Dean inaugurates heritage festival
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 2
Mr B.D. Budhiraja, Dean, College Development Council, Panjab University, today inaugurated the Panjab University Zonal Heritage Festival, Ludhiana B, at the Devki Devi Jain Memorial College for Women here. The mid-session was graced by Ms Pawan Pandey, wife of Mr Rakesh Pandey, Minister for Science and Technology. Sarabjeet Cheema, a folk singer, was also present on the occasion.

The results are: Vaar singing: MTS College 1; Ramgarhia Girls College 2; and Mata Ganga Khalsa College 3; individual vaar singing: Amandeep Kaur of GN Khalsa College for Women 1; Navneet Kaur of MTS College 2; and Harjeet Kaur of Ramgarhia College, 3; kali singing: KCW 1; Ramgarhia Girls College 2; and MTS College 3; individual kali singing: Bhupinder of KCW 1; Harjeet Kaur of Ramgarhia Girls College 2; and Rajwinder Kaur of MTS College 3; kavishri: Mata Ganga Khalsa College 1; KCW 2; and Ramgarhia Girls College 3; individual kavishri: Gagandeep Kaur of GCW 1; Jaspreet Kaur of KCW 2; Harpreet Kaur of Mata Ganga Khalsa College 3; individual traditional songs: Harpinder Kaur of KCW 1; Rajni of SDP College 2; Ramandeep Kaur of Ramgarhia Girls College 3; craft competition (dasuti embroidery) Reena Khaneja of DDJM College 1; Hardeep Kaur RGC 2; and Sangeeta of DDJM College 3; phulkari: Guru Nanak Girls College 1; Jyoti Arora of DDJM College 2; and Savita of DDJM College 3; knitting: Babbaljeet Kaur of GCW 1; Chetna Gupta of DDJM College 2; and Neha of KCW 3; crochet: Baljinder Kaur of GCW 1; Devinder Kaur of Mata Ganga K. College 2; and Jaswjinder Kaur of GCW 3; and folk instruments: Ravinder Kaur of DD Jain College 1; Jaspreet Kaur of Guru Nanak Girls College 2; and Renu Bala of RGS 3.

From Schools & Colleges 
Seminar on stress management
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 2
A seminar on stress management was organised at the BNSM College of Technical Education, Alamgir, near here, today. Mr Jagjit Singh Sahni demonstrated various techniques of mind concentration to the students. He explained the importance of yoga exercises and meditation in the fast and stressful life.

Mr Gurjit Singh, president, Rotary Club Ludhiana, North, highlighted the importance of self-control and self-confidence. Prof Amandeep Singh Kainth presented mementoes to the speakers.

The Rotary Club has organised mock interviews and talks on various social and cultural events to select students for the Rotary Youth Leadership Award. These awards will be given on December 25 and 26 at the Pratap College of Education.

Youth festival: The Panjab University Zonal Youth Festival, hosted by the DD Jain Memorial College for Women, Ludhiana, entered third day on Wednesday. Various contests were organised.

Ms Indra Bali, a former Principal, DD Jain Memorial College for Women, inaugurated the function. It was presided over by the Managing Director, Ashoka Dying and Finishing Mills.

In the orchestra contest, five teams participated, seven teams in classical dance and seven teams in group dance. The results are:

Mime: Guru Nanak Girls College, Model Town, 1; KCW 2; and GCW 3; mimicry: Kamiya Soni of DD Jain Memorial College for Women 1; Balwinder Kaur of SDP College 2; and Parul Sharma of Guru Nanak Girls College 3; drama: KCW 1; DD Jain Memorial College for Women 2; and MTS College 3; individual drama: Baljinder Kaur of Guru Nanak Girls College 1; Satveer Kaur of Mata Ganga College 2; and Purnia of SDP College 3; histrionics: Gupreet of Ramgarhia College 1; Aarti of MTS College 2; and Satvir Kaur of Guru Nanak Girls College, Model Town, 3; orchestra: GCW 1; Guru Nanak Girls College 2; and KCW 3; individual orchestra: Amandeep Kaur of MTS College 1; Bhagwant Kaur of GCW 2; and Sheetal for Guru Nanak Girls College 3; classical dance: Jyotsna of MTS College 1; Swati Narang of KCW 2; and Meera Mital of GCW 3; group dance: Guru Nanak Girls College 1; Ramgarhia College 2; and GCW 3; and individual dance: Ritambra of SDP College 1; and Shivika of DD Jain Memorial College 2.

Master Tara Singh College: Students of the Master Tara Singh Memorial College for Women have participated in the Panjab University Zonal Youth College Festival. The college has first prize in shabad gayan, geet, tabla, classical dance and orchestra (individual); second prize in Indian group song, skit, histrionics and shabad gayan (individual) and third prize in creative writing, folk song, play, giddha and group song (individual).

SAMRALA
Annual function: Akal Academy, Dhindsa, near here, organised its annual function on Thursday. The chief guest, Mr Baldev Singh, SDM, Samrala, urged the students to actively participate in sports, cultural and other activities.

Mentally challenged students take out rally
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 2
On the occasion of the Week for Disabled, students of Nirdosh School, Rotary Bhavan, Sarabha Nagar, took out a rally this morning. The students went to Sutlej Hospital, Sarabha Nagar, where they formed a human chain, and from there they proceeded to the Sarabha Nagar market via the Sarabha Nagar gurdwara.

Ms Manjla Jain of the Inner Wheel Club said that the idea behind forming the human chain was to highlight the problems of the physically challenged children. The students and the teachers of the school and the members of the Inner Wheel Club were at the Sarabha Nagar Market from 12.15 pm to 1 pm. Students of the 28th Unit of Labour School were given thermoses at a function there. The school is run under the aegis of the Child Welfare Department of the Central Government and managed by the members of the Inner Wheel Club of India.

HEALTH

HIV incidence low among Punjabis
Mahesh Sharma

Mandi Ahmedgarh, December 2
Punjabis have been more faithful in matrimony than those of any other state in India. This has been indicated by the statistical data of the Health Department that showed only 0.33 per cent of the persons screened for HIV tested sero-positive.

Dr K. C. Goel, District Health Officer, Sangrur, said out of total 11,48,634 persons examined for HIV, only 3851 tested sero-positive. Based on the records pertaining to the period from 1991 to 2003, Dr Goel disclosed that 263 cases of full blown AIDS were observed in the state during this period. Since then 90 deaths had been reported.

While talking to this correspondent before attending a district-level function on AIDS at Sangrur, the DHO said the vulnerability of a particular section of population depended more on the behavioural aspect than on the socio-economic status. "Absistence, being faithful and protected relations were the key to keeping away the dreaded syndrome. Despite being a backward district, the residents of Sangrur district adopted a life style, which was more proximal to an ideal life. Hence, a lower rate of the shameful disease," commented the health officer.

Contradicting apprehensions about the more susceptibility of women to the virus, Dr Goel said," If we ignore the gender ratio of infected persons in India, which showed that one-fourth of the total 5.1 million HIV positive persons were women, and stick to the revelations of the WHO and UNAIDS that confirmed the ratio to be around 50 per cent then the vulnerability was equal in both sexes." Showing his concern about the future of the crusade launched against the virus he apprehended that the claims might prove harmful as males might become indifferent.

Social activist Tarsem Sharma held that the HIV virus had spread as its discussion was still considered a taboo in society. "Had the younger generation be educated about the causes and consequences of the virus the situation could have been much brighter. Early identification, prompt isolation and adequate management are the only solution to arrest the spread," he claimed.

DMCH staff flay management
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 2
The Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) Employees Union have condemned its managing society for being unlawful and callous towards the employees. In a memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Verma, here yesterday, the employees alleged that the management was creating terror by threatening employees.

Mr Chander Mohan Kalia, president of the union, said nothing had been done so far for the welfare of the employees by the management despite city administration’s intervention. He said an inquiry was to be conducted against Ms Rajwant Randhawa for slapping a security guard on the hospital premises but neither the inquiry report had been submitted nor any action was taken against her. “She has been given a free hand by the management to create nuisance and indecent atmosphere amongst the employees”, he alleged.

Mr Kalia said the management was busy lodging complaints against employees. If the employees had problems, the management representatives never came forward to resolve the issues." Rather they prefer to ask the police to solve the internal matters”, he said.

The employees have asked the Deputy Commissioner to intervene into the matter to get the real picture.

SPORTS

MBBG College win kho-kho meet
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, December 2
Girls of MBBG College, Mansowal, have won the Panjab University Kho-Kho B Division Championship by defeating GN College, Narangwal. The match was played at Narangwal on Tuesday.

Dr Bachiter Singh Somal, Principal, said the meet was opened by Mr Amarjit Singh Khaira, an international kabbadi player and SHO, Dehlon, on Monday. Mr Amarjit Singh Sidhu, Director, Guru Harkrishan College for Women, Phallewal, gave away prizes. Ms Rajinder Kaur Sidhu was the chief guest.

In semifinals matches, Gobind National College, Narangwal, and MBBG College, Mansowal, beat Topprian College and SDS College of Education, Lopon, respectively.

Punjab games’ torch to reach city today

Ludhiana, December 2
The torch of Indo-Pak Punjab Games — 2004 will reach city tomorrow. The torch will reach the Jalandhar bypass chowk at 9 am. The torch will then pass through the Purani Sabzi Mandi chowk, Domoria bridge, Fountain chowk and the Bharat Nagar chowk. The traffic at these places will be stopped for 10 minutes as the procession approaches. The torch will then pass through the Jagraon bridge and the Samrala chowk. TNS