HEALTH

BLOOD DONATION DAY
Blood Resource Centre by year end
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 1
On the occasion of the National Voluntary Blood Donation Day, the Blood Bank Society of Chandigarh honoured donors and announced the setting up of a Blood Resource Centre, jointly with the Rotary.

Over 70 donors, who had given blood more than 50 times, were given awards at the annual function held at Panjab University today. Mr Charanjeet Singh, who has donated blood 137 times, was honoured for being the star donor.

The local MP, Mr Pawan Bansal, was the chief guest at the function, where it was announced that the Blood Resource Centre would be inaugurated by the end of the year. Mr Sudhir Bhagwan announced to donate a sum of Rs 50 lakh for the setting up of the centre.

The State Blood Transfusion Council, UT, observed the day by holding blood donation camps at the PGI, Government Medical College and Hospital and General Hospital. A blood donation camp will be conducted at the General Hospital on October 7.

Special gifts with messages on blood donation for voluntary blood donors at all three blood banks in the city have been arranged.

Various activities like debates, essay competition and painting contest will be organised in all schools of the city during the month of October. Posters and banners have been put up in various health institutions and other key points in the city.

Though the countrywide celebrations on the day carries the logo “Donate Blood — The bond of love”, the fact remains that many of the hospitals and medical colleges do not have blood banks, as a result of which many people face threat to life.

Though a lot of stress is being laid on encouraging voluntary donations, there is large scale trading and commercialisation of blood in our country. A National Blood Policy has been framed but there are still problems in its strict implementation.

PANCHKULA

A blood donation camp was organised by Amar Prayaas, a social wing of Amartex, here today. More than 100 persons donated blood on this occasion.

A free dental and eye check-up camp was also organised by Panchkula Citizen’s Welfare Council and around 300 patients attended the camp. Dr Rajesh Bindal and Dr B.S. Panwat, dental surgeons, and Dr Rakesh Kumar, MD, and his team attended eye patients.

SPORTS

Sacred Heart girls bag badminton title
Our Sports Reporter

In the first singles, Samridhi, a Class X student, went down fighting to Harleen in three games with scores 4-7, 3-7 and 3-7. Later, Astha equalised for Sacred Heart School, when she pipped Priya of Carmel Convent School 7-0, 7-0 and 7-1. Then in the decider doubles tie, Samridhi in partnership with Astha trounced Harleen and Geet 7-4, 7-1 and 6-3 to bag the title. Earlier in the semi-finals, Sacred Heart girls defeated Government Model School, Sector 37, while Carmel Convent School girls beat Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 35.

Table tennis meet

Players of Manav Mangal High School, Sector 21, who won the UT Inter-School Table Tennis Tournament played in  Chandigarh on Tuesday.

Manav Mangal High School, Sector 21, bagged the under-17 table tennis title in the UT Inter- School Table Tennis Tournament played here on Thursday. In the final, Manav Mangal -21 got the better of Sacred Heart School, Sector 26, by 3-1. Third place in this section went to IS Dev Samaj Senior Secondary School, Sector 21. Results: finals: MMHS-21 b SH-26 3-1(Arshdeep Kaur b Priya 11-8,11-6, 11-4; Sharmishtha b Nupur 8-11,11-8,11-6,17-15; Priya lost to Guramrit 7-11, 6-11, 7-11; Arshdeep Kaur b Nupur 11-7,11-6,11-8.

Basketball tourney

Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 33, outplayed Guru Harkishan Public School, Sector 38, by 42-22 with half-time score of 26-11 in favour of winners in the Fifth Rao Jai Singh Memorial Basketball Tournament for below under-19 section played at New Public School, Sector 18, on Tuesday. The main scorers for the winners were: Hardeep (12) Sachin (11) and Nitin (8). Losers — Sandeep (14) Sunny (6) and Suraj (5).

In other matches of the day, SD Public School, Sector 32, beat New Public School, Sector 18, by 73-68 with half-time score of 40-30. In the third tie, DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, defeated Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, by 72-64 with half-time score of 26-25. In the last match of the day, St Xavier’s Senior Secondary School, Sector 44, beat DC Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 7, Panchkula, 42-20 with half-time score of 16-08.

Players selected

As many as 16 boys and equal number of girls have been selected by the Chandigarh Basketball Association (CBA) for a coaching camp for boys and girls. It will continue till October 11 at New Public School, Sector 18. The final selection of the players will be made at the end of the camp for the 19th Youth National Basketball Championship to be held at Jalandhar on October 18 and 19. This was stated by Mr A.S. Yadav, Secretary, CBA.

Cricket meet

The UT Cricket Association will hold the UT Inter-School Cricket Tournament in below-19 group for Shivalik Trophy from October 10. According to Mr S.S. Bawa, its secretary, this meet will be held at the Cricket Stadium, Sector 16, and DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8. Entries will close on October 5 with the association.

Mini-marathon

As part of the IAF Mahotsav — 2002, a mini-marathon race will be organised at Kendriya Vidyalya, Sector 31, on Wednesday. Air Commodore S.B. Prashar, AOC, 3 BRD, Air Force, will flag off the race at 8 am.

Yoga title

Inter-school competitions in Yoga (under 19 years girls category) were held at Government Model Senior Secondary School in Sector-10.

Eight schools affiliated to the Education Department, UT, Chandigarh, took part in the tournament. Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 37-B, won the championship by earning 297 points. Government Girls Senior Secondary, Sector 20-B, got the second position by securing 272 points while Government Girls High School, Sector 25, got the third position by securing 232 points.

Sports meet

Handball players of DAV Model School, Sector 15, who won the All-India Mahatma Hansraj Aryan Zonal Sports meet held in Chandigarh on Tuesday.

DAV Model school, Sector 15, cornered glory in various sports events in the All-India Mahatma Hans Raj Aryan Zonal Sports Meet played here. In the basketball, DAV Model School, Sector 15 outplayed DAV English Medium School, Sector 8, Panchkula, by 38-9 points, while in handball the school girls won title when they got the better of CL DAV School, Sector 11, Panchkula, by 2-0. In athletics, it won three gold medals and one silver medal, with Sukhmani taking two gold medals in shotput and discus throw and Sippy won gold medal in long jump and silver medal in javelin throw. DAV Model school remained runner-up in kho-kho, for both boys and girls, volleyball girls and in basketball boys’ section.

ADMINISTRATION

Jacob okays light and sound project
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 1
The Punjab Governor and Administrator U T, Lieut Gen J.F.R Jacob (retd), today okayed the light and sound show project of the Indian Tourism and Development Corporation for the City Beautiful. The project was okayed after senior ITDC officers gave a presentation on the proposed light and sound show.

Modifying the basic theme of the show, General Jacob said that light and sound show instead of focusing only on Chandigarh should focus on the history of the entire region. He said this was more important as Chandigarh besides being a Union Territory was also the capital of Punjab and Haryana. General Jacob said Northern India has a rich cultural heritage which has to be projected properly by this show. The Governor said Chandigarh and adjoining areas were sitting on the ruins of Harappan period. Moreover, Kushan and Ashoka period artifacts excavated from the region pointed at the deep historical roots of the city. The Administrator said the battle of Panipat and Mahabharata in Kurukshetra, royal history of Patiala and religious places in Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib and Naina Devi could become a part of this show. He said the history of art and culture of this region, especially miniature and basholi paintings of Himachal Pradesh, would attract many viewers.

General Jacob pointed out that having a light and sound show only on Chandigarh would be of limited interest. He said we couldn’t look at Chandigarh in isolation, as Chandigarh was hub of the whole zone. Ms Chandi Luthra, Senior Vice- President of ITDC, informed the Governor that they would submit a revised synopsis of the show for approval and after approval the show would be ready within nine months.

The Administrator also rejected the proposed site in Chandigarh Museum for the show. He said due to security reasons alternate site should be selected for the show.

Ms Neeru Nanda, Adviser to the Administrator, Home Secretary, Mr R.S. Gujral, Secretary Tourism, Mr G. K Marwah, Managing Director, CITCO, Mr S.P. Singh were present in the meeting.