SPECIAL FOCUS ON FARIDABAD
300 Ayurvedic units, but no lab
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, January 27
Even as Ayurvedic treatment has become the latest fad in the healthcare sector, customers need to be cautious before they succumb to its charms. It is particularly important considering the fact that although about 300 factories producing Ayurvedic medicines have been functioning in Haryana, the state has no laboratory of its own to test and certify the Ayurvedic products. When necessary, the sample is sent to a laboratory in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. Faridabad district alone has about 60 units producing Ayurvedic products. Several of these companies are suspected to be producing pure cosmetic type of products and selling them under Ayurvedic and herbal brands and could be evading excise and sales tax applicable on non-Ayurvedic and non-herbal products.

According to the law, companies producing Ayurvedic products are required to get a licence from the `Ayurveda Department’ and a trial report of the product must be attached before the licence is issued. However, it is seen that Ayurvedic companies are manufacture products like henna, shampoo, oils, facial creams and antiseptic items, some of which are not covered under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940.

Moreover, even as Ayurvedic and herbal products should not contain harsh chemicals, several of these products are being manufactured with various chemicals as the base. According to sources in the department, the manufacturers are also misusing the government incentives such as the relaxation in the excise duty and the ISI specifications. In effect, by selling cosmetics under the label of Ayurvedic products, the manufacturers are ‘misusing’ the government facility and making a ‘fool’ of the customers.

According to the state government gazette notification, as `Ayurveda’ is a separate and independent department in Haryana, the state drug control authorities have no authority to check the units manufacturing Ayurvedic products.

Although there is a post of a District Ayurvedic Officer, it is reported that there are only two or three such officers, looking after the work in the 19 districts of the state. Consequently, such units have been openly violating the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940.

SPORTS

Northern Railway eves sail into semis
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, January 27
Northern Railway eves scored an emphatic 8-0 victory against Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala in a Group A quarter-final clash to roll into the semi-final of the PNB-All India Railway Hockey Tournament at the Shivaji Stadium on Monday.

The star-studded Northern Railway women were given a flying start by international Pritam Thakran, when she scored a stunning field goal in the seventh minute. Six minutes later, Pritam was on the mark yet again to enhance the lead while Neha Dupia scored the third goal in the 24th minute to complete the first-half scoring.

On resumption, Kiran Saini made it 4-0, while Pritam added the fifth goal, to take her personally tally to three. Neha Singh scored the sixth goal to get a brace while Gurpreet Kaur and Fardina Ekka accounted for the seventh and eighth goals, respectively. All the goals were remarkably struck field goals.

In a Group B match, North Eastern Railway blanked South Eastern Railway 3-0 to make the semi-final grade. After a barren first half, Annu Chaudhary opened the account in the 39th minute. Jaya Laber added the second goal five minutes later while Annu herself completed the scoring in the 66th minute.

In the men’s quarter-final matches, Northern Railway downed Eastern Railway 2-0 and Western Railway nosed out Central Railway 2-1, to qualify for the semi-finals.

Bikramjit scored both the goals for Northern Railway, after a goalless first half.

In the other match too, all the goals materialised in the second half. Central Railway took the lead through Tabrej S Khan in the 38th minute, but failed to hold on to it as Sunil Kumar Singh equalised for Western eight minutes and Shanta Kumar scored the match winner in the 62nd minute.

Tuesday’s fixtures (men’s quarter-finals): SCR vs RCF (1 pm); ICF vs NER (3 pm)— Shivaji Stadium.

Heroes oust Nationals, enter semis
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, January 27
New Delhi Heroes rallied to outwit Indian Nationals 2-1 and entered the semi-final of the Delhi Soccer Association (DSA)-SAIL Super League competition at the Ambedkar Stadium on Monday.

Deepak Kumar put Indian Nationals in the lead in the seventh minute when N D Heroes custodian Sanjay failed to gather a feeble shot. Though Nationals enjoyed an edge in exchanges, they could not maintain their supremacy till the end as in the last quarter of the match, their guard fell to let in two goals.

Bhalla scored the equaliser with a fine volley while Kamei headed home the match-winner at the stroke of the final hotter.

N D Heroes thus registered their third successive victory and qualified for the semi-final. Indian Nationals have bowed out of the title fray with just four points from as many matches.

Tuesday’s fixture: Tarun Sangha vs City Club (3 pm)—Ambedkar Stadium.

HSBC launches ‘Cheer India’ campaign
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, January 27
With the World Cup Cricket Championship, to be held in South Africa, just a hailing distance away, the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), has started a multi-city “I cheer for India” campaign, which revolves round in giving a cheering boost to the Indian team when they take on the field.

As part of the campaign, a roadshow is being held in 16 cities in the country. Special floats will travel to each of the 16 cities, carrying a huge greeting card to collect the “I Cheer for India” message. Individuals can sign on the card and their photographs will be pasted on the greeting card, which will be presented to members of the Indian team at the International CEAT Cricket Rating Awards event in Mumbai on January 28.

The float was flagged off from the HSCB’s Connaught Place branch office.

Fashion designer J. J. Vallaya was the first signatory on the greeting card in New Delhi. Chairman of the Association of Cricket for the Blind in India, George Abraham, also signed the card.

The HSBC has been supporting the cricket for the blind and was the sponsor of the Indian team at the recently held Cricket World Cup for the blind in Chennai.

Punjab and Sind Bank bag title
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, January 27
Punjab and Sind Bank (P and SB) annexed the Inter-Bank Hockey Tournament, held as part of the Bank’s Olympiad 2002-03, organised by the Banks’ Sports Board in Bangalore from January 15 to 25.

The Punjab and Sind Bank hockey team gave an excellent performance, which culminated in them outclassing Canara Bank, packed with a number of international players, 8-0 in the title clash.

In the run up to the summit, the Punjab and Sind Bank team trounced Union Bank of India 8-0, Indian Overseas Bank 5-1, Indian Bank 6-2 and Punjab National Bank 9-1 (in the semi-final).

Najafgarh Club in final

Najafgarh Sports Club defeated Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj by 12 runs and entered the final of the first Shanti Memorial Under-14 Cricket tournament at the Najafgarh Sports Club ground.

Scores: Najafgarh: 102 all out in 29.2 overs (Danij Rathi 33, Sourabh Shukla 30, Prateek Kothari 5 for 20, Aswin Venkat Raman 3 for 17).

DPS: 90 all out in 29.5 overs (Jayant Yadav 31, Aswin Venkat Raman 30, Abhinav Rishi 5 for 21, Pramod Gupta 3 for 11).

Chetan Sharma Academy win

Chetan Sharma Academy defeated Modern School, Vasant Vihar by seven wickets in a league match of the first Chetan Sharma Academy Under-12 Cricket Tournament at the S S Khalsa School ground.

Scores: Modern School: 99 for 7 in 25 overs (Jayant Yadav 34, Manav Sharma 28, Dilip Kumar 3 for 23, Satvir Chaudhary 3 for 26).

Chetan Sharma Academy: 100 for 3 in 22.3 overs (Kshitij Kumar 31, Satvir 22, Manan Sharma 1 for 15).

Priyank hits ton for PMG

Priyank Tehlan hit a brilliant century (113) to enable Professional Management Group (PMG) trounce Malik Sports Club by 84 runs in a DDCA A-II Division League match at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground. PMG made 282 for 4 in 40 overs.

Scores: PMG: 282 for 4 in 40 overs (Priyank Tehlan 113, Dinesh Kumar 66 n o, Mahesh Prasad 34, Aqil Ahmad 2 for 40).

Malik Sports Club: 198 all out in 34.4 overs (Fakhruddin Ahmad 39, Sadab Malik 27, Rajeev Rana 3 for 20, Neeraj Arya 2 for 37).

Guljar powers Alitalia to victory
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, January 27
Guljar played a fine all-round role (33 and 4 for 15) to help Alitalia beat Saxena and Saxena by 104 runs in a Champions Trophy cricket match at the Venkateshwara College ground. Guljar was named the Man of the Match.

Electing to bat, Alitalia made 205 for 7 in 25 overs. Guljar played the cameo role in Alitalia’s victory. Amit Tondon took three wickets by giving only 30 runs. Saxena and Saxena garnered petty 101 all out in 22.4 overs.

Scores: Alitalia: 205 for 7 in 25 overs (Guljar 33, Mukish 34, Deepak 32, Rohan 27, Amit Tondon 3 for 30, Denier 3 for 34).

Saxena and Saxena: 101 all out in 22.4 overs (Vivek 44, Guljar 4 for 15, Rohan 2 for 24).

Kuldeep Dewan shines

An all-round performance by Kuldeep Dewan (38 n o and 3 for 18) helped Dantal Hydraulics defeat Clintus Packers and Movers by 19 runs in a round-robin league match of the Executive Cup Cricket Tournament at the Harbaksh Singh Stadium. Dantal made 155 for seven in 25 overs.

Scores: Dantal: 155 for 7 in 25 overs (Kuldeep 38 n o, Raj Kumar 35, Amitabh Dvivedi 22, Franklin Andrews 2 for 24).

Clintus: 136 for 8 in 25 overs (Sanjay Agarwal 30, Kapil Solanki 27, Varun Mehta 20, Kuldeep 3 for 17, Parveen 2 for 11).

ESPN down Max Healthcare in Brandmen tourney
Our Sports Reporter

Sukhdev bowls HDFC into final
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, January 27
A searing 4 for 8 bowling spell by Sukhdev Mahi helped HDFC defeat Ansals by 36 runs and enter the final of the Turf Sports Management Cricket Tournament at the Venkateshwara College ground. Sukhdev Mahi was adjudged the Man of the Match. Putting to bat, 163 for 6 in 25 overs. Ansals made 127 all out in 24.3 overs.

Scores: HDFC Bank: 163 for 6 in 25 overs (Virender Bhoj 50, Sant Ram 36, Muskan Singh 31, Amarjeet Singh 2 for 22).

Ansals: 127 all out in 24.3 overs (Brijesh Obrai 38, Ravi Kumar 37, Sukhdev Mahi 4 for 8, Nirman Bansal 3 for 15).