Dharam sanstha holds medical camps
Our Correspondent

Khanna, January 19
The Sarb Dharam Welfare Sanstha (Punjab) organised its sixteenth annual health, social welfare and cultural programme at New Grain Market here today. Medical camps and a cultural programme were organised on the occasion.

Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, M.P. was the chief guest at the function while MLA Surjit Singh Rakhra presided over the function.

One hundred sewing machines were given to widows and other poor women, 31 tricycles were given to physically challenged persons, 500 poor students were given sweaters, pairs of socks and shoes, books, note books, 50 old persons were given cash and ration, and 200 needy men and women were given blankets and suits.

The health mela was inaugurated by Transport Minister Tej Parkash Singh. Mr Puran Singh Jassi, Adviser UNICEF, was also present. A North zone, de-addiction camp was inaugurated by the SSP, Khanna, Mr Parmjit Singh Sarao, a blood donation camp was inaugurated by Mr P.K. Bansal, AGM, State Bank of Patiala, a camp on heart diseases was inaugurated by an MLA, Mr Amrik Singh Dhillon, dental camp by the president, MC, Mandi Gobindgarh, Mr S.S. Bhambri, ENT camp by D.S. Bhullar GM Godrej Agrovet, Eye camp by Parmjit Singh Khattra, general secretary, Youth Congress Punjab, ortho camp by Harbans Singh Rosha, and a Homoeopathy camp by Gurdial Singh Diali.

The president of the sanstha, Mr Joginder Singh Oberoi, said that 20 needy persons were given lenses at a hospital after eye check-up.

Mr Sukhdev Singh Rana was the stage secretary on the occasion.

SPORTS

Rs 3 crore for promoting sport in schools
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, January 19
With a view to strengthen the base of sports in the state, sports have been inducted as a compulsory subject in the schools under the recently implemented New Education Policy by the government. To accelerate the sports activities among the students in the schools, funds amounting to Rs 3 crore have been released by the Education Department.

This was disclosed by Chaudhary Santokh Singh, Minister for Social Security and Welfare of SCs/BCs, Punjab, while addressing the concluding function of 29th Nihang Baba Shamsher Singh Memorial Tournament organised by the Sri Hargobind Sports Club at Sudhar village near here last evening.

Chaudhary Santokh Singh informed that under the New Education Policy, 15 different games have been inducted in the school curriculum and every student would have to take part at least in two games of his choice. He said the physical education teachers of all schools would be given special training to apprise them about the new techniques and changed rules of the different games. The minister claimed that there was no dearth of the sports talent among the students and only the talent was required to be tapped at the early stage and given training of international standard for grooming them for big competitions. He asserted that as a result of proper attention on the sports, the players from the state had shown better results at recently concluded Busan Asian Games.

Referring to the steps taken out by the government to encourage the players, the minister said that the medal winners have been honoured with suitable monetary awards and promotions in their services.

The minister referring to the demands presented by the sports club announced a grant of Rs. 2 lakh for the construction of the drains and pavement of streets of the village and Rs 25,000 from his discretionary quota for the club.

Mr Harminder Singh, a former MLA of the area, while addressing the gathering highlighted the problems of the villages of the constituency and appealed the minister to give liberal grants for the club.

Lions Olympic Games
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, January 19
The Lions Club International District 321-F comprising more than 150 clubs of the state and union territory, Chandigarh, conducted Lions Olympic Games-2003 at the Arya College for Boys ground here today. The clubs’ members and their family members took part in various track and field events and fun games.

Mr Prem Grover, chairman of the organising committee informed that these games, an annual feature have been organised to promote the cause of sportsmanship and brotherhood among the members and their spouses and dependants. Children of the club members, who have excelled in the field of sports in various tournaments and achieved distinction, were also honoured on the occasion.

Mr Tej Parkash Singh, Minister for Transport, Punjab, gave away prizes to the position holders.

Gaganajit ties nupital knot

Ludhiana, January 19
Gaganajit Singh, hero of the Indian hockey team’s title victory in the last Junior World Cup, tied the nupital knot with Anjana here today. Gagan (22), son of Olympian Ajit Singh and presently working as Deputy Superintendent of Police, Punjab, got married with Anjana (20).

A number of political leaders, social workers and sports personalities attended the marriage. Those who attended the function included Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Mr Mahal Singh Bhullar, DGP, Olympians Surinder Singh Sodhi, Harpreet Singh, Pargat Singh and Kamalpreet Singh. OC