PU planning golden chance for defaulting students
No results because of no fee 
Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 20
Panjab University is considering to give a golden chance to students whose results have not been declared till date because of non-payment of fee.

Recommendations of a committee read: “Candidates who have appeared in the various university examinations upto 1999 but not paid their fee (including late fee) may be given a last chance to clear their dues within three months from the date of issue of the notice in the press.” In case students do not clear dues by the said time, their candidature and results will be cancelled.

In case of fee default in future (after 1999), a period of three years will be made uniformly applicable to all to settle their accounts, failing which their candidature and results would be cancelled.

The committee has recommended that after the expiry of the period of three years, no candidate will have the right to submit an application for declaration of the result on the basis of payments of funds or late fees.

The chief coordinator of university examination will be authorised to collect the balance amounts and other relevant documents which needed to be submitted by candidates, failing which their results would be withheld. This exercise will be allowed to be done during the annual examination.

The coordinator is expected to carry out the verification of the documentary details needed by candidates before the examination. The university proposes to give the complete list of ‘defaulters’ at least a week before the commencement of the examination. This would enable the students to come with the details even during examination.

The committee found that “since the examination and other fee go on changing from year to year, several cases of RL (Fee) arise on account of less fees paid by the candidate. Therefore, it was proposed that the examination forms be got printed fresh”.

Private candidates, in particular, faced a lot of difficulty of late fee. This was because they purchased forms from a number of booksellers who kept old forms. Students will be requested to buy fresh forms.

The issue comes up for deliberation in the forthcoming Syndicate meeting and more changes are likely to be made.

The committee will collect data of the previous two-three years to make more changes.

Students who personally come to pay the fee at the examination fee counters of the university will be advised to verify about any shortfalls in fees right at the spot.

It was detected that a number of RL (fee) cases pertained to students who had failed in their examination. Such students got information from the ‘insiders’ and did not want to pursue education. They did not pay the fee and the result lay in the records. This has led to piling up of such records which could not even be disposed of. The university, therefore, suggested a maximum limit of three years failing which the examination results would be cancelled.

Independent wins MC poll
Our Correspondent

SAS Nagar, October 20
Mr Yograj, an Independent candidate, was declared elected from municipal ward number 14 here today in a closely contested byelection.

He defeated his sole rival, Sq Ldr Sat Pal Bains (retd), also an Independent, by merely 40 votes in the ward in which a large number of ex-servicemen reside.

Mr Yograj secured 844 votes against 804 polled by the former IAF officer. Eleven votes out of the total of 1,661 polled were declared invalid while two were categorised as “tendered”. The voting percentage was about 63.

The polling was brisk till around 1 p.m. at the three booths set up in the ward. The total votes recorded at booth numbers 1, 2 and 3 were 675, 547 and 439, respectively.

The SDM-cum-Returning Officer, Mr Darshan Singh Sandhu, who announced the result at the council office in the evening, said the polling was peaceful. There were complaints from supporters of Squadron Leader Bains that when certain voters went to a booth to exercise their franchise, they found that their votes had already been cast. The voters concerned were later allowed to cast their votes which were treated as “tendered.”

Mr Yograj, who retired as circle superintendent from the Public Health Department, was supported by the ruling group in the Municipal Council led by the president, Mr Kulwant Singh.

A routine affair in glamour
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 20
The much-hyped Regalia fashion show did not regale the audience at the CGA much. In fact, one had to hunt if the models walking the ramp were really wearing any designer jewellery. In one round, the magic of kundan could be witnessed but in most other rounds the entire focus was more on apparel and less on jewellery designs.

Organised by Ravoy Gema and JD Institute of Fashion, the show started two hours later than the scheduled timing. After that, it was all about a routine affair in glamour. The very first round was the ethnic lehnga-choli round, followed by yet another round in which models reflected the latest designs in sarees,.

The Egyptian line blended the Indian and the Indo-Western fabric well and was more impressive than the rest of the rounds which did not have very fresh themes at play. The jamavaar silk round was another attractive round where the models brought alive the rich tapestry of Indian jamavaar style, which impresses the eye with its elaborate designs and rich embroidered patterns.

Leather was another area of interest of the budding designers who had put the show together. It was choreographed by Anant Randhawa and Vimi Vansil. Interspersing the rounds were dance sequences by The Dazzle.

Faith healers still first choice
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 20
With their faith and belief still deeply embedded in religion, a majority of the people in the Himalayan region still continue to seek refuge in faith healers and witchcraft for treatment of mental problems, as psychiatrists too feel that educating and involving these traditional healers would help in tackling the problem.

Even today, faith healers are the first choice of the people in Himachal, Uttaranchal, Jammu and Kashmir and parts of Punjab and Haryana, whenever they have some psychiatric problem. Be it the traditional method of smearing ash on the body of a person, chanting mantras, flogging or at times even a human sacrifice, which is used to treat a person with some mental problem. “ So deep is their belief in religion that in more than half of the cases a patient is cured by a faith healer, so why not educate them and seek their help in treating people with mental problems,” agree psychiatrists.

A panel discussion on mental health in the Himalayas, sponsored by the Institute of Integrated Himalayan Studies, held in the Sector 32 Government Medical College and Hospital, highlighted the fact that in a state like Himachal, where mental health facilities are virtually non-existent, people depend on faith healers , their “kul devatas” (family deity) and at times even on those practising witchcraft.

“Critical analysis of the role of faith healers in treating people with psychiatric problems will be studied so that a mental health programme can be prepared by taking into account the positive aspect of this traditional system of healing,” remarked Dr S.N. Ghosh, who is from the Institute of Integrated Himalayan Studies.

“Though in Himalayan states like Himachal, merely 1 per cent of the people suffer from mental ailments, yet with only a handful of psychiatrists in the entire state, a large number of people rely on faith healers , while the rest get cured with the passage of time,” said Dr Dalip Malhotra, Chairman of the Department of Social Sciences, Himachal Pradesh University.

Discussing the role of these traditional healers, psychiatrists attending the 27th annual conference of the Indian Psychiatric Association, deliberated on the aspect of using the network of faith healers and educating them so that they could refer the complicated cases to doctors. “ Instead of treating them as antithetical to the modern system of treatment , we must look at faith healers as complimentary and seek their cooperation as well ,” was the opinion of a majority of the doctors.

As many citizens, as many leaders
Chitleen K. Sethi
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, October 20
Punjab for ages has known to suffer from what is now being termed as the ‘‘Choudhry’’ complex where everyone wants to be the leader and not the follower. This township is no different.

While two phases having two resident welfare associations (RWA) each, one phase has four different associations to represent its residents, all of these have the complete set of eight office-bearers, some self-styled, others proud of their recognition by the Citizen’s Welfare Council and all of them projecting themselves as the ‘‘real’’ representatives of the residents.

The situation gets downright hilarious when one notices the various categories of these representatives. For Phase 3B1, there is separate set of representatives for residents living in one kanal kothis, another group represents those living in 10-marla houses, another for those living in 7.5-marla houses and yet another for those residing in the Housing Board houses.

Struggling to keep up with the ever increasing number of presidents and general secretaries is the president of the Citizen’s Welfare Council, Mr B.S. Tej. This apex body of all the resident welfare organisations in the township takes five of the top office-bearers of each RWA but has had a fluctuating membership list for years now. ‘‘It is sad since we are constantly inflating our membership and diluting our strength. Recently we have once again revised our final lists of members, taken some members out and included others’’, he says.

But for many, the recognition of the welfare council is hardly important. ‘‘If you have residents with you how does it matter if we have the affiliation or not?’’ stated one such president. Many of these representatives also believe that the problems of residents living in different types of houses in the same sector are different. So it is justified, if not advisable, to have representatives living in similar type of houses.

“We don’t believe in this. All residents have similar kind of problems and a representative living in a kothi, for example, can easily understand the problem faced by those living in Housing Board houses.’’says Mr Tej.

But isn’t the infighting negative to achieving the requisite demands from the authorities? ‘‘Its not always that the various leaders of these bodies are fighting among themselves. In Phase X for instance, the representative of the body recognised by us is working in absolute coordination and tandem with the one which is so called self-styled. So it is a positive thing. However, in Phase IX, there are two associations and now they are not so cooperative towards each other as earlier.’’ adds Mr Tej.

But if outright fighting is not indulged in, a large number of office-bearers of the associations concede that the self-styled leaders are difficult to work with. ‘‘In Phase 3B1, for example, there is someone who says he represents the one kanal kothi residents. But the number of these kothis is so small, it is just diluting our unity.’’says the general secretary of one of the two recognised associations of the phase.

‘Buildup cost dearly, served no purpose’
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 20
Even as Indian Army troops may be headed back from the 10-month assignment from the Pakistan border, the opinion among retired soldiers is: Be cautious while indulging in such a heavy deployment on the borders for the next time. It costs a lot of money. And unless you want a war, do not repeat it as it serves no purpose. Also, if India intends to strike the neighbour there should be no announcements of troops having been deployed towards the border as this snatches away the element of surprise and alerts everyone.

Maj-Gen Himmat Singh Gill (retd), who is involved in track two diplomacy in Afghanistan, says, “Thankfully the forces are back. In the first place, the deployment was not needed at all. It was politically motivated. In these 10-month or so, nothing has happened. The holding formations or the defensive formations which are perpetually posted near the border could have taken care of this situation with the help of paramilitary forces. There was no need to move out the elite strike corps, the infantry, machines etc. This has only disrupted the training programmes, and led to deterioration of equipment, thereby and lowering the morale of the men on the borders,“ he added.

Lieut-Gen Ranjit Singh Dayal (retd) holds a similar opinion: “Keeping the troops stationed at the border tires them out. Having the entire force sitting on the border was not correct at the first instance. The winter ahead would have been difficult. Pakistan cannot attack India at any cost so why have the entire force out in one go? The farmers along the borders have lost their crops due to the huge presence of the Army.”

Air Marshal Randhir Singh (retd) while welcoming the withdrawal, asked a question: “Are we doing the planning for our country or is it being done by some third country? We have only ended up spending a huge amount of taxpayers’ money by this deployment. Our planning has not been offensive. Deploying the Army was a kneejerk reaction in itself. India needs to overhaul its basic thinking as far as strategic planning is concerned.”

Maj-Gen Rajinder Nath (retd) says that after the attack on Parliament House, “The Air Force should have been used as the first strike across the Line of Control to destroy Pakistan’s bases like helipads, airfields and other things required to promote crossborder terrorism. This would have meant slow escalation. By moving the entire force in one go meant an intention to go, to war. This in turn means Pakistan could have used nuclear weapons. In future, the Navy and Air Force should be used to surprise Pakistan. These can be quick strikes and at places decided by India. If we fight Pakistan in high mountains of Jammu and Kashmir, then we do not have the strategic advantage.”

PU youth fest from tomorrow
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 20
The Panjab University zone A youth festival is all set to take off on October 22 at the Government Home Science College, Sector 10, with six girls’ colleges participating in the three-day fest.

To be inaugurated by the UT Education Secretary, Mr RS Gujral, the first day would see the participants put their singing skills to test in the shabad, bhajan, classical, vocal and orchestra session. Simultaneously, all art and creative writing sessions of poster-making, clay modelling, still life would be held at the venue, all in the morning session.

Geet, gazal and vaar singing has been planned for the afternoon session. The SDM, Mr SP Arora, would be chief guest. All colleges have confirmed entries in the contests.

The college would play host to a poetical symposium, debate and quiz contest while the afternoon session has been marked for drama and histrionics.

It would be dances all the way on the concluding day of the zone A, the day beginning with classical dance and group dance. A separate session has been earmarked for the gidda performance which usually witnesses an enthusiastic response and all colleges put in extra effort to win first position in this category.

Similar sessions would be held in the PU zone B youth festival which is being hosted by Sri Guru Gobind Singh College, Sector 26, slated for October 29.

CHANDIGARH CALLING

Some people may call Major (Dr) Gulshan Sharma (retd.), Director, Institute of Tourism & Future Management Trends (ITFT), as a cynical person, as he always talks about the potential of Chandigarh as one of the major centres of tourism in India. But he claims that his vision is to do everything to put the city on the international tourism map.

Height of blood donation

Authorities at Sector 16 General Hospital have invented a unique way of attracting residents into donating blood. They have hoisted an impressive red-coloured balloon with “Save life, donate blood” neatly printed on it.

You can see it from a distance from all four directions and a lot many residents have actually been encouraged into donating blood after reading the message. Good work, hospital authorities, keep it up, please.

A suggestion

Mr Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Mandiani near Ludhiana, has the knack of making some valuable suggestions to various government agencies. His probing and thinking mind has helped to resolve a number of problems. Months ago, he had taken up the issue of rent of telephones installed in rural areas. The Telecom Department was wrongly charging the rates of the rent meant for urban areas from the telephone connection holders served from rural exchanges. However, the department accepting his plea set the things right.

Now, Mr Gurpreet Singh has given a suggestion to the department. He has suggested to set up a museum of telephone equipment for the benefit of coming generations as has been done by the Railways Department by setting up a rail museum in New Delhi. Changes are taking place rapidly in the communication sector. What was being used as equipment for communication about a decade ago has become totally obsolete with the induction of mobile phones etc.

It will be good if such a suggestion is accepted by the Telecom Department authorities. Setting up such a museum may be of a very little value for the present generations but for the generations of 50 years after now it will certainly be of an immense value as well source of amusement.

Two voices

Strange are the ways of governments and their officials. A government contractor was assured permission for a temporary structure on public land for a store to carry out his government job.

When the next day the contractor reached the work site for the construction of road gullies, he found another wing of the government terming it illegal and removed the same.

Then came rains causing him loss as the cement lying in the open got wet.

The contractor is now demanding compensation from the Chandigarh Administration.

He is also urging the administration to reconstruct the same store to enable him continue his work.

Fashion horoscope

A city-based fashion institute has arranged a fashion parade for persons of different zodiac signs.

Designers have devised their creations to suit a person of a particular sun sign.

The fashion gurus have taken inspiration from the characteristics of persons of various zodiac signs and have made an effort using their imagination and creativity to show the very nature of a being as described in ones horoscope, and create a look for each zodiac sign.

Astrologers have already been advising their clients the colour to wear firing imagination of designers to use it for market and susceptibility of the people.

Nature discovery

Last fortnight, Lt-Gen J.F.R. Jacob, Governor of Punjab and Administrator, Chandigarh, and senior officers of the administration visited the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) Asia Centre and were attracted to the beautiful and aesthetic project launched in collaboration with the Environment Society of India (ESI).

Started in February, 2002, the project “Nature Discovery” aimed at sustainable development and provides opportunity to the young to learn many lessons in self-employment and income generation.

Behind the scene

The mediapersons and policy makers may criticise the Central and state governments for inadequate measures to curb the growing non-planned expenditure, but the Haryana government is steadily moving towards a new path of fiscal discipline, if the government statistics are to be believed.

Unlike Punjab’s much hyped Disinvestment Commission report, which is yet to be implemented, it is restructuring various government departments without making any noise. For this, industrialists say, the credit goes not only to the state CM and a section of enlightened bureaucracy, but also to Prof Sampat Singh, the state Finance Minister. In political circle, he is considered a man of few words but with dedication to reforms. The CII in a recent seminar held here on VAT, appreciated his efforts to cut down fiscal deficit. The industrial leaders appreciated him for bringing down the share of pensions and wages in the total budget, from 65.88 per cent in 1998-99 to 50.88 per cent by March 31, 2002.

While Punjab is still spending much higher proportion of its revenue on salaries, the Haryana government has promised to bring down that share to 46.31 per cent by the end of current fiscal.

— Sentinel

Nirankari sant samagam
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 20
When fundamentalism, communalism and terrorism are taking new dimensions, spreading dejection and frustration all over the globe, the saints have an added role to play to retrieve the situation to normalcy.

This was stated by Mr Amrik Singh, president, Sant Nirankari Mandal, Delhi, while addressing a large gathering at Sant Nirankari Satsang Bhawan, Sector 30, here today.

Referring to the ensuing 55th annual Nirankari Sant Samagam scheduled to be held in North Delhi from November 9 to 11, 2002, Mr Amrik Singh stated that the venue would witness a unique spectacle of human gathering of about one million people from all parts of India and abroad believing in one God and a part of single spiritual movement embracing the whole human race, giving expression to those values of humanity, love and compassion, which found a response in every human heart. The Sant Nirankari Mission was all set to promote through spiritual awakening.

Mr Amrik Singh stated that voluntary service of the samagam was inaugurated by Nirankari Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj last week and since then thousands of devotees of the mission were working round the clock making necessary arrangements to raise the 10-km township at the samagam venue in Delhi.

Recalling the inaugural message of Nirankari Baba Ji, Mr Amrik Singh said that the humanity was fragmented and every individual, group and nation was in conflict with the other. The objective of holding the samagam was to reaffirm our enlightened faith in oneness of God and his humanity over the planet earth.

Mr Kesho Ram Nandwani, zonal in charge, Sant Nirankari Mandal, Chandigarh Zone, informed that taking participation in the voluntary service as a valuable service to humanity, hundreds of Nirankari devotees of Chandigarh zone, including SAS Nagar and Panchkula, were making a bee line to the samagam venue in Delhi. About 25,000 Nirankaris from this zone were enthusiastically waiting for actual participation in the samagam, he added.

Footpath workers to protest today
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 20
The Footpath Workers’ Rozgar Bachao Samiti here today gave a call to march to Administrator’s official residence tomorrow to protest their removal from Dakshin Marg.

A meeting of the samiti was held today under the chairmanship of Mr Ramdev Singh to decide taking out the march to the Administrator’s residence. The samiti denied that the footpath shops were causing accidents. It said instead, drunken driving was the biggest cause of accidents.

The samiti said most of footpath workers had gone on a fast for the last four days since they were removed as part of a campaign launched by the Chandigarh Administration and the police.

The samiti alleged that liquor kiosks on roads were also contributing to the increase in number of accidents and that the Chandigarh Administration was directly responsible for opening these vends. Mr Ramdev Singh said a government which could not provide jobs to the people, did not have any right to deprive the people of their livelihood. He accused the police of indulging in high-handedness.

The samiti issued a joint appeal from the Roadside Workers Barbers’ Union, Footpath Cycle Union, Roadside Shoe Repair Welfare Association, Roadside Cycle Repair Workers’ Union, Hind Pressmen Workers’ Union, Ghade, Gamle Sellers’ Workers Union, Old Book Sellers’ Union, Tea and Parantha Workers’ Union, Juice Workers’ Union, Chandigarh Tandoor Original Welfare Association, Paan, Bidi Sellers Union and Mauli Jagran Roadside Workers.

Probe sought
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 20
The local chapter of Dr Ambedkar Study Circle has demanded a CBI probe into the massacre of Dalits in Dulina village of Jhajhar district in Haryana on October 16.

At meeting of its executive committee here today, it accused the local police of failing to protect Dalits. It demanded an immediate arrest of the accused and a compensation of Rs 10 lakh and a job in the Haryana Government for family members of each of the five victims.

Sant’s devotees throng Panchkula
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, October 20
Over one lakh devotees from different parts of Punjab and Haryana converged on Sector 5 grounds, opposite Haryana Marketing Board office, to listen to the discourse of Sant Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh of Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa.

A massive ‘pandal’ has been erected by his devotees here. The entire township has been decorated with buntings and markings have been made on all roads leading towards the venue of the congregation.

Addressing his followers, he exhorted them to work for the welfare of humanity. People from all walks of life, including senior government functionaries, also came here to listen to his preachings. “We have been granted birth as human beings only to serve humanity and to rid it of all its vices. Service to humanity is the true ‘karma’, otherwise, there is no difference between human beings and animals,” he said.

He said, “Only human beings have been blessed with the power to follow ‘bhakti marg’. It is only through ‘bhakti’ of God that one can hope to improve his next birth.”

He said there were several religions, but all preached that money made through illegal means could not give happiness. It was only through hard work and toil that one should earn money.

Meanwhile, traffic snarls were witnessed on the roads separating Sectors 5 and 6 and Sectors 5 and 8. Devotees who could not enter the ‘pandal’ stayed put on the roads to hear his preachings. The cops had a tough time controlling devotees and managing the traffic.

Panchkula to have girls’ college
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, October 20
The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, has announced that a girls’ college will be set up here. He also announced grant of Rs 1 lakh each for all wards of Kalka and Pinjore municipalities for development work.

The Chief Minister was listening to the grievances of people of Kalka assembly segment under the third phase of ‘Sarkaar Aapke Dwaar’ programme here last evening. He also announced that queue shelters would be set up in all sector. He asked various agencies to accelerate the pace of development in Panchkula.

He said besides improving sewerage system and drinking water facilities, street lights would also be improved. All roads would be repaired by the end of year.

Body found near Sukhna
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 20
Mystery shrouds death of Des Raj (25), a resident of Naya Gaon, whose body was found in the bushes near regulator end of the Sukhna Lake this afternoon. However, there were no injury marks on the body.

The police suspects that he died of a ‘sudden fit’ as he had a history of epilepsy. Father of the victim, Mr Joginder Ram, told the police that Des Raj had gone to the lake’s parking lot in search of job. The police patrol party located the body at around 4 pm, which was later sent for post-mortem. The deceased was married and has a child.

Electrocuted
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, October 20
A 35-year-old housewife, Ms Radhika, was electrocuted while she was operating a washing machine at her Industrial Area Phase I residence on Sunday. She was immediately rushed to General Hospital, Sector 6, where she was declared brought dead.

Husband, 2 others booked
Our Correspondent

Lalru, October 20
Three residents, including a husband and a brother-in-law, of Antala village near here were booked by the police for beating a woman, here today.

Sources in the police said, Ms Nirmail Kaur, wife of Raghubir Singh, complained that her husband beat her up while she objected over the construction of the house by her brother-in-law.

A case under Sections 325 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against Raghubir Singh, his brother Dharampal Singh and a mason Ram Ashra with the Lalru police station on the complaint of Ms Nirmail Kaur.

The police said that Dharampal Singh was constructing a house in the village and was being helped by Raghubir Singh. Yesterday, Ms Nirmail Kaur objected over her husband’s decision of choosing land for the building. This irritated Raghubir Singh and he attacked her.

In the attack Ms Nirmail Kaur sustained severe injuries and was admitted to the hospital. Meanwhile, no arrest has been made by the police in this case so far.

CHANDIGARH

Theft cases: During the past 24-hours at least three cases of theft have been registered in different police stations of the city.

A Hero Honda motorcycle (HR 24E 9311) of Mr Paramjit Singh, a hostel resident of SGGS College, Sector 26, was allegedly stolen from a parking lot at the Sukhna here yesterday. Mr Rameshwar Dass Verma, a resident of Mani Majra reported that his scooter (CH 01R 7389) was stolen from Sector 38 on October 15. Someone has reportedly stolen car stereo from the car of Mr Ajit Singh, a resident of Sector 34, on the night intervening October 18 and 19. The car was parked at the complainant’s residence.

12 arrested: The Sector 39 police has arrested six persons and claimed to have recovered 12 bottles and 94 pouches of liquor from their possession here yesterday. Those arrested are Birju Sud and Mohinder Kumar (Dadu Majra Colony), Daleep Ram (Sector 38), Amrik Singh (Maloya village), Dalbir Singh (Palsora Colony) and Kamal Singh (Kumhar Colony). All of them were booked under Sections 61\1\14 of the Excise Act.

Three persons, Vinod Kumar, Satish and Lala Ram, were arrested allegedly for gambling at a public place in Mauli Jagran last evening.

PANCHKULA

Four held: The police has arrested four persons — Gurkanwal Singh, Avtaar Singh, Surendra and Harjeet Kaur — in a case of harassment for dowry. They have been accused by a resident of Kalka, Ms Shivani of harassing her for dowry and a case had been registered against them on directions of a local court on October 14.

One arrested: The police arrested Deepak Kumar, a resident of Balmiki Basti in Kalka, on chrages of having abducted Baldev Singh’s 14 year old daughter on April 24.

Two assaulted: Rajesh and Vinod were allegedly assaulted by Jagdish Jaiswal, Dina Nath, Murari and Paras, after they forcibly entered into the former’ s house in Abheypur. The accused have been booked under Sections 148, 149, 323, 452 and 506 of IPC.

Burglary: Gold and silver ornaments were reportedly stolen from the Sector 15 residence of Ms Saroj Sharma, after the miscreants had broken locks and forced their way in. A case has been registered in Sector 19 police station.

BUSINESS

Seminar on standards in industry
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 20
Standards and tests go hand in hand and are key to the development of global market. Standards give specialisations or requirements for products, services, systems, processes and materials. Tests then verify that these could be met reliably over time. Once these standards are accepted broadly at an international level, they could further foster the development of a global market for goods and services— a market built on consistent quality and consumer confidence, said Dr Baljeet S. Kapoor.

Addressing a seminar on ‘Standards and conformity assessment’ organised by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) he stressed that the industry should collaborate with the certifying agencies to ensure that their output was world class.

Appreciating the role of international standards, he called upon the industry to keep pace with the developments in standardisation at the international level. He said that participants, in a free market, had to rely on their confidence to ensure a fair exchange of goods and services.

Mr Y. Saboo, chairman, Chandigarh Council of CII, said that the organised standardisation was an important element of the infrastructure required for healthy growth of industry and trade in all countries in the region. Appreciating the role of BIS in the promotion of standardisation, he urged the industry to make use of all services of BIS.

He claimed that the purpose of standardisation would not served without conformity assessment.

Earlier, welcoming the participants, Mr V.K.Kapoor, Deputy Director, BIS, said that standards played the role of a common language and constituted the basis of agreement of agreement in technical, economic and trade relations. He said the BIS had prepared over 17,000 standards on various items and about 16,000 products certification licences were in operation.

Yuvraj joins Hero Honda’s ‘Team Ambition’
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 20
Local lad Yuvraj Singh has been appointed as the brand ambassador by Hero Honda along with three other of India’s leading future prospects in cricket: Virender Sehwag, Mohammad Kaif and Zaheer Khan.

The four players have joined their captain and the current Hero Honda brand ambassador, Saurav Ganguly to form the Hero Honda ‘Team Ambition’, a team with a lethal performance combination of power, speed, efficiency and style.

Announcing the formation of the Hero Honda ‘Team Ambition’, Mr Pawan Munjal, Managing Director, Hero Honda Motors Limited, said” “Indian cricket and Hero Honda have both made the nation proud and helped the world recognise India’s potential. The ‘Team Ambition’ has many similarities in personality with Hero Honda, such as ‘splendor of performance’, ‘passion to excel’ and ‘ambition to win’, signifying their respective desires to lead the way.

Mr Atul Sobti, sr vice-president, marketing and sales, said “Hero Honda has been promoting cricket for over a decade now. Starting with the memorable Hero Cup in 1993, we have adequately benefited through the promotion of this national fervour. Cricket is one sport which binds our entire nation and is, perhaps, the largest platform in the world enabling companies to communicate with millions of consumers in the shortest possible time. We wish to communicate Hero Honda’s passion and ambition to our consumers, employees and associates through this soon-to-be world-famous ‘Team Ambition’,” he added.

As part of the association, Hero Honda will also find prominence on the bats to be used by Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan in the forthcoming cricket events. The captain, Saurav Ganguly, already sports a Hero Honda bat and has been using it since the recent Natwest Trophy. Proud on their appointment, the ‘Team Ambition’ also expressed their excitement on being part of the Hero Honda family. Yuvraj Singh said, “Hero Honda has always been associated with reliability and product quality. I am sure it is part of the pleasant memories of all the Indian customers who have used a Hero Honda at some stage in their life. I am thrilled about this association with them.”

Bonanza opens today

Chandigarh: The Market Welfare Association, Sector 22-D, has offered three Maruti cars as prizes for those who buy Rs 500 worth of non-jewellery items and Rs 2000 of jewellery items.

The golden jubilee of the market, part-two celebration, will be inaugurated by the Administrator, Lieut General J. F. R. Jacob, tomorrow and the lucky draws will be opened on November 6.Tulsi, TV star, will be present. TNS

MARKET PULSE
Britannia launches paneer
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 20
Britannia New Zealand Foods will sell paneer in Chandigarh under the Britannia Milkman brand name. The paneer is available in 200 gm packs and priced at Rs 20. Under refrigeration, the paneer remains fresh for three days.

Britannia Milkman paneer is processed and packaged in an ultra-modern and ISO 9002 and HACCP-certified factory, ensuring consistent quality and hygiene. Britannia launched the paneer in Chandigarh first as the city has a big market for it, according to a company spokesman.

Showroom of h.u.n.t

Grace Craft Pvt Ltd, a premium leather goods manufacturing house, has begun marketing its products under the brand name h.u.n.t. in the city. The first exclusive h.u.n.t. showroom in India opened in Chandigarh last week.

Made with German technology, the highest grade of leather, combined with the best accessories that are functional, stylish and chosen by experts, go into each h.u.n.t. product.

Mr N.K. Sahani is the Chairman, Mr Adhar Sahini the Managing Director while Mr Tilak Dasgupta and Mr Arun Das Sharma are the directors of the company.