HEALTH

UNDP workshop stresses on women’s role in eradicating AIDS 
J. T. Vishnu
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 16
It was a workshop with a difference. There were print and television journalists, filmmakers, artists, cartoonists and others. The ‘arts and media workshop’ organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in exotic Goa from May 9 to May 12 was aimed at one goal: ‘Eradicate the AIDS epidemic from the subcontinent’.

The four days were spent on bringing out the inherent creative talents of the participants from India and Nepal. The workshop primarily focused on bringing out leadership qualities among the women and men to champion the cause of women as leaders in eradicating AIDS.

The stress was more on women’s initiatives because most of the time women are at the receiving end. According to the statistics, ten persons get infected across South-Asia every minute and women are more susceptible to the disease than men. The disease spreads through unprotected intercourse with different partners and are common among drug users.

A survey shows that Indians who are illiterate are six times less likely to use a condom during casual sex than their educated counterparts. And rural residents are half as likely as their urban peers to use a condom.

This fact was discussed and the participants came up with different measures to counter the epidemic, including making sex workers insist to their partners to use condoms, creating awareness among the rural population and making every individual to undergo medical examination.

Dr Monica Sharma, group head of the UNDP, Ravi Pradhan, consultant, New York, Sonam Yangchen Rana, senior advisor, and Pramod Kumar, advocacy officer, UNDP Delhi, Gulan Kriplani, UNDP Mumbai were the facilitators during the workshop.

Dr Monica called the participants as potential leaders who are going to spread the powerful message among the urban and rural people. The purpose is to “encourage leaders at all levels to challenge discrimination, spearhead public action, create positive legal environment and make the poor to have access to care and treatment”, Dr Monica said.

Most of the participants who attended the workshop went back with commitments like making short films on AIDS, putting up exhibitions and running campaigns across the country to create awareness among the people.

Some of them came up with some interesting short stories, write-ups and songs in order to spread the message in a lighter form.

For instance actress Nandita Das who attended the workshop with her husband Sowmya Sen said she was planning to make a short film on AIDS. “I was looking for some insights for my venture and that’s why I am here,” she said.

As Sai Paranjpye, Chairperson, Children’s Film Society of India, said, “these workshops play a very vital role in producing some great leaders.” 

SPORTS

Shastri Club stun Indian Airlines, enter final
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, May 16
Lal Bahadur Shastri Club stunned eleven times champions Indian Airlines by five wickets and entered the semi-final of the Goswami Ganesh Dutt Memorial Cricket Tournament at the Khalsa College ground on Friday.

Dilip TT blasted an unbeaten century to star in Shastri’s victory. Dilip TT was named the man of the match.

Shastri Club will take on Sonnet in the semi-final on May 23. Shastri Club won the toss and put Indian Airlines into bat.

The star-studded Airlines, after a promising start when they hoisted 88 runs in 14.5 overs, got bogged down in the middle overs, and eventually could make only 215 for 6 in 40 overs, despite a debonair unbeaten 70, off 73 balls with four fours, by Ritender Singh Sodhi. Ravneet Singh Ricky also produced a fine knock of 57 off just 47 balls, studded with nine boundaries.

But with Dilip using his bat like a sledge hammer to scythe through the Airlines bowling, and Sumit Dogra playing a fine supporting role, Shastri Club found the going easy in their run chase to victory, and they hit the victory target in 38.4 overs for the loss of five wickets.

Dilip hit an unbeaten 102, off 112 balls with nine boundaries and one six. He put on 106 runs for the fourth wicket in the company of Sumit Dogra (53, 2x4, 1x6, 56b).

Scores: Indian Airlines: 215 for 6 in 40 overs (Ravneet Singh Ricky 57, 9x4, 47b; Manish Sharma 31, 1x4, 53b; Ritender Singh Sodhi 70 n o, 4x4, 73b; M Bisla 18; Rajat Bhatia 26, 1x4, 1x6, 23b; Parveen Thapar 3 for 39; Sandeep Yadav 2 for 44).

Shastri Club: 217 for 5 in 38.4 overs (Dilip T T 102 n o, S Chatterjee 8, Praveen Thapar 11, Rajan Gupta 17, Sumit Dogra 53, Dharminder 14 n o, Sonu Sharma 2 for 51, Nikhil Chopra 2 for 38).

Saturday’s fixture: Bihar Cricket Association vs Food Corporation of India —Khalsa College ground.

Top players to be on view in Hari Ram Cricket
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, May 16
Prominent India players like VVS Laxman, Amit Mishra, Nikhil Chopra, Sarandeep Singh and Gautam Gambhir are likely to be seen in action in the seventh edition of the Lala Hari Ram Aggarwal Memorial Day-Night Cricket Carnival, to be held under flood-light at the Karnail Singh stadium from May 25 to June 8.

Sixteen top teams will vie for the top prize of Rs 1,11,000 while the runners-up will pocket Rs 51,000. The two losing semi-finalists will receive Rs 25,000 each.

President of the tournament committee Ashok Aggarwal said in New Delhi on Friday that matches upto the quarter-final stage will be of 35 overs a side while the semi-finals and final will be of 40 overs a side. He said proper care would be taken to ensure that there would be no complaint regarding flood-lighting. Mr Aggarwal said the tournament committee will award the best batsman, best bowler, man of the match and man of the series awards.

Chairman of the technical committee Suresh Chopra said renowned umpires like Vijay Chopra, Hariharan, Devender Sharma, Arun Bhardwaj, Anil Choudhary, Satish Gupta, Kamal Juneja and Rajan Seth would officiate the matches. The draw of the tournament is likely to be held on May 22 by All-India Council of Sports president Vijay Kumar Malhotra.

Vidarbha enter veterans cricket final
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, May 16
A devastating 4 for 14 bowling performance by Hemant Wasu and an all-round display by Praveen Hingnikar (2 for 22 and 46) enabled Vidarbha beat Assam by six wickets and entered the final of the fifth National Inter-State Veterans Cricket Championship at the Delhi University ground.

Vidarbha won the toss and decided to field. Assam were bundled out for 107 and Vidarbha raced to victory in 14.4 overs for the loss of four wickets.

Scores: Assam: 107 all out in 32.3 overs (Sumit Dutta 23, Jayant Chaudhary 21 n o, Hemant Wasu 4 for 14, Dilip Chaudhary 2 for 7, Praveen Hingnikar 2 for 22, Vikas Gawate 2 for 22).

Vidarbha: 109 for 4 in 14.4 overs (Praveen Hingnikar 46, 6x4; Manoj Gogte 30, Vikas Gawate 20 n o, Debashish Sinha 3 for 21).

DDA teams record facile wins
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, May 16
Delhi Development Authority (DDA) Academy teams had a field day when they recorded facile victories in the third Ambuja Cup Five-a-Side Football Tournament at the Ambedkar Stadium on Friday.

In the first match, DDA Academy B team trounced DAV Public School 7-2. Humhir Rahim (3), Adanan Rahim (2) and Killamaa (2) were the DDA goal-scorers while Himanshu and Yashpal Malik got the goals for DAV Public School.

In another match, DDA C team beat International Society School 6-0. Chetan Rawat (2), Divakar Kaushik (2), Ashish Rawat and Sarthik Gupta were the marksmen.

Saturday’s fixtures: Frank Anthony vs St. Columba’s (3.45 pm); Mount St. Mary’s vs DDA D (4.30 pm); Frank Anthony – B vs DDA C (5.15 pm)— Ambedkar Stadium.

J K Tyre gets Formula I rights
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, May 16
J K Tyre, one of the pioneers of motorsport, has acquired the terrestrial television rights of Formula I races from FI Management, UK (which owns the entire FI event property) and has passed it on to DD Metro-World of Motorsports.

The funds generated from such a venture will be employed to generate funds to sponsor India’s motorsport whizkid Karun Chandhkok at the British F3 Championship.

As part of the deal, DD Metro would also get the world’s best commentators- Martin Brundell and Ian James—to host the show.

The programme will also capsule major other international and national motorsport events.

Piyush stars for Jaat Heroes
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, May 16
Piyush Singh struck a strokeful 78 to help Jaat Heroes beat Modern School, Vasant Vihar by one wicket in the DDCA Under-15 Cricket Tournament at the Modern School ground, Vasant Vihar.

Scores: Modern School: 194 for 5 in 40 overs (Aditya Jain 47, Himang Arora 44, Dhruv Shorey 26 n o, Abhimanyu Vashisth 2 for 37).

Jaat Heroes Club: 198 for 9 in 39.4 overs (Piyush Singh 78, 15x4; Vijit Vinod 42, Abhimanyu Vashisth 29 n o, Dhruv Shorey 3 for 34, Aditya Jain 3 for 46).

DSA to hold open trials

New Delhi: The Delhi Soccer Association (DSA) will hold open trials-cum-coaching camp to select the Delhi State team for the 11th Senior National Football Championship for women, to be held in Chennai (Tamil Nadu) from June 8 to 22).

Samples lifted from petrol stations
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, May 16
On the instructions of Deputy Commissioner Balwan Singh, a team of officials, headed by Mr Sujan Singh Yadav, carried out surprise raids on three petrol pumps situated on the Sonepat-Meerut inter-state road near Khewra village, 13 km from here, last evening and lifted samples of petrol and diesel.

According to a report, the officials sent the samples to a laboratory for examination. Action would be taken against the owners of the petrol pumps if the samples were found adulterated.

This action followed public complaints alleging that adulterated petrol and diesel were being sold by petrol pumps in the district.

Samples were seized from Shaheed Jatinder Singh Auto, Vardhman Filling Station, both in Khewra, and Sant Ram Suri and Sons, Palri village. The officials of the team also checked the measurements of petrol and diesel sold to the consumers. The officials also checked the godowns of Kheriwala gas agency and Kumar gas agency of this city and seized the records for scrutiny. They also checked the equipment of fire control kept in the godowns of these LPG agencies.