HEALTH

Vendors educated about PFA rules
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 18
Officials of the Prevention of Food and Adulteration Act Cell, UT, today held a meeting with the vendors and manufacturers of cold drinks to educate them about the PFA Act and various other rules. The interaction was held in the auditorium of the Department of Family Welfare, Sector 22.

Dr C.P. Bansal, Director, Health Services, and the Food Health Authority, advised all tradders at the meeting to work in accordance with the Act to avoid any legal complications. He also told them to pay attention towards personal hygiene and sanitation in the area where they sold their products.

Dr Balbir Singh, Local Health Authority, said all this was done with a view to ensuring quality. He also said such awareness classes would go a long way in improving food trade in the city.

Dr Bansal later distributed licences and PFA badges among the vendors and even acknowledged the help from the media in making the campaign a success.

Awareness programme on female foeticide
Tribune News Service

Mohali, June 18
The Family Planning Association of India (FPAI), Mohali branch, organised a sensitisation programme for mediapersons as part of its ‘Girl Child and Prevention of Female Foeticide’ project. The project has been launched to create awareness in the community about the Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques Act 1994 and to generate strong social disapproval to female foeticide.

The project will also promote the value of a girl child and equal treatment and opportunities for girls and boys with regard to health nutrition and education in Ropar district, which is one of the worst affected district of Punjab.

Giving information, Mr I.P.S. Bajwa, branch manager of FPAI, said that the gender bias was deeply rooted in the Indian psyche. “Our ancient text such as Manusmriti did place the man on a higher pedestral than the woman. The popular perception draws the girl child as a losing proposition-only to be married to another family. That leads to natural dislike for girls. Society looks upon the female child as a liability and a male child as an asset. The fear of dowry at one hand and losing property in inheritance on the other are major irritants in the acceptance of girl child,” he said.

Mr Bajwa informed that the FPAI was trying to involve government and non-government agencies at both macro and micro levels and share facilities. Involving a community through panchayats, mahila mandals, youth clubs, aanganwadi workers, educational institutions, religious institutions such as local mandirs, gurdwaras, masjids and churches, local influential leaders and grass-roots government functionaries in the project.

SPORTS

India beat Pak in tough snooker contest
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, June 18
The opening day of the three-test Rexello Castors Indo-Pak Peace Cup Snooker Tournament series, belonged to the hosts when they overcame a stiff challenge from visiting Pakistan 4-3 here today at the Chandigarh Club.

The day began with India getting 3-0 lead, but Pakistan bounced back by winning the next three games. In the decider, Rafath Habib stayed cool and won the day for India. Michael Ferreira said Pakistan did well to come back after being three down in the beginning. Rafath also played extremely well under pressure and played a superb game. A disappointed Pakistani captain Shahnawaz Khan, while congratulating the Indian team, also felt that his boys did not play well in the beginning because they were not accustomed to the halogen lights.

Pakistan halted India’s winning spree when Imran Shazad halted Pankaj Advani in his track. The first frame lasted for 45 minutes while the second one finished in 30 minutes. Earlier, Alok Kumar was in a devastating form beating Pakistans’s celebrated player Saleh Muhammad easily. Current Asian snooker champion, Alok got the better of Saleh Muhammad 81-27, 68-16. In the opening match, Manan Chandra of India had no problem in defeating Khurram Agha of Pakistan in straight frames.

In the crucial doubles match, Pankaj Advani and Rafath Habib of India, defeated Saleh Muhammad and Khurram Agha of Pakistan, in straight sets. In fact, the Indian players ascendancy was so pronounced that their Pakistani counterparts could barely collect 34 points in their two outings on the table. Yasin Merchant could not capitalise on several golden opportunities given to him by Pakistan’s ace player Muhammad Yousuf.

In the second doubles, Yasin Merchant and Alok Kumar could not get their cueing right against their relatively inexperienced opponents. Yasin Merchant and Alok Kumar floundered very badly against Imran Shazad and Muhammad Atiq Bux. The decisive match between Rafath Habib and Muhammad Atiq Bux almost went to the wire. Atiq Bux strated the proceedings in a whirlwind manner and shot into an big lead of 43 with a possible 35 on the table. Rafath Habib inched his way and made some immaculate snookers and subsequently cleared the coloured balls.

Scores: Manan Chandra (India) b Khurram Agha (Pakistan) 110-24, 70-23; Alok Kumar (India) b Saleh Muhammad (Pakistan) 81-27, 68-16; (doubles): Pankaj Advani and Rafath Habib (India) b Saleh Muhammad and Khurram Agha (Pakistan): 82-13, 69-21; singles: Pankaj Advani (India) b Imran Shazad (Pakistan): 31-61, 27-53 Yasin Merchant (India) b Muhammad Yousuf (Pakistan) 47-64, 41-68; doubles Alok Kumar and Yasin Merchant (India) b Imran Shazad and Muhammad Atiq Bux (Pakistan) 44-57, 32-73; decider singles: Rafath Habib (India) b Muhammad Atiq Bux (Pakistan) 75-67,54-17.

Mandira Bedi plays ‘gully’ cricket in city today
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 18
MAX, the premium Movies and Special Events channel, now gives the women of Chandigarh a wonderful opportunity to come out and play cricket with the vivacious Extraaa Innings superstar Mandira Bedi! The city of Chandigarh will experience cricket fever like never before as Mandira Bedi visits it tomorrow (Saturday, 19 June, 2004) as part of the exciting Himalaya Herbals Protein Shampoo Gully Cricket with Mandira promotion.

Commenting on the latest MAX initiative, Rajat Jain, Executive Vice President and Business Head, said, “By introducing Mandira Bedi in Extraaa Innings, MAX successfully converted millions of passive female viewers into avid followers of cricket. ‘Gully Cricket with Mandira’ will now take their involvement in and passion for to the next stage of participation in the game. MAX will invite them to come out and play the game in their own streets and gullies with Mandira.”

The gully cricket initiative featuring Mandira Bedi has been conceived to also promote the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy, England, 2004.

On her forthcoming visit to Chandigarh, Mandira Bedi said: “Who says girls can’t play cricket?! I’m glad that MAX has given me an opportunity to be able to go out and play cricket with the women of several cities, and to disprove this notion. Yes, when I think about my childhood, I recall how the boys would send me to the boundary to field, and wouldn’t give me bowling right till the end, and wouldn’t let me bat. So now I’m hoping that the women of Chandigarh will come out in large numbers to play Gully Cricket with me, and together we will show the boys that anything they can do, we women can do just as well! We are all set to prove that cricket is definitely more just a man’s game!”

70 take part in ‘Save mountains’ show
Our Sports reporter

Chandigarh, June 18
More than 70 Royal Enfield motor cycles today passed through various sectors of the city. The show, organised by the Road Survivors-Chandigarh Bullet Club, began around 6 pm in Sector 9. Mr Mayank Gupta, media co-ordinator of the show, said they wanted to communicate the message to mountain visitors, mostly families on picnic, not to litter. The message was ‘Save mountains’.

Junior tennis

The Total Tennis Academy, Sector 11, will hold a junior tennis tournament in various categories from June 21 to 27. Matches will be held in under-10, under-12 and under-14 boys and under-12 and under-14 girls sections.