase of manure. Loans up to Rs 1 lakh and Rs 2 lakh for other activities are available.

The prescribed application forms along with project report if required can be obtained free of cost either from the single window cell of District industries Centre, 39 Industrial Area, Phase II, or from the Regional Employment Exchange, UT, Sector 17, Chandigarh, Director Industries, Mr Gurmail Singh, said today.

Counters for depositing fee, fines
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 17
The Chandigarh Administration was considering a proposal to allow city residents to deposit small amounts of money by way of fee, fines or taxes directly at the counters of the departments and offices working under the Chandigarh Administration. This would eliminate the need of going to the Central Treasury for each little deposit . The treasury had already proposed such a facility for the people.

The treasury handles all denominations of judicial and non-judicial stamp papers and has now become a nodal point, with the introduction of high-value stamp papers of denominations of Rs 10,000, 15,000, 20,000 and 25,000. This has been done as there was a demand of these high-value stamp papers to match the increased stamp duty payable for the registration of sale deeds.

Another change has been brought about in the matter of embossing of documents. The procedure laid down under various provisions was lengthy and cumbersome. The treasury submitted a proposal to make the procedure easier and quicker. As a result, now all documents are embossed in the Finance Department itself after accepting the requisite fee, said Mr S.L. Garg, Central Treasury Officer.

Mr Garg also said the entire operations of the treasury have been computerised. A provision of Rs 4 lakh had been made in the years 1999-2000 and 2001-2002, respectively.

Committee wants biannual extension fee
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 17
Mr Amarjit Singh Sethi, former member of the Local Advisory Committee, yesterday called on the Punjab Governor, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), who is also Administrator of Chandigarh, and urged him to introduce the system of biannual levying of extension fee on vacant plots, while granting extension for construction on them.

He claimed that this system was already followed by the Punjab Urban Development Authority for vacant plots in Mohali.

In a press note Mr Sethi said the gesture would help people of Chandigarh, who, sometimes, had to pay extension fee for full year. No wonder they completed their construction at the fag-end of the extension period. However, they failed to get occupation certificate for some technical difficulties.

204 encroachers challaned
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 17
The enforcement staff of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh today issued 204 challans to rehri and phari vendors and other shopkeepers encroaching upon public corridors and MC land in northern and southern sectors and Mani Majra.

As part of the MC drive, nearly186 challans were issued in Sadar Bazar and Palika Bazar and Sectors 14, 15, 17, 34 and 37 and Apni Mandi in Sector 40.

The maximum challans were issued in the shopping areas of Sector 19 where the enforcement inspectors had faced some problems on Saturday. Besides, 18 challans were issued in Mani Majra.

IT task force formed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 17
A task force on Information Technology (IT) has been formed by the Chandigarh Administration to set some kinds of standards for computer education being imparted in various private computer training institutes in the city.

The idea is to suggest computer institutes about the latest courses and to keep them abreast of the changes in education patterns.