The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

From Colleges
ABVP campaigns against female foeticide
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 4
The Arya College unit of the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) organised an anti-female foeticide campaign here today on the college campus. Mr Varun Sudhir, President of the college unit of the ABVP, said a pledge ceremony was organised in which more than 250 students had signed the pledge. The campaign was inaugurated by Mr B.K. Goel, President, District Bar Association, along with Mr S.M. Sharma, Principal.

Mr Navneet Sharma, vice-president of ABVP, Ludhiana, said the menace of female foeticide could be curbed with the active participation of students. He said it was unfortunate that the district was topping in this unethical practice. Mr Rajat Sood, joint secretary, ABVP, said they would organise this campaign in other colleges also.

Felicitated: Dr Amarjit Singh Dua, Dean, College Development Council, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and Mr B.D.Budhiraja, Dean College Development Council, Panjab University Chandigarh, were honoured today by the management of the Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, Model Town.

Ms A. Bansal, Principal of the college, while speaking on the occasion said college management felt great to honour such dignitaries. Principals of various other colleges from Sidhwan, Sudhar and Khanna also attended the programme. The newly elected senators present on the occasion were also felicitated by the college authorities. The students presented a cultural programme on the occasion.

Doraha
Gurpurb celebrated: Gurpurb was celebrated at Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, today. After the bhog ceremony, the shabad kirtan was performed by the ragis of Gurdwara Singh Sabha and students of Guru Nanak Model Senior Secondary School and Guru Nanak National College.

The chief guest on the occasion, prof Mohinder Singh Cheema, spoke on the relevance of religion and faith in the changing world order. He stressed upon the need of Sikh ideal embodying the ethical and moral values that could desist our society from further deterioration. He asked the students to rise above the level of caste, creed, sex and colour and follow the principles of true religion that teaches oneness and secularism.

Prof Balwant Singh Pangali, general secretary of the college management committee, too spoke on the values which he said were sadly lacking in the modern generation. Manpreet Kaur, a student of BA III, too, spoke on the importance of Guru Granth Sahib.

Mr Jaswant Singh Gill, Principal of the college, expressed his views on modern scientific temper and religious thought. He exhorted the students to follow the path of the Gurus to make their lives worth living.

Prof Mohinder Singh Cheema, was honoured by Ms Bhagwan Kaur, president of the college management committee.

Warm welcome for nursing freshers
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 4
It was a special moment for freshers of the Nursing College of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) as they were given a warm welcome by the DMCH family at a function organised at the Dumra Auditorium today. To add colour to the occasion, the seniors presented an entertaining cultural programme.

Mr Satish Sanwalka, Treasurer, Managing Society of the DMCH, Dr Daljit Singh, Principal and Col. T.S. Kanwar, Chief Administrator, DMCH, graced the occasion with their presence. Parents of freshers, faculty members of Nursing College and nursing students also attended the function in a large number.

In her address to the students, Ms Jasbir Kaur welcomed the freshers in the BSc and GNM courses of nursing. She said as they had got admission after a lot of effort, they should try to put in their best to be a good nurse.

The main attraction of the programme was the fashion show-cum-Ms Fresher contest, in which more than 24 freshers participated. Dressed in trendy clothes, they walked down the ramp with rhythmic music in the background. From western outfits to traditional Punjabi dresses, from sarees to lehangas, the show presented every colour of fashion.

Jasmine Kaur Chauhan was declared Ms Fresher, while Amandeep Dhillon was the first runners up and Sandeep the second runners up. All the winners were given prizes by the management. Ms Jasbir Kaur, Dr Lilly Walia, Dr G.K. Ahuja, Dr Deepinder Kaur, Ms Uma Aggarwal of the DMCH were the judges for the contest.

A poster competition on AIDS awareness was also organised. Prizes were given to the winners at the contest. The Savitri Devi Awards were given to the deserving nursing students.

Afterwards, GNM Ist year students presented a comedy skit ‘Agent Ghotala’ based on illegal immigration rackets.

HEALTH

Plastic toys, teethers harmful for kids
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 4
If you are giving plastic toys or teethers to your child then stop immediately otherwise their lungs, kidneys or intestines might be infected for life. Paediatricians have warned that the regular use of these chemicals, colours and poisonous substances or adhesives used in toys pose a serious threat to the health of small kids.

Dr S.S. Bedi, a paediatrician, said kids between five months to one year of age want to put one thing or another in their mouths. They crave for some solid/semi-solid products. They are usually given plastic, soft toys or teethers by parents, but such toys could be harmful for the children.

“The toy manufacturers use certain chemicals or strong adhesives for making the toys, which after a certain time, start coming out but can not be seen. Poisonous substance is used for making the toys soft. Once the elasticity is lost, the chemical comes out and the toys crack. Parents do not mind giving broken toys to kids. And children happily put these in their mouth. The chemicals pose a serious threat”, said Dr Bedi.

He stressed that soft toys should also be avoided because small babies might be suffocated if the falling-hair from these toys get stuck in their mouth.

Dr A.S. Chawla, president of adolescent chapter of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, Punjab, said stuffed or scented toys could cause skin allergies, cough, asthma or nasal allergies. The fibres, chemicals and colours could cause several infections of stomach, intestines or throat.

A good paediatrician would not recommend even a teether for teething babies. “Dust settles down on toys. These are not properly washed before being given to children,” he stressed.

Dr Bedi said kids needed something to put in their mouth. He suggested that they should be given properly washed fresh raw vegetable like carrot, radish, a piece of turnip (shalgam) etc.

The juice of vegetables was also nourishing for the child. “But the vegetables should be fresh and should be washed properly”, he stressed.

Work at DMCH labs, billing section hit
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 4
Work at the laboratories and billing section at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital was hit today due to the disruption of work caused by a section of employees. The rest of the hospital, however, functioned normally and was providing round-the-clock services. The para medical staff and doctors attended to the patients at the hospital. OPD and emergency services were also provided to the patients.

The hospital management said the case of Ms Rajwant Randhava and Mr Kunwar Singh was still pending because as per the MoU, the case would be investigated by a neutral person as suggested by the coordination committee. The name would be suggested within a week. On the receipt of the investigation report from the investigation officer, appropriate action as per the procedure of Law would be taken against the defaulting person, said the management spokesperson.

The management reiterated that the decision of the inquiry committee constituted by the district administration would be implemented as soon as it was received in writing by the hospital authorities.

To bring the working of the hospital back to normal, a seven-member employees’ welfare committee comprising senior faculty members of the DMCH, including Dr T.K. Kaul, Dr Rekha Goyal, Dr R.K. Grewal, Dr V. Malhotra, Dr M.L. Gupta, Dr R.L. Narang and Dr B.S. Shah, met the employees who were not reporting on duty and were trying to disrupt the hospital services because of trivial issues. The committee urged them to rejoin their duties so that patients did not suffer.

SPORTS

LDCA felicitates Gagan, parents
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, December 4
"My dream to play with great cricketers like Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid has come true and now I would come upto the expectations of the countrymen." This was stated by speedster Gagandeep Singh Toor who has been selected in the Indian cricket team for the forthcoming tour of Bangladesh scheduled to start later this month

Talking to mediapersons after the felicitation function organised in his honour by the Ludhiana District Cricket Association (LDCA) here on Friday night, Gagan said that he has nourished a dream to play for India and the God has fullfilled his wish. Now, it is his turn to perform and win laurels for his state and the country at the international level.

When asked about the injury problems faced by the Indian seamers these days, Gagan said the physiotherapist of the Indian team has given the finer points to avoid any injury and this would certainly help at lot.

Earlier, Gagandeep Singh and his parents, Mr Hardeep Singh and Ms Surinder Kaur, were honoured by the LDCA at a function held at Blessing Resorts, Pakhowal road yesterday. Mr Rajinder Mahajan and Mr Anil Bharti, president and vice-president of the LDCA, respectively, led the association in honouring the upcoming bowler.

Among others who were present on the occasion include Mr Chaman Lal Malhotra, senior vice-president, LDCA, and chairman, Selection Committee, Punjab, Mr Charanjit Singh Ahluwalia and Mr Vinod Chitkara, life president and general secretary, respectively of the LDCA and Mr Charanjit Singh Channy, cricket coach, presently working as the District Sports Officer, Moga, who taught the basics of the game to Gagan.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Malhotra who has the distinction of leading the Punjab in the Ranji Trophy tournament for a record number of years, advised Gagan to play with positive attitude and dedication in a disciplined way to achieve maximum results.

Arjun wins 200 m race
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, December 4
Arjun Singh, a student of class X, won a gold medal in the 200m race in the 28th annual inter-house athletics meet of Guru Nanak Public School, Sarabha Nagar, here today. The second and third positions were secured by Ravinder Singh and Jasmeet Singh, respectively.

Earlier, Mr M.N.A. Chaudhary, Commissioner, Income Tax, Ludhiana, inaugurated the meet in which a large number of students were taking part.

Results: (boys) 200m — Arjun Singh 1, Ravinder Singh 2 and Jasmeet Singh 3; 800m — Hardishpal Singh 1, Gauravdeep Singh 2 and Pavneet Singh 3; long jump — Jasmeet Singh 1, Arjun Singh 2 and Harpreet Singh 3; and shot put — Gagandeep Singh 1, Reetinder 2 and Arjun 3.

Girls (200m) — Upasika 1, Kirandeep 2 and Ankita 3; and 800m — Sukhsimran Kaur 1, Gurmanpreet Kaur 2 and Jasmine Kaur 3.