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July 14, 2002, Chandigarh, India
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Foundation stone of health centre laid Faridabad, July 13 Later, addressing the people, Mr Chautala claimed that his government had allocated an amount of Rs 738.45 lakh in the current financial year for providing health and medical facilities to the residents. Moreover, he said his government had a target to provide 70 litres of drinking water to every resident and said it would be achieved in the near future. He said Haryana would get its share of water from the Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal as the Supreme Court had directed the Punjab Government to construct the canal by January 15, 20003. He said SYL would help irrigate about 4.5 lakh acres of land, especially in southern Haryana. Talking about the power sector, Mr Chautala said that Haryana would be able to produce about 3000 MW of power in next two and half years. He said two more units would be set up at the Panipat thermal power station. The CM also stated that the state government would provide sugar to workers under the `food for work’ programme as Haryana had sugar worth about Rs 800 crore in its godowns. He asked the farmers to grow pulses and flowers instead of growing only wheat and paddy, as the ability of the government to buy wheat and paddy had reduced drastically due to the large stocks in the godowns. The CM later presided over the monthly meeting of the district grievances committee. It discussed about 15 complaints for redressal. He asked the officials to devote more time in removing the social problems of people. Majority of the complaints placed before the CM had already been scanned by the officials. Consequently, the officials had their replies ready when the CM took up those issues for redressal. |
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BODY & MIND Development is the best contraception in the world and holds the key to population control,” said Dr Sanjiv Malik, secretary-general of the Indian Medical Association at a seminar at DMA Hall on World Population Day on July 11. Over 200 doctors from all over Delhi attended the seminar. Former UGC Chairman, Professor Hari Gautam spoke on the effect of uncontrolled population on health care. Speaking on “Population Stabilisation”, Dr Malik, a South Delhi physician and Chairman of Board of Directors of Mediworld Publications Group, termed the National Population Commission set up with much fanfare as a “paper tiger”. Quoting statistical figures, Dr Malik said that India accounts for 16 per cent of the total world population (a little over five billion, according to the last global Census Report). He said that population explosion is staring us in the face in the absence of a political will. Dr Malik suggested adoption of steps as linking two-child norm with promotion in every sector. He said that China, the most populated country in the world, has been able to achieve success in population stabilisation by adopting harsh steps as linking jobs and incentives with norms on family size. He said that the ruthless implementation of family planning methods during the Emergency scared the politicians. So much so that they changed the name of the Ministry of Health and Family Planning to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. He said that he does not endorse steps forced on people. Instead, such measures should be carried out in a democratic manner. The world over, policy researchers have begun to look at the increase in population as availability of more working hands. They point out that human resource is the biggest asset for development. “To look at population as human resource, we need to look at human resource as more than just being a vote bank. We need to channel and control these resources,” he said.
New IMA president The Indian Medical Association is heading for routine annual change at the top. Dr Ketan Desai, the controversial president of IMA will hand over charge to President-elect, Dr S. Arulraj at the annual business meet of IMA scheduled to start in Kerala on July 19. Dr Arul Raj is a physician based at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu.
Special Olympics The programme spanning one year offers the mentally challenged children and adults training and competition in a dozen sports including aquatics, athletics and cycling besides cricket, baseball, bowling, football, t ennis and volleyball. The organisation claims to have conducted several State level programmes in India which have benefited 21,000 athletes. More than one million athletes in over 160 countries train and compete in 26 Olympic-type summer and winter sports. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides people with mental retardation continuing opportunities to develop fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy in their interaction with other athletes, their families and the community. According to Special Olympics Bharat Chairman, Air Marshal (Retd.) Denzil Keelor, participation in the Special Olympics does not cost anything. He said that their immediate task is to prepare a contingent of 88 Indian athletes for the Dublin Special Olympics meet in 2003. “This will be the largest contingent from India ever and the biggest from the entire Asia Pacific region,” he said. Special Olympics Bharat is in the process of identifying more special schools, institutions, rehabilitation centres, regular schools with special sections and community organisations working with the mentally challenged. It has also set the target of working with 10 slums and 10 village communities every year in every State. It also plans to compile data on potential athletes with the help of schools and institutions. Dr Tom Songster, special envoy to India from Special Olympics, Inc. USA, said, “Working in around 160 countries worldiwde, Special Olympics Inc. has helped over a million people with mental retardation, gain social confidence and acceptance through participation in various sports and games. We have declared India a priority country and hope to extend this programme to all individuals with mental retardation throughout the country.”
NBE screening test The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has entrusted the National Board of Examinations with the task of conducting screening test for Indian citizens who have foreign medical qualifications. Candidates who pass the test will qualify for registration with the Medical Council of India (MCI) or any State Medical Council. The examination will be held on September 28 and 29 in Delhi. The Indian Medical Council Act was amended and notified on September 3, 2001 to provide for a screening test before granting registration to Indian students with foreign medical qualifications. Indian students proceeding abroad for studies in medicine will now be required to obtain an eligibility certificate from the MCI stating that they meet the minimum eligibility criterion laid down by the MCI for joining an undergraduate medical course in India. As per the regulations framed under the amended Act, the provisions have come into effect from March 15, 2002.
Girl child’s education Educating the girl child is imperative for the success of family planning programmes, according to Dr Ranjana Kumari, Director, Centre for Social Research. Speaking at a seminar on population, poverty and development, organised by PHD Family Welfare Foundation (PHDFWF) here on July 11, Dr Kumari highlighted the role played by educational and cultural agencies in preventing population control in some parts of the country. Holding a mirror to stark demographic realities, PHDFWF Chairman, Shivraj Gupta said that the population of India, as estimated on March 31, 2002 stands at 1.02 billion. He said that this unparalleled population growth not only continues to create pressure on our natural resources but also compels a lot of persons to live below the poverty line. Dr Poornima Advani, Chairperson of the National Commission for Women stressed the need to frame laws and legislations to revitalise the family planning programme in the country and take the message to the grassroots level. In his welcome remarks, Arun Kapur, PHDCCI (PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry) President said that the vast number of people of our country can be its greatest asset if they are provided with the means to lead healthy and economically productive lives. |
MRF to promote Asia Pacific Rally Championship New Delhi, July 13 Mr Nazir Hoosein said the candidate round would be assessed by the Federation Internationale del’ Automobile (FIA) observers, and if run satisfactorily to international standard, the MRF India Cup will be part of the APRC calendar next year, along with rounds in Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Japan, China and Thailand. Twenty cars from abroad are the target for the APRC Indian round as the same number of cars will also be participating in the Asian Rally. Mr Hoosein said the APRC was the first step, and in the next step, bid will be made on the World Championship. Mr Antony Rodriques, general-manager (advertising) of MRF Ltd, stated that the candidate round of the APRC was earlier scheduled to be held in Bangalore last year, but was cancelled as the sponsors of the First Motor Sports, Hong Kong, withdrew their commitment due to the foot-and-mouth disease of cows in England. Mr Rodricks said the MRF India Cup is another firm commitment of MRF Ltd to international motor sports, the others being participation in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship and the sponsorship of the MRF Formule Mondiale Championship 2002, which consists of a three-round Asian Zone Karting Championship, to be held in Chennai, Mumbai and Bangalore this year. Mr Rodriques said MRF’s commitment to motorsports has not been confined to sponsorship alone. He said MRF was the only automotive company in India to put its products to test in an international competition. He said the assymetric rally tyres have proved successful with a significant win by Stuart Warren of Team MRF in the Group N Category in the recent rally at Rotorua, New Zealand. Mr Rodriques also disclosed that MRF has developed karting tyres, which is a difficult task indeed, and they have been approved by the Commission of International Karting (CIK) in Geneva for international racing. He said why MRF was involved in motor sports was that the company was involved in the tyre business. He said it was a long-term policy of MRF to promote motor sports in the country. He said though MRF was involved in racing, carting and motor sports, the focus was mainly on rallying. Mr Rodriques said though MRF sponsors six teams in the country, there was none in North India, particularly in Delhi. He promised all help from MRF if anyone came forward to set up a rally team in Delhi. He said for the first time, the Indian National Motor Races will be held in Delhi and Mumbai later this year. He also pleaded to MRF rivals in tyre manufacturing in the country to keep politics out of motor sports in the country. |
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Beijing’s
Olympic bid opposed New Delhi, July 13 Tibetan Women’s Association, in association with other Tibetans, Tibet Support Groups and Human Rights Organisations, strongly opposed China’s Olympic bid as they felt that it was “politically motivated”. “China is desperately attempting to regain her lost image in the international community through the hosting of the Olympics as did Hitler in 1936”, the Tibetan Women’s Association Regional Working Committee (Delhi) said in a press statement. The Tibetan Women’s Association said the People’s Republic of China, “with its shameful record of human rights deprivation, invasion of other territories, and the general disregard for international norms, doesn’t deserve the privilege to host such a prestigious international event.” “Awarding of the games to China would signify that the International Olympic Committee endorses China’s violation of human rights of the Chinese people as well as that of the people of Tibet. Thus, the IOC should not allow itself to be used to achieve China’s political objectives. The Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989 is still fresh in the memory of the world”, the women’s group alleged. |
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Yougesh, Nakul star in Salwan’s win
New Delhi, July 13 Scores: Salwan Boys: 118 (Yougesh Nagar 58, Nakul Chopra 55, Devendra Kumar 34, Vinay Sikka 3 for 39, Ankit Raval 2 for 9). St. Mark School: 117 all out in 32.5 overs (Nikhil Malhotra 38, Mohit Narula 28, Tauseef Ahmed 2 for 23, Dikshit 2 for 25). OSR
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Special Olympics, an international organisation dedicated to helping the mentally challenged through sports training and competition, has declared India a priority nation along with China. The programme is being run by Special Olympics Bharat, the India chapter of Special Olympics Inc. Headquartered in Delhi, Special Olympics Bharat is working in 21 Indian States and has been given the mandate to extend the programe throughout the country and train 800,000 athletes and 4000 coaches in the next five years.