Chandigarh, August 24
The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) has a challenging task ahead of it, especially in areas of public health and vector-borne diseases which, despite being curable, are highly prevalent in India.

During day-long deliberations held on issues and objectives of the mission at Panjab University today, startling facts came to light. Most stemmed from the country’s inability to take basic healthcare awareness to far-flung areas in states.

For many, it will be news that malaria mortality rate in India is high despite years of healthcare projects. About 1000 people die of malaria every year, especially in Orissa, North East and Karnataka. About the gravity of the issue, Dr Alka Kothari, Regional Director, Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, said it was a shame that a preventable diseases like malaria should prevail in India.

The states, under the NRHM, have now been told to upgrade grassroots primary health centres and make facilities available in case such diseases are detected.

Another key area of concern, Dr Kothari said, was the exceptionally high prevalence of Japanese Encephalitis in Haryana. “About 100 to 150 children up to 10 years are dying annually in Haryana due to this disease,” she said. The disease is caused by infections which piggeries spread. Despite years of concerted health awareness campaigns, state health department and central health 
workers have been unable to convince villagers to shift piggeries from residential 
complexes.

As Dr Kothari mentioned, “For villagers, pigs are the means of livelihood.

They can’t keep them away. But the price they pay is huge and the irony is that they hardly realise it.” Similar is the case with dengue which strikes time and again.

Keeping the above mentioned challenges in mind, the NRHM, Dr Kothari informed, had vowed to reduce malaria, dengue and Japanese Encephalitis mortality rate in India to 50 per cent by 2010.

“Among our objectives is also to reduce the infant mortality rate to 30 per 1,000 live births and maternal mortality (MMR) rate to 100 per 10000 live births. Total fertility rate must go down to 2.1.” Presently MMR in India is about 450 per hundred thousand live births.

The best tool which the NRHM has proposed to deal with urgent issues is the appointment of ASHA (accredited social health activist) in every village.

To be appointed by the panchayat, ASHA will be any woman (could even be a widow or a divorcee) who will be armed with a health kit containing disposable delivery kits.

State health ministries, said Dr Kothari, have been directed to provide all generic drugs at community health centres and run district health missions led by zila parishads.

Panchkula, August 24
Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, Chandigarh, clinched the title by defeating DAV Public School, Ambala Cantonment, by 4-0 on the opening day of the Pool-A CBSE Football Tournament (Cluster - XIII) held at Satluj Public School, Sector 4 here today.

In the second match, New Public School, Sector 18, got a bye from St Soldier Public School, Sector 28, and in the third match, Army School, Chandimandir, defeated Shishu Niketan School, Sector 22, Chandigarh, by 1-0.

In pool-B, the first knock-out match was played between J K Public School, Kunjwani, Jammu, and Alpine Public School, Pinjore. J.K. School thrashed Alpine School at 8-0. Ishaan of J.K. School scored three goals and Neeraj Jamwal and Abhishek scored two goals each.

In the second match, Vivekanand Public School, Pinjore, got a bye from Guru Nanak Khalsa School, Sector 30, Chandigarh.

In the last match of the day, K. C. Public School, Jammu, won the match from Satluj Public School, by 3-0.

Chandigarh, August 24
The DAV Academy of Chandigarh got the better of Gopal Academy, Kurali, by 2-0 in the league match of the Fourth S N Vohra Memorial Sub-Junior (u-14) Hockey Tournament at Hockey Stadium, Sector 42, here today.

The goals were scored by Shamsher Singh and Simranjit Singh in 20th and 29th minutes, respectively. Gurpreet Singh of DAV Academy was declared ‘man of the match’.

In another match, Surjit Academy of Jalandhar defeated the city-based Rock Rovers Academy by 4-2. Both the teams were equal at 1-1 during the half time. Barkat Singh of the Rock Rovers was awarded with the ‘man of the match’ title.

Tomorrow, the Surjeet Academy, Jalandhar, will meet Gopal Academy, Kurali, at 3 p m and DAV Academy will play against the Rock Rovers at 4.15 pm at the same venue.

Chandigarh, August 24
The defending champion St Joseph’s Senior Secondary School, Sector 44, won the UT Inter-School Carrom Under- 19 (girls) tournament beating Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 20, by 2-1. The tournament held at St Stephen’s School, Sector 45, here, today.

Today’s results: Final match: St Joseph’s School- 44 bt GSSSS-20 by 2-1, Neha Goyal bt Shweta by 15-0, Nidhi Kanwar bt Chanchal by 18-0, Manisha lost Reena by 1-5.

Chandigarh, August 24
The Chamber of Chandigarh Industries has asked the Chandigarh Administration to review the rate of conversion of industrial plots to commercial in the Industrial Areas of the city.

Mr Inderjit Setia, president, of the chambers, while addressing a press conference said the present rate of Rs 18,000 per square yard “was impractical. We have sought a reasonable charge of Rs 3,000 per square yard instead”.

He said “owners, lessees and GPA holders of the industrial plots have nurtured the industry for the past over 40 years. The conversion rates are such that as if the property was being bought afresh”.

Mr Sanjeev Singla, general secretary, said, “it must be assured that on conversion, there will be no disturbance to the existing industry from the commercial units that come up in the neighbourhood”.

Mr Naveen Manglani, general secretary, said changes allowed in plots for carrying out commercial activities should also be extended to existing SSI units. The SSI units should be allowed a FAR of 2 and not charged any conversion rates. He also sought regularisation of the GPAs.