Eye camps run by quacks must be checked: Jacob
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 30
The UT Administrator, Lt-Gen J.F.R. Jacob, today stressed the need to put a deterrent check on eye camps being organised by quacks in rural areas of Punjab which, he said, were blinding hundreds of unsuspecting people every year.

In his address after laying down the foundation stone of a Rs 15 crore advanced eye center at the PGI, General Jacob said: “There is an urgent requirement to extend quality eye care facilities to remotest areas of the country. It is imperative to educate the rural population about effective eye care”.

Addressing the gathering in the Bhargava Auditorium comprising former PGI directors, senior faculty members, doctors and others, General Jacob expressed his grave concern that children in the rural areas were losing their sight due to deficiency of vitamin A. Stressing upon the need to develop cost effective techniques, he said eye specialists must come out with techniques suitable for rural areas. He also urged the doctors to undertake adequate research work to develop this field.

The Administrator also called upon the medical fraternity to wage a war against the deadly disease of Tuberculosis (TB), which, he said, was emerging as the killer disease of the future. Stressing upon the need to locate, isolate and treat TB patients, he said a dedicated anti-TB campaign be launched, especially in congested villages, slums and industrial areas.

General Jacob also stressed upon the need to improve dental health cover, especially in rural areas. For this he suggested that the PGI should send some dental vans to adjoining rural areas.

Appreciating the design of the proposed eye center, he said when completed it would be one of the best in the country. “Architecture of the proposed building is practical,” he said, while adding that with the coming up of this centre, patients of this region would get tertiary care in PGI instead of Chennai.

Adding that health care was one of his priorities for the city, General Jacob said that he intended to model the Sector 32 Government Medical College and Hospital on the lines of the PGI so that it could take the patient load off the institute.”

Earlier, PGI Director S.K. Sharma welcomed the UT Administrator and said PGI was fast emerging as a centre of excellence. He also urged the state government to improve their health care facilities so that the PGI was able to provide specialised tertiary care facilities as it is meant to.

PGI Ophthalmology Head Amod Gupta gave details of the proposed centre and said the new eye centre would provide the finest eye care facilities in the region. 

Exhibition on effects of drugs, alcohol
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 30
A three-day multimedia exhibition on awareness against drugs, alcohol and smoking was inaugurated at Vivek High School in Sector 38 by its principal P.K. Singh here today.

The exhibition includes thought-provoking “innovative” multimedia presentations created by students of classes V to XII.

Skits on the lines of streetplays were enacted by students on the drug abuse. Some of the students were dressed up like a liquor bottle, a pack of cigarettes and drug capsule.

Students explained the details of their projects to the spectators. Slide presentations were also exhibited.

Students had put forth innovative ideas. Some of the students had made a project on how alcohol affected women.

Models on health hazards of cocaine, smack, hashish, opium and other drugs were displayed. Students displayed their projects on computers.

As a part of the awareness programme, about 240 students from various schools of the city also attended a lecture by Dr Rajan Gupta, a senior scientist from the USA at the Confederation of Indian Industries. He talked about change in the adolescent mind and body which, if not dealt with, could lead to addictions of various kinds.

The lecture by Dr Gupta will continue till September 1. The exhibition will be open to the public on September 1. 

Gold medal for Dr Jagat Ram
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 30
For his pioneerinmg work and contribution in the field of phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation in India, the Additional Professor, Dr Jagat Ram, Department of Ophthalmology, PGI, has been awarded the Dr Daljit Singh gold medal. The honour was conferred on him at a recently held conference of the Indian Intraocular and Refractive Society at Chennai.

Dr Jagat Ram has been associated with pathbreaking research in intraocular implant surgery and has also received international acclaim for this. He has also pioneered wet lab approach in training eye surgeons in the cataract surgery.

Blood donation camp
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 30
The Shree Sanatan Dharam Prathinidhi Sabha, Punjab, today organised a shradhanjali samaroh to mark the second death anniversary of Mohan Lal at Goswami Ganesh Dutt Bhavan, Sector 19, here.

As many as 100 units of blood were donated at a camp held during the samaroh. The camp was inaugurated by Dr Shiv Kumar, a former MLA and president of the Prathinidhi Sabha. The camp was organised by Mr Ramnik Lal, a grandson of the late Mohan Lal and secretary of the Prathinidhi Sabha. 

Under-17 roller hockey title for KB DAV
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, August 30
KB DAV Centenary School, Sector 7, won the Under-17 roller hockey final by beating DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, by 11-2 in the UT Inter-School Roller Hockey Meet played here today. In under-14 final, Sri Guru Harkishan Public School, Sector 38, defeated St Stephen’s School, Sector 45, by 8-1. Third place in this section was bagged by KB DAV Centenary School, Sector 7, defeating Bhavan Vidyalya, Sector 27, by 6-4.

In the final, 3-km road race, three kilometres final, Gulsagar of St John’s High School, Sector 26, clinched first place, followed by Anand of St John’s High School, Sector 26, and Manjeet of KB DAV School, Sector 7, came third. In below-17 section road races, Chetan of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 10, came first while Puneet Arora of Stepping Stone stood second and Mridul of Manav Mangal School, Sector 21, third.

AITA Zonal tennis tourney

The AITA Zonal tennis tournament for boys and girls in below-14 and 16 sections will be held at Tennis Stadium, Sector 10, from September 10 to 14. According to a press note issued by the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association, the qualifying rounds would be played on September 8 and 9. The meet carries a scholarship money of Rs 50,000 and the points to be given will be: winner (15), runner up (12), semi-finalist (8 each), quarter-finalists (5 each), pre-quarter finalist (three each). Entries close on September 5.

Basketball tournament

The third Shriman Ishwar Singh Memorial Basketball Tournament will be held at IS Dev Samaj Girls Senior Secondary school, Sector 21, from October 7 to 9. This tournament, now held annually for the past two years, had evoked tremendous response as teams from the peripheral region also took part. This was stated by Ms Sumati Kanwar, principal and former basketball player.

Coaching youngsters is his passion
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 30
It is 5.30 in the morning. About 25 boys in their teens and up to the late twenties have converged on the grounds of Government Senior Secondary School in Sector 19 for their daily cricket coaching session. “Bhaijee has arrived”, says one of the senior trainees, as the coach Surinder Singh, calls the trainees to order.

Bhaijee, as the coach is affectionately called, has been conducting this coaching centre for the past 20 years. His dedication has seen the emergence of several Ranji Trophy players, who have played for Punjab, Haryana and Himachal. He has lost count of the cricketers who have got their initial grooming at the centre.

His only interest is to see that no budding cricketer is left out . He is not a government sponsored paid coach. He owns an electronics shop and cricket coaching is just a passion for him.

This dedicated coach is now 54, going on 55, but he still plays for his coaching centre.

A former Ranji Trophy player of Punjab and Haryana, Bhaijee is virtually worshipped by the teenaged cricketers. The school has permitted the coaching centre to use the ground till 8.30 a.m. And in return the coaching centre sees to it, that the ground is kept clean and without weeds.

Bhaijee was showing how to hold the ball up to the actual delivery to the assembled players, when The Tribune team reached the coaching centre on Sunday morning. Physical conditioning is an important part of the coaching session. In fact, he is very particular that the trainees go through the rigours of physical conditioning before the bat and ball session begins.

The sponsorship part of the centre has been well handled. While it was Videocon in the earlier years, for the last three years Kelvinator have been sponsoring the coaching centre.

Bhaijee is happy about the performance of the players. He even goes to the extent of picking up some of the very young budding players while driving down from his residence to the coaching centre.

As the day’s session comes to an end, the schoolchildren arrive . They are the early ones who want to have a look at the training session.

And from among them there are some who might join the coaching centre. As the school bell rings, the trainees pack up and the ground is again over to the school authorities.

Haryana police cagers beat DAV College
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, August 30
The cagers of the Haryana police whipped local DAV College, Sector 10, by 86-56 in the final of the Pandit Mohan Lal Memorial Basketball Tournament which concluded here this evening at SD Public School, Sector 32. Mr Y. Sachdeva, Regional Officer, CBSE, was the chief guest. The half time score was 40-24 in favour of the Haryana police.

Manoj, Rajesh and Surinder of the Haryana police scored 21, 20 and 14 points, respectively. The losers side saw captain Amrish topping the scoring line with 21 points while Harjot netted 15 points.

GMHS-44 judokas excel

The judokas of Government Model High School, Sector 44, excelled in judo discipline in the UT Inter-school Judo Championship as it bagged nine medals in different sections. Rahul Ghai (above 60 kg), and Nitin Sharma (above 71 kg) won silver medal. Besides above, one silver medal in below-14 section, two bronze medals in under-17 section, and three bronze medals in under-17 section were also went in favour of the school.

Gymnastic championship

Amit and Sumit of Government High School, Sector 7, stole the show when they were declared the best gymnasts in the below-14 and 17 sections, respectively, in the UT Inter-School Gymnastics Championship, concluded here today.

Amit won first place in vaulting horse, parallel bars, roman rings, pommel horse, horizontal bar and floor exercises.

Wrestling meet

GGDSD College, Sector 32, bagged the overall championship by securing 27 points in the Panjab University Inter-College Wrestling Meet here today at Panjab University gymnasium hall. DAV College, Chandigarh, clinched second position by collecting 24 points. The winners in various weight categories saw Dalbir Singh of GGDSD College, Chandigarh, winning gold medal in u-54 kg, Navdeep Singh also of GGDSD College, Chandigarh, in u-58 kg, Rakesh Kumar of DAV College, Chandigarh, in u-63 kg, Brahmjit of GGDSD College in u-69 kg, Rajesh Kumar of DAV College in u-76 kg, Ravinder Kumar of DAV College, Chandigarh, in u-85 kg, Rajinder Singh of GGDSD College in u-97 kg and Kanwaldeep Gill of Government College, Karmsar, in above-97 kg section.

Probables for athletic meet

The Amateur Athletic Association, Chandigarh, has selected 28 probables for the UT Junior Athletic team for the 13th North Zone Junior National Athletic Meet going to be held on September 10 and 11 at Dehra Dun.

The probables are; below-14: Neeraj Kumar (triathlon); below-16; Manoj Kumar (100 m and 400 m), Mahesh Kumar (400 m and high jump); Pardeep Kumar (800 m); Sonu Dhull (200 m), Harinder Singh (shot put), Harminderpal discus throw; below-18: Krishan Dass (discus throw), below-20 (boys): Lakhbir Singh and Sunil Kumar (100 m and 200 m); Vikas Kumar and Gurmeet Singh (800 and 1500 m); Bikramjit Singh (javelin throw), Gurinder Pal (hammer throw), Jegminder Singh (shot put) and Harish Kumar (discus throw).

Girls: below-14: Navreet Anand (triathlon); below-16: Amanjot Kaur (400 m and 800 m) and Dimengo (100 m and 400 m). below-18: Pawandeep Kaur (100 m 200 m); Sakshi Sharma and Hardeep Kaur (shot put), Mukesh Kumari (discus throw): Veena Yadav (200 m,400 m and 800 m). below-20: Manjeet Kaur (100 m, 200m, and shot put) Shashi Chaudhary (shot put) Amandeep Kaur and Sapinder Kaur (hammer throw).

The camp for the selected players will begin tomorrow at 5 p.m. at the Sector 7, athletics stadium.

DP Azad trophy

The Chandigarh Cricket Association affiliated to the Haryana Cricket Association will hold annual 1st Chandigarh league for DP Azad trophy from September15 at Gursagar grounds. According to Mr Surinder S. Baijee, secretary of the CCA, the trophy was named after Dronacharya Desh Prem Azad. The matches will be played on every Saturday, Sunday and gazetted holidays. Entries will close on September 10 with Kamal Mehra at SCO 48, Sector 17-E or phone No 659178 (Yadwinder).

IN FOCUS
Defacing public property with impunity
Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar
 Four months ago, the civic authorities here decided to punish those who deface public property in the town, by invoking the relevant sections of the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911. So far no action has been taken under this Act against any person and things have reached a point where important sign boards and sector-guide maps have all been covered with posters and hand bills. The municipality spent lakhs on putting up sign boards and sectors maps at important points but the posters and handbills pasted on them have defeated the purpose, said a municipal official.

Whenever a drive is launched against such defacement, it is confined to removing the offending posters and banners which do not take long to reappear. The traffic police also tries to remove the banners hanging at traffic light junctions but even that has been of little help. The advertisers have not spared even the streetlight poles and boards containing vital information.

According to a civic official, special powers have been vested in an official to punish the offenders. The official will penalise the violators and get a First Information Report (FIR) lodged with the police. Mr Kulwant Singh, President of the Municipal Council, said a list of the offending advertisers had been prepared and action would be taken against them.

In neighbouring Chandigarh, several persons have been booked under the Prevention of Defacement of Property Act. The Chandigarh Police is taking action against the violators under the West Bengal Prevention of Defacement of Property Act as extended to Chandigarh. The violators are fined from Rs 500 to Rs 1000 or sentenced to simple imprisonment for three months.

Couples case: two employees shifted
Our Correspondent

Chhat Bir, August 30
Following an incident of couples, who were found in a compromising position in the zoo rest house on Tuesday, the zoo authorities have transferred two employees, Hari Ram and Mohan Singh, for letting them in.

Mr R.K. Luna, Zoo Director, said that the duo were transferred for their negligence of duty.

It may be recalled that the couples allegedly entered the rest house on the reference of Mr Rajinder Singh, Managing Director of the Punjab Forest Corporation, and indulged in obscene activities after consuming liquor. They fled from the spot when some other zoo employees raised alarm.