The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

CBSE not to grant permanent affiliation
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 14
In future, the CBSE will not grant permanent affiliation to schools. The decision would not be applicable to the schools which have been granted permanent affiliation till June 1993, subject to periodic inspections by the board, and the schools which have been granted provisional affiliation, could be considered for permanent affiliation.

The rule has come into effect from the current academic session after the board made certain amendments to the affiliation bylaws.

A senior officer of the board said the amendment would act as a check on the schools which tended to violate the affiliation norms on getting permanent affiliation.

In a reprieve to the government-run schools, the board has decided to garnt one-time affiliation, subject to the fulfilment of the affiliation norms. Schools run by Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) and Central Tibetan Schools Organisation (CTSO) would not have to apply for extension of affiliation but would have to remit annual fee as prescribed.

The board, in another decision, had decided that the schools seeking provisional affiliation with the board should, get a no-objection certificate from the respective state governments.

Protest by students: officials to inspect Raikot institute
Tribune News Service

Mohali, December 14
Officials of the Department of Medical Education and Research, Punjab, will visit the Bengal Health Institute of Medical Sciences, Raikot, Ludhiana, to ascertain the living conditions of students admitted to the institute in various nursing courses.

Over 20 students of the institute had yesterday protested against the college authorities outside the Punjab State Nurses Registration Council’s office here.

Seeking their shifting from the institute to other colleges and refund of their fee, the students had accused the management of not providing proper facilities for living and studying.

The Registrar of the council, Ms Surinder Jaspal, told The Tribune that the matter had been brought to the notice of the Director, Medical Education and Research, who had in turn informed the Secretary.

“It had been decided that a team from the department be sent to the institute and judge for itself whether the claims of the students were justified or not. Following which, action, if needed, would be initiated against the institute,” she said.

She clarified that the institute had been permitted to admit 50 students.

Yesterday, the students had alleged that though the Punjab Government had permitted the institute to fill 30 seats, the institute had actually admitted 60 students.

They alleged that the institute had only one teacher whereas the Nursing Council had stipulated 12 teachers, including a principal and a vice-principal, for the institute.

The students also alleged that the institute did not have its own building and was running from a rented premises.

Further, the hostel was situated in a cattle dairy and the students had to go to a nearby petrol station to take a bath, it was alleged.

LIFESTYLE

City gets an American Corner

The American Corner, a window to life and culture in the USA, opened at TS Central State Library, Sector 17, in Chandigarh on Tuesday. Stocked with books published in and on America, CDs with current full text articles, videos and DVDs, Internet access, the corner is also equipped with providing up-to-date information about political, social, cultural and educational trends in the USA.

Inaugurated by the Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy, Mr Robert O. Blake, American Corner, the fourth in the country, is a partnership between the American Information Resource Centre of the US Embassy in Delhi and the Central State Library.

The city was chosen to house the fourth American Corner after one each were set up in Bhubneshwar, Bangalore and Ahmedabad.

“Chandigarh was an obvious choice for the corner since it is the capital city of both Punjab and Haryana, two important states that are host to many American businesses and home to many American citizens,” he said.

Mr Blake added that the city had a dynamic population of professionals, students, and intellectuals who are interested in visiting, studying in or learning more about America, which would benefit from the American Corner.

“Since we have only four consulates and can’t open more all over the country, these American Corners will address queries about America at the local level,” he said.

Essentially a reference section, the corner has a collection of 530 books, which will be updated keeping in view the demand of the readers.

Its membership would be open to members of the Central State Library and would serve as a venue for talks by US scientists and academia, a book discussion or poetry reading and a travelling photo or art exhibit.

Mr Blake, on his visit to the Central State Library, was accompanied by the Home Secretary, Mr Krishan Mohan; Director IT, Mr Vivek Attray; DPI (Colleges), Mr Dilip Kumar; Director, Public Relations, Mr S.P. Arora, among others officials of the administration.

After the inauguration, a concert by “The BilliTones”, a husband-wife duo who have performed in over 25 countries all over the world, was organised.

Billy and Tony Stevens recreated the sound of a classic rock band using synthesisers, harmonicas, percussion and light vocal harmonies. Compact and self-contained, they played a varied mix of rock ’n’ roll and blues. TNS

Fitness Trail
Don’t worry, be happy
Renu Manish Sinha

Stress has been defined as a conflict or force that is the opposite of what we desire. The conflicts causing stress can be internal or external. Some amount of stress is necessary and can be beneficial for the body, says Dr Ashwin Mohan, a consultant psychiatrist based in Sector 22, Chandigarh. The adrenal hormone adrenalin, released during stressful situations, is also used for motivation and concentration. So stress, in limited amounts, can be beneficial and at times necessary to perform.

However, if a person is subjected to stress for a long duration then it can adversely affect the health or functioning of the body, Dr Mohan adds.

A panel of experts gave a few tips to handle stress better.

Relaxation techniques, including music therapy, yoga, tai chi, deep breathing exercises, meditation.

Mr Surinder Verma, a yoga expert from Bhartiya Yog Sansthan, advocates ‘yogic nidra’, in which, he says, “lie in a comfortable position and starting from the top of your head to the tip of your toes, focus on each muscle and relax your muscles one by one. Then try to focus on breathing. The whole exercise should take between 30 to 40 minutes’’.

Make a list of goals daily and prioritise accordingly. Work on important projects according to your bio rhythms, some people are more active and energetic in morning while others can have their active hours in afternoon or evening. Be flexible, change deadlines etc to handle emergencies. Learn to delegate, slow the pace.

Enhance positive thinking and lower expectations. Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses and work accordingly. Exercise releases energy and can alienate depression and anxiety.

Avoid the Cs — coffee, cigarettes, colas, cookies cakes, candy. Caffeine, sugar, salt, nicotine can make you addictive and sap your energy, causing cravings and mood swings.

Take a break, short and long breaks. Mr Kapoor advocates the 3-F relaxation method of faith, family and friends. A study by Harvard Medical School says prayer produces relaxation responses and lowers BP and heart rate, increasing the feelings of calmness.

Strong family relationships can provide emotional warmth and support while a good network of friends is the basis of stable social ties which can help in perceiving stressful situations as less threatening.

Chronic stress can weaken the immune system because the stress hormone, adrenalin, uses up a large amount of body’s valuable nutrient resources particularly vitamins B3, B5, B6 and C, says Mr V.K Kapoor, former ADGP Haryana Police and Director of Stress Management and Research Institute, Panchkula.

The link between vitamin C and immunity is well known. Raised stress levels are also known to lower the white blood cell count leaving the body vulnerable to infections.

Stress can cause colds, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, backaches, headaches, fatigue and other body aches. It can also aggravate asthma.

Stress is one of the major factors leading to high BP, coronary diseases, strokes, raised cholesterol and blood sugar levels etc. At the emotional and mental level it can cause anxiety, depression, irritability, mood swings, tension, disturbed sleep patterns, fear, anger, loss of appetite or overeating, says Dr Monica Singh, a clinical psychologist from Sector 15, Chandigarh. Stress can also affect memory and decrease concentration and attention.

Stress can also lead to drug and alcohol abuse, (leading to accidents) and smoking paving way for diseases related to abuse of such substances.

Women are more prone to stress than men as they have to juggle many roles, including that of a professional, mother, wife and homemaker. But because of estrogen production they are better protected against heart attacks till menopause. Also mature, older people and married persons are more equipped to handle stress.

The way we handle stress also depends upon our personality. People with calm temperament can handle stress better than those with volatile aggressive and angry nature. People like these are also known as Type A personalities, adds Dr Monica Singh.

Type-A personalities, adds Dr Monica Singh, are restless, impatient, workaholics, perfectionists, strict disciplinarians, hostile, competitive, critical aggressive and have low stress threshold.

Attitudes and behaviour can be responsible for bringing about stress, says Dr Ritu Nehra, Assistant Professor, Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, PGI.

‘‘While animals activate their stress responses during an emergency only, we humans can jump start our stressors just by thinking. Type A can think themselves into illness due to their anger and hostility’’, adds Dr Nehra.

They are more prone to suffer from high BP, heart diseases, strokes etc. Because of their critical and perfectionist nature they can have disturbed social, professional and family relationships, says Dr Mohan. Since they are of competitive nature they are also affected by guilt if they do not meet a deadline. The fear of failure also haunts them and in order to avoid it they are constantly driven to prove themselves as successes. But as they are intelligent people so they can be made to see how their behaviour and nature can make them ill, albeit with difficulty since they are quite opinionated, quips Dr Monica Singh.

Bahuguna advocates use of cycles

Stressing on the use of cycles for fighting pollution in Chandigarh, environmentalist Sunder Lal Bahuguna, said on Tuesday cycles could ensure health and happiness. Speaking at a function held to propagate “Greetire”, a programme of Yuvsatta to promote the use of cycles, Bahuguna asked volunteers of Yuvsatta to start bicycle clubs in schools and colleges.

Giving the formula of three Hs head, heart and hands, Bahuguna told the students to use these to make the world a better place. “Use your head for creative thinking, heart for compassion and hands for constructive work. Our lives should be such, as using the minimum of natural resources of mother earth and our action should conserve and cultivate the natural resources, specially land, air and water that sustain life,” he stated.

He appealed to the youth to banish greed. He said three As must be adopted for sustainable growth and balanced life. “Austerity, alternatives (one should find alternatives rather than purchasing and going for more) and afforestation hold the key to a safe future,” he maintained. He was accompanied by his wife, Vimla Devi.

Earlier, Mr Pramod Sharma, coordinator of Yuvsatta, said nearly four years ago with Bahuguna’s help, the students of various colleges and schools and volunteers of Yuvsatta started propagating cycles which, paved the way for the construction of cycle tracks in the city. He said with Bahuguna’s guidance, they would strive for the protection of flora and fauna.

Presiding over the programme, Mr Ishwar Singh, Director, Department of Environment, Chandigarh Administration, said: “According to the latest State of Environment report, 2004, vehicular pollution in Chandigarh has increased 10 times since 1981. The number of motorised vehicles in Chandigarh has increased by 42 times from about 12,345 in 1971 to 5,22,435 in 2001 and is now over six lakhs in 2004. About 200 vehicles are daily added to this list. Chandigarh is a small city with distance from one end to another, not more than 10 km and it can be covered easily on cycles.” TNS

Sangeet academy awards to be given today

The fifth Punjab State Sangeet and Natak Akademy annual awards for 2003 will be presented to six eminent maestros for their life time achievements in their respective realm of the art, at a function to be held at the Tagore theatre in Chandigarh on Wednesday.

Prof Rajpal Singh secretary of the academy said this while talking to media persons at Kala Bhavan. The recipients for the award include Fil-maker Manmohan Singh, Sufi singer Ustad Barkat Sidhu, thespian Dr Atamjit Singh, folk-dance icon master Harbhajan besides the proponents of Gurmat sangeet Bhai Gurchran Singh and Bhai Avtar Singh.

General SF Rodrigues (retd.) Governor, Punjab, will honour the recipients with a citation, shawl and cash award of 31,000. Mr Tejbir Singh, Executive Director, Bank of Punjab will be guest of honour while DS Jaspal, Principal Secretary, Cultural Affairs, will preside over the function.

Prominent Punjabi folk and classical vocalist Manpreet Akhtar, known for her hit song in film ‘Kuchh Kuchh hota hai’ will perform at the function. Ustad Barkat Sidhu will also charm the audience with sufiana music.

The Punjab Sangeet Natak Academy, to disseminate the rich cultural heritage of the region had instituted three annual awards in year 2000 which had now been increased to five. OC

Pursue ideals, not materialistic goals, says Muni

EVERYONE is engrossed in pursuing materialistic goals that there is no time to pursue higher ideals. In the race to acquire comforts, the easy way out is to adopt wrong means. Echoing this feeling, Muni Vineykumarji ‘Alok’ has decided to embark on a mission to propagate friendliness among people of all strata. He began his padyatra to Rajasthan from Chandigarh on Tuesday.

Speaking at a function, he said journey by foot had many implications. A pedestrian could reach out to many people. Travelling by plane, car or train a person could reach early but it didn’t leave time for self growth.

He said the first aim of a muni was to practice meditation. Bhagwan Mahavir had said a meditator should practice a lot before guiding others on the path of meditation.

He stressed that everyone needed meditation. He was of the view that satsang and spiritual discourses had brought a lot of changes in mindsets of the people of Chandigarh.

Lauding the role of the media in disseminating religious values, he said the media had helped to spread higher values: “If a fragrance gets the support of the wind it can spread everywhere,” he said.

There were very few families of Terapanthi but with their love, our difficult tasks had become possible, he said.

The yatra would reach Ludhiana on December 22.

It was attended among others by the Jama Masjid (Sector 20) imam Maulana Mohammed Ajmal Khan, and SGPC member Gurpartap Singh Riar.

The function was organised by the Alok Rashtriya Maitri Parishad and the Jain Shweatambhar Terapanthi Sabha.