Chandigarh, May 16
How many of the teenagers can ask plain questions on sex and related issues to their teachers or parents without any hesitation? How comfortable we are about with them while discussing these issues? Or do we just let them go to find their answers through “other means”?

A group of 30 students of Punjab Engineering College with a mission to spread awareness on AIDS and drugs among teenagers conducted a sample survey in nine schools of the city. Students from Class IX to XII were the target group.

The survey was held under the Youth Ambassadors for Positive Living, a project of Commonwealth programme that was implemented in Chandigarh in association with the NSS unit of PEC. Four youth ambassadors — Nikita Thakur, Guntas Randhawa, Mohinder Rajput and Manu Parbhakar — were selected for the project.

When the ambassadors approached the school management, they were not entertained. Instead the group members were told to stick to routine questions adhere to “social norms”. The managements were of the opinion that the students need not delve into such topics, especially with the teenagers.

However, when the workshops were conducted it was found that students’ minds were filled with misnomers. They queried about sex, gays and lesbian relationships. But the awareness level on AIDS and drugs among them were quite high. They were fully aware of its mode of infection and prevention measures. The most futile question asked was: Can we get HIV infection from the mosquito bite?

Guntas Randhawa, a student of fourth year of information technology, said: “To make the students comfortable to the idea a play was staged which carried a message in almost every scene. Then we held an interactive session with them. However, many students chose to remain inhibitive. They asked questions only when they were assured of their anonymity. Sometime staff were also present over there.”

Manu Parbhakar, another fourth-year student of electronics and electrical communication, said: “A lot of wrong notions about AIDS and sex are prevailing among them. Though they are looking for answers, there is nobody to guide them.”

Nikita Thakur, a fourth-year student of aeronautical, said: “It was very learning experience for them. They had a lot of fun while attending the workshops. We were given training before conducting the workshops.”

The project was held under the guidance of Mr M.L. Gupta and Dr Avineesh Jolly.

Chandigarh, May 16
More than 100 senior citizens were examined at the free eye check-up camp, organised at Sri Sathya Sai Old-Age Home in Sector 30 here today.

The camp was organised in collaboration with doctors and nursing staff of the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32. Medicines were disbursed free of cost and those requiring surgical intervention were referred to the GMCH for free surgeries.

The Director, Social Welfare, Ms Madhvi Kataria, inaugurated the camp. 

Chandigarh, May 16
Patiala based air pistol shooter Harveen Sarao in women’s section and Chandigarh lad and Olympian Abhinav Bindra in men’s section have found berth in the Indian shooting team that will take part in the two prestigious world cups in air weapons events going to be held in Munich (Germany) from June 6 to 13 and the world cup in Milan (Italy) from June 13 to 20.

The National Rifle Association of India has selected 10 boys and nine girls in the Air Rifle and Air Pistol events. Mr T.S. Dhillon, DIG, Jalandhar range (CRPF) has been appointed the chief coach of the team for both world cups. Mr Dhillon, who is also having the additional charge of DIG, Chandigarh Range (CRPF), was the recipient of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award and President’s police medal for meritorious services. Mr Dhillon also represented India in the IXth Asian Games in Air Rifle and was also instrumental in developing shooting ranges in Phillaur.

Mr Dhillon told Chandigarh Tribune that the team was a blend of experienced and talented Olympian and Arjun awardees like Jaspal Rana, Gagan Narang, Abhinav Bindra, Anjali Bhagwat, Deepali Deshpande and Vivek Singh.

The team has a training camp at Tughlakabad ranges where besides Mr Dhillon, there are two foreign coaches, Laszlo Szucsak and Csaba Erno Gyorik, both from Hungary who are assisting him and will also a accompany the team for the world cups.

City girl Minerva Singh has been cleared by the Government of India to take part in the event at herb own cost. The team comprises (men), Abhinav Bindra, Gagan Narang, Manoj Kumar( all Air Rifle), Samresh Jang, Ronak Pandit, Vijay Kumar, Jaspal Rana, Pemba Tamang, Vivek Singh and Deepak Sharma (all Air Pistol). In the woman’s category:Anjali Bhagwat, Pournima Zanane, Deepali Deshpande, Meena Kumari (all Air Rifle), Shweta Chaudhary, Harveen Sarao, Saroja Kumari, Sushma Rana and Minerva Singh (all Air Pistol).

Chandigarh, May 16
The annual ICL Certifications U-15 inter-school tournament would start at DAV College, Sector 10 here from May 26. The Chandigarh Cricket Association (CCA) affiliated to Haryana Cricket Association would organise the tournament.

The tournament will be played on league-cum-knock out basis. The league matches will be of 35 overs each semifinal and final will be 40-over-a-side.

Giving details of the tournament, Mr Surinder Singh Baijee, general secretary of the CCA, said, “The selection committee of the association will select 25 players from the tournament for its upcoming district camp. After this tournament the CCA will hold under-17 cricket tournament”.

Cash awards of Rs 5100 and 3100, trophies and kits would be given to winners and runners up, respectively. The entry fee of the tournament is Rs 600.

Panchkula, May 16
Prestige Honda XI beat United Steels XI by 33 runs in the ICL Certifications Limited Inter Institutional Cup Cricket Tournament at Cricket Stadium, Sector 3 here yesterday.

In another match ICL defeated Spice XI by 48 runs.

Brief scores: Prestige Honda XI 156 for 9 in 22 overs (Subodh Bist 48, Vinod Binta 39, Ritesh 3 for 41, Ashish 3 for 32, Puneet 3 for 30)

United Steels XI 123 all out (Sunil 28, Ganesh 26, Vinod Binta 4 for 16, Madan Joshi 2 for 12)

ICLCL 173 for 9 in 22 overs (RP Singh 62, Prabhjot Singh 37, Sanjeev Chadha 22, Nitin 4 for 34, Vivek Pathania 3 for 37)

Spice XI 125 all out (Nitin 34, Manan Dogra 32, Girish 3 for 16, Sanjay 2 for 17).

Chandigarh, May 16
The Chandigarh Administration has decided to put the records of all 20,000 arms licences on the website of the estate office. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Arun Kumar, said all records of the arms licenses would on the website www.sampada.in.

The task of putting the data on the website will be completed within two months.

The details include name of the licencee, name of the weapon, its details such as bore, make, manufacturer, validity, etc. The information includes procedure for obtaining an arms licence and processes for its periodic renewal.

The Deputy Commissioner said this would help the police as well as citizens in detecting illegal arms. With a click on the mouse, anybody can access the records and find out if his neighbour’s weapon is licensed or not? At the same time, this will also inform the licencee its date of renewal.

Mr Kumar said out of the 20,000 licences issued by the Administration, 13,000 were issued between 1966 and 2000 and 850 in the past four years. As many as 5,000 licences have been issued by other states, but renewed by the Administration.