The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

NSS camp held
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 5
The NSS unit of Punjab Engineering College started one-day camp with the theme “Health for Youth” on the college premises. Dr M.L. Gupta, office in charge of the NSS, inaugurated the camp. Around 450 volunteers are attending the camp. During the camp, the volunteers were briefed on micro-financing scheme in Janata Colony.

The valedictory function of the 10-day NSS camp was held in the college premises here today. Volunteers presented a skit highlighting corruption in public life. Mr Vijay Kumar, Principal of Hans Raj Public School, Panchkula, presided over the function.

At the valedictory function of the NSS camp at Government College, Sector 11, Dr H.S. Bains, Honorary Programme Coordinator, exhorted the NSS volunteers to serve society selflessly and enhance one’s personality.

Dr R.K. Kohli, an environmentalist, gave an informative lecture on indoor and self-created pollution.

NCC Air Wing cadets excel
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 5
NCC Air Wing cadets from Chandigarh have bagged gold in three of the five competitions organised during the Pre-Vayu Sainik Camp held at Ludhiana. The Chandigarh contingent had 23 cadets, including girls.

Commanding Officer of No.1 Chandigarh Air Squadron, Wg Cdr J.S. Panesar, today said that two cadets, Sgt Bhupinder Singh Randhawa and Cdt Prabhleen Chauhan, topped the microlite flying competition in the boys and girls’ category, respectively.

In aero-modelling, Sgt Deepak Chandok and Cdt Manish Kumar, bagged gold, while the contingent’s 10-member dance group stood first in cultural competition.

The other two competitions were drill and shooting.

About 185 cadets from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh attended the camp.

Outstanding cadets at this camp will be selected for the national level Vayu-Sainik Camp.

Lecture series in memory of Kalpana Chawla
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 5
The Kalpana Chawla Memorial Foundation has decided to organise a lecture series in memory of the departed astronaut. The first lecture in the series will be delivered on October 18 by Mr Rakesh Bhargava, an alumnus of Punjab Engineering College, who is working at Houston (USA) and having close association with the American Society of Aeronauticals and Astronautics.

The foundation also decided to pay homage to the late Dr Kalpana Chawla on her 2nd death anniversary on February 2 by organising a function in her memory at Chandigarh.

The executive committee of the foundation was also constituted at a meeting in Chandigarh on Sunday. Mr Dhanpat Singh, IAS, will be the president, Mr Shyam Lal Goyal, IAS, senior vice president, and Mr Rajinder Kumar Kaura, general secretary.

COURTS

Consumer Forum rejects patient’s plea
Pradeep Sharma
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 5
The local Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I has dismissed the complaint alleging negligence in the treatment of a Sector 44 resident, Ms Bhupinder Pal Kaur Brar, by Deep Nursing Home, Sector 21.

In its order, the forum ruled that the complainant had not produced any evidence to prove that there was “negligence” in service on the part of the hospital in treating the complainant.” There is no medical authority or expert evidence produced to prove that the hospital has failed to follow the standard procedure in treating the complainant,” the order said.

In her complaint, Ms Brar said she was operated upon on June 6,2001, for the removal of uterus and after one of the operations advised some tests for Harmone Replacement Therapy (HRT). After mammography, another test—FNAC—was later recommended by Dr K.K. Kochhar and it was reportedly diagnosed as fat tissue.

Ms Brar alleged that after surgery at the hospital the “fat piece” was sent to a laboratory which was reportedly diagnosed as “invasive labular carcinoma breast”—a cancerous growth. This was followed by severe pain in the right breast, which was operated upon by Dr Khullar.

Demanding a compensation of Rs 3.5 lakh for negligence resulting in mental and physical pain, the complainant also wanted the hospital to pay Rs 1.2 lakh spent on the medical treatment.

However, the doctor contended that she had only conducted the “ breast biopsy” for which she was fully competent. The hospital claimed that the complainant came to it after four months of “biopsy” which showed cancer and she was advised to go for a major surgery for the removal of the breast.

The hospital claimed that the patient was properly guided to approach any of the specialised hospitals like the PGI and the GMCH for the operation.

LIFESTYLE

Fitness trail
Potato helps fight cancer: expert
Renu Manish Sinha

Are you a couch potato? Though in this age of Internet it is a mouse potato that rules. But do you know that sedentary lifestyles of couch and mouse potatoes can be a hot potato.

Table
Values per 100 gm of potato
Calories 97
Carbohydrates 23 gm
Protein 1.6 gm
Fat .1 gm
Fibre 3.41gm
Calcium 10 mg
Phosphorus 40 mg
Iron .7 mg
Magnesium 20 mg
Potassium 247 mg
Sodium 11 mg
Vitamin C 17 mg
Vitamin B1 .10 mg
Carotene 24 micro-gram

As if the negative phrases were not enough, poor potatoes are getting bad press as well. What with most of the fad diets gunning for them. While in the Atkins diet carbohydrates are no good, Dr Arthur Agaston, creator of the South Beach diet, also puts potato on the top of his hit list.

But the ubiquitous potato has been ruling the roost in dishes the world over since long. Continental, French, Mexican, English, and of course Indian, as no Indian meal is complete without a potato dish. Also soup, salad, snacks, appetiser, pies, main course and even in desserts the humble potato turns up everywhere.

Kashmiri dum aloo, cow belt’s aloo puri, Maharashtarian batata vada, or Bengali aloo khas-khas, all regions have their favourite variations of potato.

Potato, which is a root vegetable, is a store house of nutrients. Since it grows under the earth, it absorbs most of its nutrients, says Dr Sudha Khurana, Consultant Dietician, Department of Dietetics, PGI.

The potato is 80 per cent water, free of fat, cholesterol, sodium and saturated fat, says Dr Neelu Malhotra, a Mohali-based nutrition expert. It is only when it is fried in fat, soaked in butter, and served with dollops of cream or cheese that it acquires fattening properties.

According to a Swedish research, says Dr Malhotra, french fries and chips contain a carcinogenic substance called acrylamide which is produced when food is fried at very high temperatures.

However minus all oil drippings, potato also contains beta carotene which has cancer-fighting properties, says Dr Malhotra.

Since it is 80 per cent water, potato has only 20 per cent solids. Out of this 20 per cent at least 80 per cent is starch and rest is protein. Potato is a complex carbohydrate which releases its energy slowly since it stays in the system for a longer time.

Despite having a high glycemic index potato keeps the blood sugar levels steadier for longer period. So it is a safe food even for diabetics, says Dr Khurana.

However, since it is a complex carbohydrate, potato should be treated as a cereal, especially by diabetics, as part of their total calorie intake, says Dr Malhotra. For one medium potato, they should minus 30 gm of cereal (equivalent to one medium chappati) from their diet.

Potato has a high amount of fibre which is beneficial for the digestive system. The fibre absorbs water, providing a feeling of fullness for a longer duration.

Potato is also a good source of vitamin C. It also has a fair amount of iron. The combination of vitamin C and iron makes it an ideal item in the diet of anaemics. It also has some B vitamins, including B1 and B6.

Potato also contains many essentials minerals, including calcium, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium and trace elements like chromium, selenium and molybdenum.

For vegetarians potato holds a special importance because potato protein is equivalent to protein found in meat and poultry as it has two essential amino acids, lysine and methionine, necessary for growth and not otherwise adequately available in cereal-based vegetarian diet.

To get maximum benefit of its nutrients, potato should be cooked and eaten with its skin as it skin contains for more fibre than its pulp, anti-oxidants, iron, potassium and B vitamins. Otherwise too the most nutritive part of the potato has lies just below the skin. This particular layer is rich in protein and mineral salts so even if you peal it, peel thinly and carefully, advises Dr Malhotra.

Potato can be beneficial for those suffering from chronic constipation, scurvy etc. Raw juice is beneficial in stomach and intestinal disorders. Juice and pulp are also a good skin food and help in clearing skin blemishes.

So have it baked, boiled, grilled, steamed, mashed but not fried. Before reaching for that bag of chips remember — two minutes in mouth, two hours in stomach, forever on hips.

Gifts galore for festive season
Swarleen Kaur

Those gifts of gold which you wanted to shower on your loved ones are now within your reach. 24 carat gold-plated images, automobile accessories and gold-plated sticks -on are as good as pure gold. In fact, in many ways these give advantage over traditional gold items.

Gifts this season seem to be getting more attractive. The gifts range includes gold-plated frames, ring box, jewellery boxes, travel sets, and even Rakhi and Divali Packs — all with the much-cherished golden touch. Visiting card holders and pen holders in chrome and gold finish also look attractive.

The marble range exhibits how diverse elements can create a stunning combination. These enliven drawing rooms in a special way. Marble table tops with wire and crystals give that dreamy and clean look, which a housewife looks for. For those who love peace and silence along with the search for beauty, there is a triangular marble frame in which Lord Buddha is framed.

For Sikhs, there is kirpan made of marble. You can add charm to your accessories with the gold-plated stick-ons. You can put it on the steering wheel of the car, mobile phone, almirah, laptop, computer or even printer. One can choose these accessories according to zodiac signs too.

These are stick-ons in small round shapes of Lord Shiva, Lakshmi or simply Om. These can be stuck on the steering wheel of your car, TVs and mobile phones.

For the religious-minded, there are beautiful photo frames of Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Krishna, Lord Buddha and many others with gold-plated frames. These are available in different sizes too.

Automobile accessories are there in metallic frames, acrylic frames, which you can fix in your car. Desktop mobile phone holder, table tops, pen clip and card holder are also available. There are some frames in which crystals are studded to give them a different look.

In the jewellery range, you can have Kahnda in sterling silver .There are beautiful pendants also.

In glass and gold range, you can have beautiful glass with the golden paint. For this Divali, you can have Puja set , Puja thali, lamps made of glass and golden paint on it. So light up your Divali with a difference this time.