Counselling vital for checking HIV infection
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 14
In comparison with surveillance, blood safety and information, and education programmes, counselling services for HIV and AIDS are yet to develop significantly, said Dr Rameshwar Chander, Director Health Services, while inaugurating a four-day regional training on HIV and AIDS, here today.

The training, which has been sponsored by the National AIDS Control Organisation, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, is being attended by as many as 32 trainers from 11 states.

Dr Rameshwar Chander said counselling was not only part of good clinic management and care but also vital for preventing the transmission of HIV infection. The rapid spread of HIV had led to increased demand for counselling services, which was an essential part of voluntary and confidential HIV antibody testing programmes, he said, adding that it also played a valuable role in HIV infection prevention and care.

The training, which is being hosted by the State AIDS Control Society, UT, is intended to enhance skills of the trainers at state level who, in turn, shall impart training to counsellors in their respective states. This effort is an acknowledgement to the indispensability of the pre-test and post-test counselling to the suspecting persons coming to the Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centres (VCTCs), which will be started by NACO in a phased manner, said Project Director, State AIDS Control Society, in a press note today.

Mahir bags squash title
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, May 14
Mahir Singh, a Class 10 student of YPS, SAS Nagar, beat Tejinder Singh in the under-15 section of the CRSA-Mohali Club Open Squash Tournament, which concluded at Yadavindra Public School courts this evening. The other winners in various sections were: Supreet Singh (Mumbai) in both men and under-19; Harinder Singh (under-17); and Maninder (under-13 and under-11).

Results: Finals: Under-19: Supreet b Jai Sekhon 15-7, 15-1, 15-4. U-17: Harinder b Jai Sekhon, 17-16, 15-10, 6-15, 15-12. Under-15: Mahir Singh (YPS) b Tejinder Singh (YPS) 15-11, 15-12, 15-9. U-13: Maninder Sandhu (YPS) b Tejpratap (Welham) 15-5, 15-11, 15-9. Under-11: Maninder Sandhu b Abhay Sood (YPS) 15-8, 15-2, 15-10. Semifinals: Mens’ open — Vikas Nayar b Puneet Singh 9-0, 9-0, 9-3; Supreet Singh b Harinder Sandhu 9-5, 9-2, 9-0. U-19: Supreet Singh (Mumbai) b Harkirat Gill (YPS, Patiala) 15-3, 15-11, 15-4; Jai Sekhon (YPS) b Hartaj Singh Rarewala (BCS) 15-7, 13-15,15-7, 15-10. Under-15: Mahir Singh (YPS) b S. Jain (BCS) 15-3, 15-3, 15-5; and Tejinder Singh (YPS) b Abhay Sood (YPS) 15-4, 15-13, 15-12.

Athletics meet

The Amateur Athletic Association, Chandigarh, has drawn out an ambitious plan to promote athletics in the city.

According to Milkha Singh, this year the Amateur Athletic Federation of India has allotted their association to conduct the national-level under-22 athletics meet on November 11 and 12. He said the UT Sub-Junior and Junior State Meet would be held on July 27 and 28, which would be the basis of selection of city team for the North Zone Athletic Championship to be held at Meerut on August 23 and 24. The coaching camp for the prepration to the UT team for the meet will begin on August 3.

On October 19 and 20, the UT State Athletics Championship for seniors and under-22 will be held. The UT senior team for the national under-22 athletic meet will also be selected. The Chandigarh State Cross Country Championship for juniors and seniors will be held on January 19,2003. The state team thus selected will take part in the National Cross Country Meet going in be held at Goa on February 2, 2003.

Yachting association

Mr S.M. Sharma, IG (Crime), Punjab, was unanimously elected as president of the Punjab Yachting Association at its general body meeting held on Tuesday. The other office-bearers are: senior vice-president — Saniv Kalra; secretary — Mr M.S. Cheema; and finance secretary — Jagdish Kumar.

Cricket meet

Mohali team won the match by seven wickets in the pre-season Minor District Under-19 Cricket League Tournament, which began at the PCA Cricket stadium, SAS Nagar, on Tuesday. Ropar team scored 145 and were all out in 44.4 overs. In reply, Mohali team chased the target in 33.4 overs.

Police seeks revocation of Section 144
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, May 14
The Ropar police has written to the district administration to revoke Section 144 of the CrPC enabling the police to take action against the persons who did not provide details about their servants and tenants.

Cases under Section 188 of the IPC would be registered against the persons who did not furnish details. Investigations by the police have revealed that in a majority of cases the entrepreneurs did not bother to maintain record of their employees.

In a recent case of murder of a watchman, it had been found by the police that there were no details about the antecedents of the victim. The SHOs of the Phase 1 and Phase 8 police stations had been asked to encourage people to provide details about their tenants and servants.

Hoardings allowed on highway
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 14
In a change from the past the Chandigarh Administration today allowed hoarding and advertisements on the national highway passing through the city. A notification issued by Mr Karan Avtar Singh, Chief Administrator, Chandigarh, said there shall not be any hoarding or advertisement on any national highway or highway passing. However, display of advertisement or skysigns will be permitted in selected places.

Permission will be given for advertisements on partitioned railing divides roads; bus shelters abutting the main road but ensuring that they do not obstruct and are not hazardous to the running of traffic.

No reflectors or reflecting material which would cause inconveniences or visual obstruction to the driver driving the vehicles shall be used. Permission will also be given for advertisements on public toilets or such other places considered appropriate.

Guide maps along with advertisements in sectors or colonies will be permitted on internal roads. The site map would not be over shadowed or rendered meaningless by the advertisements.

Advertisement or skysign of permissible size would be permitted only inside the bus stand on railway station and strictly within their boundary wall.