HEALTH

Diabetes care workshop from March 15
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 13
The Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research will hold a first of its kind workshop series on diabetes care and management from March 15 to April 26. There has been an alarming rise in the incidence of diabetes in India, which now holds the dubious distinction of harbouring 30 million people afflicted with the disease which is nearly half of the world’s diabetic population.

The step was announced today as part of the institute’s commitment to the cause of increasing awareness and knowledge about effective diabetes control and management.

The workshop series will cover specific modules intrinsic to better diabetes management and will be initiated with a module on confectionery food suitable for people afflicted with diabetes.

The focus will be on various culinary delights that can be enjoyed by diabetic patients while keeping the disease in check.

The workshop intends to devote attention to the importance of exercising and physical activity and stress management to help patients adapt to the challenges of day-to-day diabetes management.

The third module will address the psychological needs of the patients and the crucial role the family can play as a strong support system whilst they battle with the disease. Sitaram Bhartia Institute Consultant Diabetologist A S Lata said, “The focus of this initiative is efficient diabetes management and in this respect the importance of wholesome discipline in nutrition, physical exercise and weight control cannot be emphasised enough.”

Dr Lata said that this workshop is invaluable for creating a network of people who share expertise about diabetes and of people who have it. It provides a forum for finding out more about disease concerns and support needs and for discussing shared experiences. Through this endeavour we seek to make people more adept at managing diabetes and emphasise that with a disciplined approach to the disease, individuals can live a healthy and normal life, the doctor added.

Diabetes has assumed alarming proportions in recent times all over the world but much more ominously in our country.

It has been seen that management steps in diabetes are of paramount importance and is a largely ignored aspect of the disease. In this resect, management means taking steps to delay its onset, prevent complications by good control and finally tackle these complications by good control in time, if the need arises. The therapeutic as well as management measures go hand in hand at each stage of the disease.

The Diabetes Centre at Sitaram Bhartia Institute with its vast array of world-class facilities and research knowledge has taken the onus upon itself to make people aware of the ubiquitous disease and its management through these uniquely conceptualised workshops.

Special Ward for Charak Palika Hospital
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 13
Mrs Parminder Mandip Singh, chairperson, NDMC, inaugurated a Special Ward at NDMC’s Charak Palika Hospital this afternoon. The ward consists of three independent rooms having attached, air-conditioned bathrooms. Each room has a provision for stay of one person attending on the patient. The hospital is 150-bedded having the routine OPD and renders services round the clock in different disciplines with full-fledged pathology, radiology and specialist services in cardiology, medicine, surgery, eye, ENT, paediatrics, gynae, orthopaedics, dental, physiotherapy and thalassaemia.

After inaugurating the Special Ward, Mrs Singh said that with the opening of this ward, the public could avail themselves of health services on nominal charges.

The civic body is providing the services in all the three disciplines through its 12 homoeopathic, 11 allopathic and 11 Ayurvedic dispensaries besides other services through polyclinic, DOT Centre, maternity hospital, M&CW Centre, etc.

A park for patients in Meerut
Our Correspondent

Meerut, March 13
Medical personnel in the Navy are geared-up following the fast changing scenario in West Asia, said Rear Admiral Vijay Kumar Singh, Commandant of the Indian naval ship hospital, Ashwani. Rear Admiral Vijay Kumar Singh, who was here on a visit to the Military Hospital, Meerut, planted a tree in the “Patient Park”.

The vast ecological park, in an area of more than 2 acre, would be used exclusive for the patients of the hospital, said Rear Admiral Vijay Kumar Singh, a renowned ENT surgeon.

Speaking on the occasion, the Commandant of the Military Hospital, Brig Surjeet Singh, said a green belt would be developed around the Military Hospital with the help of the Meerut sub-area. As such, the Military Hospital was planning a major plantation drive in the area, he added. 

SPORTS

English coach paints rosy picture of Indian soccer
M. S. Unnikrishnan

New Delhi, March 13
For the doomsday prophets of Indian soccer, the observation of chief coach Stephan Constantine of England will have a calming effect, as the English coach, who has completed nine months with the Indian team, sees a rosy future for Indian football, provided the right kind of atmosphere is created for the players to flower into their fuller potential.

“I have a great sense of pride to be the national coach of India”, Stephen Constantine said, during his interaction at the Conference of Indian Soccer, which was inaugurated at the Le Meridien hotel on Thursday.

The English coach said there was much greater responsibility on him to be the national coach of a vast country like India, though nine months into the job, he has attained a different perspective, which is pleasingly different from the negative things fed on him about the state of the game in the country when he took up the job as the chief coach.

He said the “picture is not as bad as it has been painted out to be”. He felt that the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) object of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup “was a reasonable target”, but cautioned that “you have to do a lot to realise it.”

He said his experience with the Indian team has been that the “Players are fast learners, and they have picked up the threads quicker than any other team I have coached.”

He said he did not take up the assignment in India to lose matches. “My attitude is to win,” he asserted. He also made complimentary references to Indian coaches. He said India had good coaches, “But we need to change the attitude towards the coaches as we should help them do better, and not put them down.”

Stephen also asserted that India must consistently qualify for youth tournaments as often as possible for which the coaches and the players must work hard. He advised the clubs to develop youth players as we should “Look after our best players. The attitude of our players is excellent.”

The three-day conference was inaugurated by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Vikram Verma, who emphasised the need to bring back Indian football to its former glory. He appreciated the steps being taken by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to give a new thrust and dimension to the game in the country.

Mr Verma expressed his happiness at the good performance of the Indian Under-17 and Under-19 teams at the Asian level. He admitted that Indian soccer was on a slump since mid-70s, after winning medals at the Olympic Games and the Asian Games in the Fifties and Sixties.

AIFF president Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, in his welcome address, said India had a rich soccer tradition, and the federation was now in the process of reversing the downward trend of the game in the country, with the help of the International Football Federation (FIFA) and the Asian Football Confederation. He said it was on the advise of the FIFA Study Group that the AIFF introduced the National League in 1996. He admitted that the spectator attendance has not been satisfactorily growing for lack of fan-based club support among the participating clubs, barring a few belonging to Goa and Kolkata.

Mr Dasmunshi said the AIFF has drawn up a comprehensive proposal to launch a Project World Cup 2010 by according full dependence on the Under-14, Under-17 and Under-20 talent.

All-India Council of Sports president Vijay Kumar Malhotra appreciated the dynamic steps being taken by the AIFF for the promotion of the game in the country. Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi said football will be the star attraction at the inaugural Afro-Asian Games to be held in India later this year.

FIFA representative Urs Zanitti said the international body was fully committed to continue supporting football in India not only financially, but also in technical matters with the 2010 World Cup as the objective.

AFC secretary-general Dato Peter Velappan assured that the AFC will provide whatever assistance and guidance needed to take Indian football to where it belongs in Asia—at the zenith. He termed Indian soccer as a “Sleeping giant” and hoped that “This sleeping giant will wake up to reach dizzy heights once again.”

Central Electricity Authority chess lift title
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, March 13
Central Electricity Authority logged 17.5 points out of a possible 24 to lift the eighth Inter-Central Power Sector Undertakings Chess Tournament, held under the aegis of the Power Sports Control Board, Ministry of Power. The tournament was organised by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium on March 12 and 13.

PGCIL team took the second position with a tally of 16.5 points. S Ravi of PGCIL won the individual event on tie-break. Ravi scored five points out of six games and had a progressive score of 20 points after winning the first five games in the tournament.

K Ravindranath of CEA finished second with a progressive count of 17.5 points.

Seven teams—National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, Tehri Hydro Development Corporation, Bhakra Beas Management Board, Ministry of Power, Powergrid Corporation of India, Central Electricity Authority and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam—participated in the tournament. Mr R V Shahi, secretary (power) gave away the prizes.

Indian Airlines ground Sonnet, enter semis
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, March 13
Indian Airlines defeated Sonnet Club by two wickets to enter the semi-final of the fourth Roshanara Cricket Tournament at the Roshanara Club ground. Indian Airlines won the toss and put Sonnet in. Sonnet were in deep trouble when they lost five wickets for 37 runs but Deepak Joon, with a dashing knock of 96, studded with two sixes and ten fours, and N S Negi steadied the innings. Negi scored 37 as the duo put on 87 runs for the sixth wicket while Deepak and Kshitiz Rohtagi put on 98 runs for the seventh wicket.

Set a target of 232, Indian Airlines successfully chased it in 44.4 overs, thanks to the fine knocks of Shafiq Khan and R R Parida. Deepak Joon was named the man of the match. Putting to bat, Sonnet made 231 for 7 in 45 overs.

But Indian Airlines achieved the target of 233 for 8 in 44.4 overs.

Scores: Sonnet: 231 for 7 in 45 overs (Deepak Joon 96, Kshitiz Rohtagi 50 no, N S Negi 37, Rajat Bhatia 2 for 34).

Indian Airlines: 233 for 8 in 44.4 overs (R R Parida 56, Shafiq Khan 55 no, Ravneet Ricky 35, Rajat Bhatia 29, Ishan Ganda 25, Manu Kumar 2 for 48).

Darling to tour Bangkok

Darling Club will tour Bangkok to play in a six-a-side match from March 25 to April 3. Interested players may contact umpire Anil Chaudhary at DDCC on phone 22173280.

Paljeet slams ton

Paljeet Singh slammed 113 and Raja Ram claimed 4 for 14 as Bhiwari beat North Sales by 151 runs in the third Jaswinder Memorial Cricket League at the Jamia Millia ground. Scores: Bhiwari: 230 for 2 in 25 overs (Paljeet Singh 113, Sanjay Kumar 44, Ashok Kumar 2 for 33).

North Sales: 79 all out in 13.1 overs (Anjeev Kumar 52 no, Raja Ram 4 for 14, Ajay Pal 2 for 02).

Ajay Mahraj shines

An all-round performance by Ajay Mahraj (71 and 3 for 28) was the main feature of BSES Rajdhani Yamuna Power Limited’s eight-wicket victory against Hindustan Times in a league match of the ESPN Star Sports Challenge Cup Cricket Tournament at the Venkateswara College ground.

Scores: HT: 164 for 9 in 25 overs (Ranjit Mehra 49, Devashish 35, Praveen Mathur 30, Ajay Mahraj 3 for 28, Ajeet Choudhary 2 for 29).

BSES: 167 for 2 in 31.1 overs (Manoj Kumar 73, Ajay Mahraj 71).

ONGC annex Rajdhani cricket trophy
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, March 13
Dashing knocks by Radhey Shyam Gupta (89) and international Gagan Khoda (76) helped Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) defeat Bright Club by 23 runs to annex the third Rajdhani Trophy Cricket Tournament title at the Kalindi College ground. The winners received a cash award of Rs 31,000 while the runners-up pocketed Rs 21,000.

Radhey Shyam Gupta was adjudged the best batsman of the tournament while Gagan Khoda was named the Man of the Match.

Akash Malhotra was declared the Man of the Tournament and Rahul Sanghvi received the best bowler award.

Scores: ONGC: 282 for 6 in 40 overs (Radhey Shyam Gupta 89, Gagan Khoda 76, Sandeep Sharma 53, Rizwan Shamshad 25).

Bright Club: 259 all out in 37.3 overs (Rajender Bisth 64, Vivek Kumar 62, Akash Malhotra 30, Sunil Joshi 3 for 27, Gagan Khoda 2 for 27).

Super League matches begin today
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, March 13
Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) will take on Jammu and Kashmir Bank in the first Super League match of the Second Division National Football League (North Zone) at the Ambedkar Stadium on Friday at 1.30 pm.

Border Security Force (Punjab) will clash against Allwyn-Hindustan Club in the second match at 3.30 pm.

Jagdev Chauhan stars

An unbeaten knock of 58 by Jagdev Chauhan helped Railway Officers Cricket Association defeat Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) by 49 runs in a Super League match of the tenth Teri Cup Cricket Tournament at the Teri Oval.

Scores: Railway Officers: 189 for 4 in 25 overs (Jagdev Chauhan 58 n.o, 3x4; Mobin Ahmed 35, 5x4; Sunil Rawat 34, 2x4, 1x6; Ajay Sharma 27 n.o, 2x6; Suresh 2 for 28, Vimal 1 for 35, Prakash 1 for 17).

GAIL: 140 all out in 24.1 overs (Gautam 54, 5x4; Joshi 17, 2x4, 1x6; Sanjeev 3 for 22, Sunil Rawat 3 for 25, Sanjay Sahney 2 for 21). Jagdev Chauhan was named the man of the match.

Clintus beat DART

Clintus beat DART by seven wickets in a limited-over match played at the Harbaksh Stadium.

Scores: DART: 93 for 9 in 25 overs (Abhishek Singhania 14 n.o, Vikram Singhania 13, Siddhartha Bindra 12, Franklin Andrews 2 for 8, Arvind Joshi 2 for 15, Sanjay Agarwal 2 for 20).

Clintus: 94 for 3 in 23.2 overs (Sanjay Agarwal 35 n.o, Sandeep Sharma 17, Siddhartha Bindra 2 for 15).

ADMINISTRATION

MC plans to take RWA help in maintaining parks
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, March 13
The Sonepat Municipal Council has evolved a plan to involve the resident welfare associations of different localities in maintaining the council’s parks in the town, on the pattern of other towns like Panipat.

As there are 48 parks in the town, it has become a difficult task for the civic authorities to maintain cleanliness and survival of plantations in these for want of resources and manpower. Encouraged with the success of the public participation move adopted in many a town of the state, Deputy Commissioner Balwan Singh also asked the Sonepat civic authorities to move ahead with this scheme.

According to the executive officer of the Sonepat Municipal Council, the resident welfare associations have also appreciated the move and as many as five associations had already applied for maintaining the parks in their localities. The council has asked the residents in different localities to get their associations registered by sending a resolution to the Deputy Commissioner.

Though the maintenance including cleaning, watering of the plants and other protections would be looked after by the associations, the ownership of the park would remain with the municipal council, he said and added that the civic body would provide finances to the association for any betterment in parks.

Rohtak MC collects Rs 4.13 crore as taxes
Our Correspondent

Rohtak, March 13
The municipal council here has collected Rs 4.13 crore in the form of government grant and various taxes during the current financial year so far. According to official sources, the council received an amount of Rs 1.52 crore as government grant and Rs 2.61 crore as different taxes. The MC authorities claimed that a sum of Rs 4.46 lakh, out of the total amount recovered, was yet to be utilised for various development works.

According to sources, the MC authorities recovered Rs 2.90 lakh in the form of house tax today out of which Rs 1.42 lakh was deposited by the office of the Deputy Commissioner while Rs 1.48 lakh was deposited by other defaulters. It is learnt that Rs 8.07 lakh was recovered as house tax during the tax recovery drive launched by the district administration four days ago.