HEALTH

Leprosy patients park funds in small savings scheme
Our Correspondent

Panipat, March 28
Perhaps, it was a rare moment in the history of small savings when leprosy patients of Baikunth Dham, a residential colony developed by Rotary Club, Panipat, made contributions amounting to Rs 61,000 from their hard-earned money in small savings today. The amount was deposited for not one year but for six years.

This rare gesture of the neglected section of society has also moved others who came to know about it. As reported by the inmates of Baikunth Dham, the Deputy Commissioner (DC), Mr M. R. Anand, and the District Public Relations Officer, Manju Bala Varma, played an important role in motivating them to do this.

On receiving information about the contribution, the DC expressed his gratitude to the leprosy patients and said that their action will be a guiding force for others to make contribution to the small savings. “For me, this Rs 61,000 is equal to Rs 6 crore and I am very grateful to these persons,” he added.

The DC also disclosed that apart from depositing Rs 61,000 for six years, 20 of them had also opted to open their monthly savings account of Rs 200 each from the beginning of the next financial year.

Two senior members of Baikunth Dham, Gobind and Michelraj, told mediapersons that they deposited the amounts keeping in view the future requirements of their children including their education and job requirements.

SPORTS

Air Force meet Mohan Meakins in SAIL opener
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, March 28
Indian Air Force will take on Mohan Meakins in the opening match of the 13th Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) Tropy Cricket Tournament, starting at the Mohan Nagar ground on March 31.

Prominent teams of Delhi like defending champions Trans Yamuna Cricket Association, hosts SAIL, Chand Khanna Club, Subhania Club, Sonnet, Golden Hawks, Youngsters, Malviya Club, Indian Airlines and Sahara Airlines will participate in the tournament.

Former Delhi and North Zone cricket player Rakesh Shukla said at a press meet that the matches will be played on a knock-out basis, and each match will be of 40 overs a side.

He said the title winners will be given a cash prize of Rs 35,000 while the runners-up will be given a cash award of Rs 25,000. Each fixture will also have a man of the match award.

Delhi and District Cricket Association sports secretary Sunil Dev will inaugurate the tournament.

Richa Mishra to get training in Hungary
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, March 28
Richa Mishra, the talented swimmer, who collected a clutch of medals in the National Games held at Hyderabad last year, has been selected by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to undergo advanced training in swimming in Hungary under well-known swimming coach Otto Kovaes at Budapest from end of March to August.

The Government has sanctioned Rs 5 lakh to Richa on the recommendation of the Swimming Federation of India.

Richa, who joined the Central Reserve Police Force in 1999, has earned many medals/titles in various national and international competitions. She was declared the best female athlete in the National Games held in Hyderabad in December last year. She has been participating in the Delhi State Aquatic Championship from 1996, and has created numerous State and national records.

HDFC Bank enter final
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, March 28
A devastating 4 for 21 bowling spell by Yatin Dalvi enabled HDFC Bank defeat Railway Officers’ Cricket Association by 27 runs and entered the final of the 10th Teri Cup Cricket Tournament at the Central Secretariat ground. HDFC Bank will take on GAIL in the final. Muskan Singh played a vital role for HFDC. HFDC made 190 for 3 in 25 overs. In reply, Railway Officers’ Cricket Association made 163 all out in 23.3 overs. For Railway Officers’, Bharat Duphar’s cracking knock went in vain.

Scores: HDFC Bank: 190 for 3 in 25 overs (Muskan Singh 72, 7x4; Vinay 39, 1x4, 3x6; Sant Ram 33 n o, 1x4, 3x6; Anil Kumar 2 for 13).

Railway Officers’ Cricket Association: 163 all out in 23.3 overs (Bharat Duphar 74, 6x4, 1x6; Mobin Ahmed 31, 3x4; Yatin Dalvi 4 for 21, Sukhdev Muni 3 for 31, Sant Ram 2 for 33). Yatin Dalvi was named the man of the match.

Somorjit wins silver in Wushu

S Somorjit of India won the silver medal in the men’s Nan-Dao event of the second South Asian Wushu Championship at the Talkatora indoor stadium on Friday. R Ravindra Silva of Sri Lanka annexed the gold while Maharajan Sanjaya of Nepal lifted the bronze.

C Chaobi Devi of India bagged a bronze medal in the women’s Nan-Dao. Dhamala Nima of Nepal and KAD Samaravikram of Sri Lanka annexed the gold and silver respectively.

India claimed another bronze medal when W Inunganva Singh finished third in men’s Dao-Shu.

Thapa Rajkumar of Nepal won the gold while Sajith Sampath Kumar of Sri Lanka lifted the silver.

Shrestha Bhuwan of Nepal bagged the gold in the women’s Dao-Shu. Budha Thoki Mamta of Nepal and Nivindri Premaratne of Sri Lanka accounted for the silver and bronze medal.

Fiery spell from Ashwani Arora

New Delhi, March 28
Deadly bowling of 5 for 16 by Ashwani Arora helped Dominos beat Radisson by nine wickets to enter the final of the 14th Inter-Hotels Cricket Tournament at the Siri Fort Sports Complex, New Delhi.

Dominos: 106 for 1 in 12.4 overs (Gurmeet Singh 54 n o, 9x4, 33b; Jatin 34, 5x4, 1x6, 27b; Ashwani Arora 8 n o, Neeraj 1 for 25). OSR

ADMINISTRATION

Concessions to facilitate trade tax payment
Our Correspondent

Noida, March 28
To attract the maximum of the balance amount of trade tax, the UP Government has decided not to impose any penalty on delayed payment. The government has decided to condone cent per cent interest or penalty on balance payment of trade tax up to Rs 1 lakh.

Giving this information, Additional Commissioner, Trade Tax, Noida, Monica Garg said that those traders who deposit the trade tax amount, which is already due, by April 30 will have the benefit of saving 100 per cent on interest or penalty amount, which otherwise would have been payable.

Those depositing over Rs 1 lakh and up to Rs 10 lakh as trade tax will be allowed a concession of 80 per cent in interest and 100 per cent in penalty on the amount accrued.

The overdue amount beyond Rs 10 lakh of trade tax will get a benefit of 100 per cent concession in penalty and 70 per cent in interest, Ms Garg said. Even a trader who has not paid trade tax amounting to Rs 90,000 for the last three years can avail of the full concession on penalty as well as interest by paying by the end of April.

A new plan will be started for them from May 1 to June 30 in which traders will get 100 per cent rebate in penalty and 90 per cent in interest.

The Additional Commissioner has urged the Noida traders to deposit their trade tax balance and take advantage of this concession being offered by the state government.