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Public role for AIDS awareness sought
Chandigarh, October 14 The campaign will encompass wide range of activities, which will cut across regional, geographical and social lives just like the virus itself. As a symbolic gesture and to involve one and all to mobilise the entire community, a siren would be sounded at 4 p.m. on October 18. All citizens of the region are appealed to sound a half a minute long symbolic AIDS alert through whatever means they have at the moment, be it the cycle bell, call bell, bike horns or clinking of forks, spoons and
thalis. The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Anbumani
Ramadoss, will formally launch the campaign at Leisure Valley on October 18. The Haryana Governor, Dr A. R. Kidwai, will be the chief guest and the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Ms Panabaka Laxmi will be the guest of honour. The diverse groups will be targeted and sensitised towards
RTIs, STIs, HIV/AIDS and the risk that each one of them poses. “Goonj”, the intensive IEC campaign which will run from October 15 to 18, is mounted by NACO in cooperation with the State AIDS Control Societies of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. |
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A novel way to promote condoms
Chandigarh, October 14 “The Condom Mela”, the first of its kind in the region, will involve the promotion of condoms through a muti-sectoral programme, including popular songs, drama groups, counseling and support services. The programme is the brainchild of a local NGO,
Yuvsatta, which is already running a target international project for migratory labourers in Colony No. 5 with the support of the State AIDS Control Society for the past three years. The concept of dual protection through condoms is the need of the hour, feels Mr Pramod Sharma, co-ordinator of the NGO. “With the Centre bringing the condom promotion back into the national policy, sustained efforts need to be made in this direction,” he says. According to an ORG-MARG survey, the condom sales in urban India has declined by ten per cent from 530 million in 2001-02 to 476 million in 2003-04, Mr Pramod says. The mela scheduled for October16 at the Labour Chowk will begin with sending of personal invitations to all males residing in Colony No. 5 and are between the sexually active age of 15-49 years. During the mela, a free medical check-up camp by qualified doctors would be organised followed by distribution of medicines for any sexually-transmitted disease (STD) and a display of condoms. This would be followed by free distribution of condoms and a street play “Condom Raja Bajaeyga AIDS Ka Baja.” Like any other mela, this one with a mission will also have eating stalls, fun rides and other cultural activities. According to Dr Sonia
Trikha, Project Director, State AIDS Control Society, such programmes and ideas from the partner NGOs are a step forward in generating awareness and promotion of condoms. Talking to The Tribune, Dr Trikha said in India condoms are associated only with family planning though their use is equally important to prevent STD's and HIV. As part of the AIDS awareness programme “GOONJ: Hum Hain
Taiyaar, AIDS Ki Haar”, which kicked off today in city, various cultural events involving folk artistes, an AIDS awareness run and other events at Fun Republic are being organised. |
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Donating blood his life’s
mission
Mr Sat Pal Bansal, a banker by profession, has become a one man institution in the field of blood donation in Patiala. Though his blood runs in the veins of more than 120 persons, there is still an intense desire to help the needy.
At an age, which has seen over forty summers, Mr Bansal has donated blood 122 times in the nook and corner of
country. So far, he has been carrying out a campaign to spread the movement of blood donation
successfully and has motivated thousands of people for this noble cause . He took to blood donating when he was just seventeen and has been working steadily on his mission. Born on October 16, 1948, at Nabha, Mr Bansal has been donating blood every three months since 1981 and he has also motivated his three sons, wife and brother to do the same. Credited with the Punjab State Award twice, Mr Bansal, who has been declared outstanding blood donor in Himachal Pardesh and Punjab, has also been honoured by a number of government and non-governmental organisations, including, the Indian Red Cross Society for his
exemplary service to mankind. Mr Bansal, who has attended many seminars and
conferences held in India in the past few decades to promote blood donation, has been encouraging youngsters
through his programmes. He has also been writing to authorities to set up a separate blood donation department . Talking to TNS, he said even such games could be developed which would motivate the children to start donating blood immediately after attaining the required age. He added that a national policy should also be formulated for making blood donation a mass movement so that its shortage could be done away with. |
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PCA doing yeoman service for
Chandigarh, October 14 This is for the first time in the history of Indian cricket that the Internet rights of domestic game have been sold. Even the corporate boxes have been sold. A corporate box with a seating capacity of 24 is costing Rs one lakh. "It was nice to learn that the latest experimental laws of the ICC, including power play and super sub, is being tried in the Challenger Trophy", said Alam, adding, “Aggressive market is a must for any sport to generate revenue.” Alam was seen as the man behind the success of Punjab Ranji team which took almost 12 years to reach the finals of the trophy. Latest pace bowling sensation VRV Singh is representing India A team in the Challenger Trophy underway at the PCA stadium in Mohali and is all set to catch the eyes of the selectors for the Indian squad for upcoming One-Day series against Sri Lanka starting on October 25. Talking about the spat between Ganguly and Chappell, he said, "There would be no sportsperson without an ego and people of the stature of Saurav Ganguly and Greg Chappell are no exception. Their differences, if any, should have been restricted to the dressing room.” He said such kind of differences were normal, but these should be restricted to the team members. "I think more time should be given to Chappell to click with the players", he advised. Alam, who played 47 Test matches for Pakistan in which he took 125 wickets and made 1,493 runs, including a century, said Punjab players had better chances to make place in the Indian cricket team. Talking about the mantra of success, he said, "I inculcate self-confidence and never give-up spirit in my boys which proved to be the success key at the crucial stages.” |
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Veterans commend Dravid as skipper
Chandigarh, October 14 To appoint Dravid as a captain for the forthcoming two ODI series is a very good step. Rahul has been performing very well since long. He deserves the honour as he is senior, non-controversial and experienced player. However, he should adopt aggressive approach to inculcate killing instinct in the team, which has been facing criticism for its continuous dismal performances in the finals of big tournaments. Sourav has served well in his peak times as he has proved himself as the best captain of India. But he destroyed the image of the team as well as Indian cricket with his involvement in recent controversies with Greg Chappell. — Bharti Vij, former Ranji player and presently Senior Cricket Coach, PCA. The change in the captaincy is a welcome step not only for the team but also for the Indian cricket. Greg Chappell has been preparing the team for 2007 World Cup and this is evident with the selection of speedster Sree Santh, who showed his talent in the recently concluded Challenger series at Mohali. Ganguly has been passing through the lean patch for the past one and a half year resulting lost confidence. Now he is struggling with mild tennis elbow. So snatching captaincy from Ganguly is a step towards betterment. — Krishan Mohan, former Punjab Ranji team captain. The decision to put Sourav on ‘rest’ and Dravid on ‘test’ is a welcome step. It is not to project him as a seasonal captain this time because the selectors have 2007 World cup in their mind. Even Dravid has asked the board to give him sufficient time to let him prove his worth as captain. Dravid has captained India in 5 Tests and 17 ODIs and his tenure as captain was reasonably good and he has always been non-controversial, technically sound and excellent strategist. Giving Dravid the reign for two series was apparently because present committee will dissolve after two series and a new committee will take on after the Board election to be held before November 30. — G. S. Banga, vice-president, Chandigarh Cricket Association. The selectors have finally shown collective wisdom by picking up Rahul Dravid, the most consistent performer in Indian Cricket to lead the country in two upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka and South Africa. This is a happy augury for Indian cricket which is trying to cobble up a cohesive unit inclusive of seasoned and young players with an eye on 2007 World Cup in West Indies. The inclusion of fast bowler S. Sree Santh adds a whiff of fresh air to the Indian pace attack. The performance of this youngster in the just concluded Challenger series did not go un-noticed by the selectors and had the stamp of approval by the coach, Greg Chappell. However, the physical fitness and mental toughness will be on the top priority of the coach. Given this background, I feel that the picking up the present team and the captain is a step in the right direction and the selectors and the coach deserve a pat on their back. — Sushil Kapoor, Manager, PCA teams. The appointment of Rahul Dravid as the captain might be the beginning of a new era in Indian cricket. The selectors have done well to appoint Dravid for the next two series, which means they are looking towards the World Cup. Now Ganguly might find it very tough to come back into the team because with his lack of form and fitness it was the captaincy which could have saved him. As far as the selection of the team goes it is a good blend of both experience and youth. It was good to see that the performances of players like S. Sree Santh have not gone waste. |
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RBI, United Clubs win in football
Chandigarh, October 14 While the RBI Club downed the Morison Club 5-3 (tie-breaker), the United Club got the better of the BSNL Club by a solitary goal in group A match. In the United Club-BSNL tie, after a barren first half, the United Club scored the all important goal through right striker Amrinder Singh in the 52nd minute. Getting a pass from outside-right Rajdeep, Amrinder unleashed a diagonal shot which sailed into the net. In another group A match,the RBI Club of Sector 30 prevailed over the Morison Club of Sector 27 by 5-3 margin in the tie-breaker session. It was the RBI Club which drubbed past through right striker Shelindra Rawat who found the target with a solo effort in the 15th minute. In the penalties, the RBI Club converted four through Shelindra Rawat, Mohit, Tanuj and Aksh. Kulwinder and Pushpinder succeeded with their penalties. However, Dipin Negi, Siddharath and Pardeep wasted their chances. Later, the Golden Football Club (GFC) and the Youngsters Club (YC) registered fluent victories over their respective rivals. the GFC routed the Maruti Football Club, Mani Majra, 4-0 and the YC thrashed Mani Majra Club (B) by 3-0. The GFC opened their account in the fifth minute. Hardly had the cheers of the GFC supporters died down when they struck again in the seventh minute. This time inside-right Mukesh scored with a brilliant header after receiving a floater from right-winger Akhil. The second half saw two more goals coming. In the 50th minute, Sandeep scored with a solo effort and in the 54th minute Rajinder Singh dribbled past two defenders before guiding the ball into the goal. In the fourth encounter of the day, the YC were awarded a penalty and Deepak converted it with ease to put his team ahead in the 10th minute. Khurshdeep scored another two goals by netting in the 40th and 50th minutes gave a complete rout to the Mani Majra Club. |
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Intra-club golf meet today
Chandigarh, October 14 The selection of six golfers in three events with two in each event will be held tomorrow. These are: Gross Stableford for handicap
0-8, 3/4 handicap nett for handicap 9-16 and 3/4 handicap nett for handicap 17-24. The regional finals for other regions will be held on the same day i.e October 23 in Pune, Jamshedpur and Bangalore apart from the one in Noida. The regional champions will play each other in Bangkok in the end of November. Dr Kochhar said the prize distribution would take place tomorrow at 8 p.m. |
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Gurvarinder lifts TT title
Chandigarh, October 14 Nadia, a national player, won doubles title in TT in partnership with Sunanda. The closing ceremony will be held tomorrow at Sports Complex, Sector 7, at 5 p.m. Results: Semifinals Handball: Coaching Centre-42 beat Coaching Centre-21 (11-3,16-4); SGGS-35 beat Coaching Centre-19 (8-7,14-13). Gymnastics: Uneven bars and floor exercises: 1 Deepika (AKSIPS-41), 2 Sarita (GMSSS-10), 3 Pinky (SGGS-26). All-round best gymnast: 1 Deepika, 2 Pinky, 3 Asha. Basketball: Panjab University Campus beat Carmel Convent school, Sector 9, by 58-22. |
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Vivek High beat Little Flower in cricket
Chandigarh, October 14 Brief scores: Little Flower: 87 all out in 19.5 overs (Tauneet 32, Angad Bir 6 for 16, Anek 2 for 20) Vivek High School: 89 for 2 in 14.3 overs (Shivam 51 n.o., Angad Bir 10 n.o., Hitesh 1 for 9, Nikunj 1 for 13) |
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Skating meet begins
Chandigarh, October 14 |
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Inter-media badminton meet from today
Chandigarh, October 14 |
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