HEALTH

Gurmat prachar society holds medical camp
Our Correspondent

Zirakpur, January 2
More than 500 patients were examined at a free medical check up camp organised by the Gurmat Prachar Seva Society, Bhabhat, in collaboration with the Lions Club Panchkula Central, district (321-A2), in Bhabhat village, near here today.

A team of doctors headed by Harbhajan Singh Yogi examined the patients for various diseases relating to ear, nose and throat (ENT). The patients were also given tips on oral medicare. The needy and poor patients were given medicines free of cost.

Mr Hardeep Singh Mohali, an SGPC member, released Nanaksahi calendar which was dedicated to observe the 300th year of the martyrdom of the younger Sahibzadas on the occasion.

Various rural sports events were also organised to mark the day. Mr S.K. Chaudhary, an artiste, performed various adventurous sports, said Mr Jagdev Singh, general secretary of the society.

Besides a number of villagers from the nearby areas and Municipal Councillor of the area, those who joined the venue include Mr Haquam Singh, president, and other members of the society.

Blood donation camp held
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 2
A voluntary blood donation camp was jointly organised by the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Sewa Society, IMA Complex, Chandigarh, and a team of doctors from the Department of Immunohaematology and Blood transfusion of the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Sector 32 here today. 

The camp was organised at the Gurdwara Sahib, Sector 34 where several voluntary donors donated blood. 

SPORTS

Coaching centre bags weightlifting title
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, January 2
Weightlifting Coaching Centre, Sector 42, bagged the team championship by securing 65 points in the 16th Senior Men and 6th Junior Boys Chandigarh Weightlifting Championship which concluded last evening at Sector 42. Public Sports Club, Sector 56, Chandigarh got the second place up with 31 points. In this meet, 65 weightlifters took part in the junior and senior championships. The meet was organised by the Chandigarh Amateur Weightlifting Association.

Results: Junior — below 56 kg: Manpreet 1, Gurpreet 2 and Arshdeep Dhiman 3; below 62 kg: Baljinder 1, Vikrant 2 and Satbir 3; below 69 kg: Inderpal Singh 1, Tejinder 2 and Navneet 3; below 77 kg: Kamaljit 1, Gurpreet 2 and Sandeep 3; below 85 kg: Arvind 1, Ramandeep 2 and Harpreet 3; and below 94 kg: Naveen Jyoti 1, Inderbir 2 and Sarabjit 3.

Senior — below 56 kg: Gaganpreet 1, Sukhchain 2 and Balbir 3; below 62 kg: Jaspal Singh 1, Gursewak 2 and Harmal Singh 3; below 60 kg: Jagmohan Singh 1, Surinder 2 and Arpinder 3; below 77 kg: Inderpal 1, F. Singh 2 and Manvir Singh 3; below 85 kg: Baljeet 1, Pritpal 2 and Jaspal 3; below 94 kg: Gursewak 1 and Ravinder 2; and below 105 kg: Dimple Kumar 1, Lakhwinder 2 and Navtinder 3.

Earlier, in the IV Chandigarh Women Power-lifting Championship, 43 powerlifters participated. MCM DAV College, Sector 36, bagged the team championship by securing 76 points while the GGS College for Women, Sector 26, got the second place with 54 points.

Sandeep Kaur of Dev Samaj College, Sector 45, created three state records and in 60 kg class, Paramjeet Kaur of the Government College for Girls, Sector 42, smashed four state records. In 97.5 kg class, Jasbir Kaur from GGS College, Sector 26, established a new record. In above 75 kg, Deepika Sarang of GCG, Sector 42, improved her own state record in squat, bench press and in total weight.

JJ Sports XI win

JJ Sports XI outplayed Videocon XI by 30 runs to win the final of the Ist Areson Sports Cash Prize Cricket Tournament played here today on the grounds of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 19.

Brief scores: JJ Sports XI: 163 runs all out in 30 overs (Harpreet Singh 30, Kulwinder Singh 28, Tej Gobind 19, S.S. Baijee 2 for 24, Harminder Singh 2 for 20 and Amit Kakria 2 for 35); Videocon XI: 133 runs all out in 26.2 overs (Harminder Singh 48, Rakesh Jolly 18, Manish Chadha 13, Kulwinder Singh 3 for 12, Harinder Singh 3 for 10 and Devi Singh 2 for 19).

UN decision to dedicate 2005 to sports welcomed
Arvind Katyal

Chandigarh, January 2
The recent declaration by the United Nations to dedicate the year 2005 to sports and physical education has been welcomed by the local sports lovers. the UN has chosen sports to be the medium for peace and development in the world till 2015.

Ms Aruna Bhardwaj, a teacher at DAV Public School, Sector 8, said as the majority of people were not yet aware of any such move by the UN, it requires a lot of publicity to convey the message in totality. She came to know about the UN move after reading a news magazine.

Ms Aruna said this worldwide attempt to create sports culture would help in overall development of personality. She said time has come to realise the importance of sports. She said the tsunami tragedy also calls for maintaining peace and help the needy and by sports, one always learn such values.

Mr Virinder Mehta, a sportsman of the Haryana Vidut Prasaran Nigam, Panchkula, said sports could always help grow individuals. He said sports with the mass following could be organised in different parts of the country so as to involve every section of society. He revealed how the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2003 organised matches to raise public awareness on HIV/AIDS. Same year the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UN made efforts to encourage physical activity through positive health. Also during the Athens Olympics-2004, sports was used to educate preserve the environment such as waste management through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Another sports enthusiast, Mr G.C. Garg, was of the view that people in India have sports idols such as Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev. All these sports ambassadors can play a vital role in promoting peace and development in society. The recent Indo-Pak Punjab Games held last month at Patiala was another example of utilsing sports for peace and friendship. He said in the longer run, the UN declaration on dedicating the decade to sport and physical education could play a meaningful role in the life of every human being.

ADMINISTRATION

Estate office to have computerised file tracking system
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 2
The Estate Office has decided to introduce a computerised file tracking system with the assistance of the National Informatics Centre (NIC). The centre has developed a software for the purpose. This new service, which is likely to be introduced by February 2005, will reveal the status of the file and make the information available to the public.

According to a press note issued by the office of the Deputy Commissioner-cum-Estate Officer, Mr Arun Kumar, here today, the Estate Office proposes to set up a computerised separate counter at the ground floor of the office. The counter will be open to public on all working days during office hours where people can find out about the status of their cases.

It is also proposed that the official at the counter, on the production of the receipt from any of its clients will instantly check the information on the computer and inform the client. For tracking files, a centralised system is being set up where the movement of files will be recorded which will, in turn, be computerised.

The Estate Office has been running a single window service for its clients since 2001 where receipts are issued indicating the date of delivery, that is the completion of the work related to the Estate Office.

CITU convention against Act amendment on Jan 29
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 2
Terming the third amendment to the Indian Patent Act, 1970, through an ordinance by the Central Government as "anti-people and anti-national", the Punjab State Committee of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions(CITU) today decided to hold a convention on this issue here on January 29.

The general secretary of CITU, Mr Raghunath Singh, alleged that with the implementation of the third amendment patients and farmers would be worst-affected. The amendment through ordinance was "ill-timed" and detailed discussion should have taken place so that country's interests could be taken care of by the new law.

Terming the amendment as an offshoot of the pressure from the multi-national corporations, the CITU president, Mr Balwant Singh, alleged that with the new patent regime the prices of drugs would soar dealing a death blow to the pharmaceutical sector.