New Delhi, July 2
In an attempt to sort out the crisis in the university, the representatives of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) went and met the chancellor of the university Prof. Yashpal, early today.

"We thought that it would help to meet more and more people in the administration to build up an opinion in favour of the students," says Jyotsana, joint secretary JNUSU.

"We have already seen the attitude of the vice-chancellor in our last meeting," she said. The vice-chancellor had refused to reconsider the decision taken by the administration to revoke the rustication orders issued for eight students.

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA), however, has extended its full support in favour of the JNUSU. Teacher representatives have been putting in all efforts to pressurise the higher administration to revoke the punishment considering the fact that the students have already given in regret letters for the incident that took place on February 19.

New Delhi, July 2
The Department of Art, Culture and Language issued a circular to all departments of the Delhi government to prepare boards, name plates of all officers and indicators in Urdu and Punjabi, besides Hindi, as both had been given the status of the country's second language, sources said.

The sources said that if need arouse, the department concerned would offer help to provide translators in both the languages on payment basis.

The language department has launched a six-month certificate course in Urdu for government employees and officials. This course is for those who do not know the language and are ambitious to learn it. After completing the certificate course, the officials can also seek admission in advance courses in the language.

Classes for the course will be held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5 pm to 6 pm. The officials and employees enrolled to the classes will be given free books and Rs 100 as conveyance allowance. A cheque of Rs 2,100, Rs 1,500, Rs 1,100 and Rs 400 and a citation would be awarded to those who would bag first second, third, fourth and fifth positions, respectively, the sources said.

New Delhi, July 2
The incidence of terminal renal failure is rising at an alarming rate, in spite of impressive advances in the management of End-stage renal disease (ERSD).

An estimated one-lakh people develop ERSD every year. This is in addition to the pre-existing 20 lakh sufferers. More than three-fourths of the people suffering from ERSD do not get treatment at all. Further, the burden of renal disease is growing rapidly in India. Particularly distressing is the rising number of patients aged 65 or older undergoing renal dialysis or transplantation for ERSD. The ERSD, which is often related to diabetes or hypertension, is a serious medical and economic public health problem. Understanding the scope of this condition, as well as the trends in outcome, is essential for optimising treatment of ERSD and establishing meaningful strategies for prevention, health experts say.

According to experts, it is vital for kidneys to function to sustain human life. "Kidneys act like blood purifiers as they filter out toxic products and excess fluid from our system. They also maintain the chemical balance of sodium and potassium within our bodies. End-stage kidney disease occurs when the kidneys are no longer able to function at a level that is necessary for day-to-day life. It usually occurs as chronic renal failure worsens to the point where kidney function is less than 10 per cent of normal. At this point, the kidney function is so low that without dialysis or kidney transplantation, complications are multiple and severe, and death will occur from accumulation of fluids and waste products in the body", experts claim.

Chronic renal failure usually occurs over a number of years as the internal structures of the kidney are slowly damaged. In the early stages, there may be no symptoms. In fact, progression may be so gradual that symptoms do not occur until kidney functions are less than one-tenth of normal. This is usually in response to a chronic disease such as diabetes or high blood pressure. In some cases, the kidney disease is hereditary.

People with the following conditions are at greater-than-normal risk of developing kidney failure and end-stage renal disease: diabetes, high blood pressure, glomerular diseases, hemolytic uremic syndrome, sickle cell anemia, severe injury or burns and liver disease or liver failure. Inherited kidney diseases such as polycystic kidney disease, congenital obstructive uropathy, cystinosis and prune belly syndrome also put people at risk of ERSD. Taking antibiotics, cylosporin, heroin and chemotherapy is also a factor as it can lead to inflammation of the kidney structures.

Preventive care is possible and early kidney damage is manageable. The ERSD cannot be treated with conventional medical treatments such as drugs. Treatment depends on the degree of kidney function that remains. And may include diluretic therapy or medications, specific diet restrictions, dialysis and kidney transplantation.

Dialysis is a well-accepted therapy option, since there is a shortage of kidney donors for conducting transplants.

There are two types of dialysis option available - Hemo dialysis (HD) and Pertioneal dialysis (PD), the experts claim.

Gurgaon, July 2
Senior state-level officers today reviewed the flood control measures taken by the district administration .

The review was done here by the financial commissioner and principal secretary, Revenue, Promilla Issar, at a meeting of senior officers of the departments concerned.

She also reviewed the distribution process of compensation amount to the farmers whose Rabi crop was damaged in February hailstorm.

The process of computerisaton of land records was also reviewed.

The review of the flood control measures follows the flood control order issued recently by the district administration.

The administration has already ordered for the setting up of Central Food Control Room to be headed by the district revenue officer. Coordinating control rooms will be set up at all the tehsil headquarters.

The district has been divided into 11 sectors with headquarters at Daulatabad, Dhankot, Sultanpur, Mahchana, Saramthla, Bhonda Kalan, Khod, Ichapuri, Pataudi, Haily Mandi and Sherpur.

The authorities have identified 15 villages as sensitive. Also ring guards will be strengthened around 17 villages.

Regarding the distribution of compensation money, it was pointed out by the local authorities that more than 82 per cent of Rs 10 crore sent by the government for Gurgaon district has been given away. It may be recalled that as per the survey conducted by the government machinery, 77 villages had been affected by the hailstorm in which standing wheat, barley and sarson crops were affected. The computerisation of land records should be expedited, the financial commissioner stressed. 

New Delhi, July 2
Delhi chartered accountants today moved a petition in High Court seeking exemption to pay the conversion charges and the parking charges as being demanded by the agencies in the Capital. The petition was moved by the Northern India Regional Council of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India through their counsel Rakesh Tiku and Neeraj Kumar who contended that the clause 10 of the Master Plan 2021 allows professional activities from the residential plots and flats situated at any floor.

The petition seeks relief from the court on the lines of the lawyers and doctors who have recently been granted interim relief from the High Court from paying the charges being demanded by various agencies.

The petition has named Ministry of Urban Development, Municipal Corporation Of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Developement Authority (DDA) and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) as respondents.

The petition also seeks that the DDA should quash and set aside fixation of mixed use charges and commercial use charges as being demanded from professionals who are operating their offices from their residence.

They want the DDA to quash the public notices issued on June 17, 24 and 26 respectively, which calls upon the professionals, especially lawyers to register themselves and pay the mixed use charges and parking charges.

Recently, the High Court gave relief to lawyers and doctors by giving an interim stay till July 9, when the respondent agencies will argue their case in this regard. The matter will come up for hearing tomorrow. — UNI

Chandigarh, July 2
Ask if ‘Dharm’ is a film out to reform and the talented husband and wife duo, Pankaj Kapur and Supriya Pathak, acting in it, are quick to dispel that notion. “As actors we look at the content of a film. However, ‘Dharm’ is so powerful, contemporary and necessary that it will reach out with its message,” they say at a tête-à-tête in the city today just a few days prior to the release of the film.

While the makers and actors may not be out to ‘change’ beliefs, it is doing precisely that. Made by debuting director Bhavna Talwar (a former journalist) and her banker-turned-producer husband Sheetal Talwar, the film has garnered tremendous critical acclaim both within the country and outside. ‘Dharm’ was shown at Cannes Film Festival this year and the film-maker says she was overwhelmed with the reaction of the people who said they identified with the subject even though the theme is Indian in spirit.

‘Dharm’ is the story of Pandit Chaturvedi, a Hindu priest deeply seeped in his religion and living his life through the Vedas in Benaras. A young abandoned child comes into his life whom he adopts. However, turns of events result in this four-year old challenging the very beliefs that the Panditji stands for.

“Over centuries, we have attached too many meanings to religion. The point of the film is to come and question your faith. It is not to shake your beliefs but to believe in the same faith but with an open mind and a liberal and humanitarian view,” explains Pankaj.

The issue is resolved through the very faith that the priest believes in and that according to Sheetal is the beauty of the film. “The Panditji could have been anybody. His life is representative of a small family anywhere in India and the message is universal. Each one of us is unique in our own way.”

While the role of Panditji is essayed by Pankaj, Supriya plays his wife in the film. “This common Indian ‘Panditian’ has basic common sense. Her perceptions are very strong and she pushes the viewer to think emotionally,” she avers.

Lead actor Pankaj says, “Content-driven films can make money. Something that is gripping, is a journey of revelation and is relevant is cinema.”

And that is exactly what he has subscribed to over the years too. “Right from the beginning, it was a conscious decision not to get trapped into something one did not want to do. The point of interest was how many different people can I understand, discover and recreate and if it can be done with content backing it, then good.” He says he was lucky. First to get the kind of roles in television when he did and when its face changed to that of ‘saas-bahu’ he was fortunate that cinema was coming into a “sensible” phase.

Supriya echoes his views. “It is about your attitude to work. Do you want to act or make money? We enjoy acting and not its peripheries and that is all I want to do,” she smiles.

Patiala, July 2
A visit to her home state Kashmir after about 20 years stirred her mind. The destruction of culture, social fabric and customs of the Kashmir valley motivated Dr Phool Chandra, a retired professor in gynaecology from Government Medical College, Patiala, to pen a comparison of her past memories and present experience.

A Kashmiri Pandit, who migrated from the valley more than a decade ago with her father who is a Hindi teacher, she has written a book, ‘My Kashmir Past and Future’.

Talking to The Tribune, Dr Phool Chandra said, “During my recent visits I have collected old photographs of valley buildings, utensils and other articles that were used by the Kashmiri Pandit.

Their temples and huge wooden palatial houses have now become ruins. Articles that were used commonly in old houses are now rarely available.”

In her book, she has given an elaborative description of customs that prevailed among the Kashmiri Pandits while they resided in the valley.

The families of Kashmiri Pandits were generally small. However, due to the high mortality rate among women, polygamy was practised. The urge for a son was widely prevalent as it was believed that the person can gain ‘moksha’ only if his pyre was lit by his son.

Due to lesser wheat production rice was the staple diet of Kashmiris.

But still ‘roti’, a special type of snack made from wheat popularly known as ‘nanwai’, was served with the evening tea.

The tea is a special drink commonly know as ‘kahwa’. Besides the common tea and milk, kahwa contains almond powder and cinnamon. Many types of tea, like ‘sheer’ and ‘nanu’, that contain salt were also commonly prepared in old houses.

The society of Kashmiri Pandits is divided mainly into two categories -- ‘Banmasi’ who had initially migrated from the valley during the rule of Muslim kings and later returned and the ‘Malmasi’ who stayed back in valley despite all odds. Both categories had different customs and traditions.

Later, the Pandits who started doing business were categorised as ‘Buhirs’.

The difference between categories has faded due to mass migration from valley these days.

The houses in the valley were multistoreyed and made from wood.

The rooms were wide and had windows. Now, the old wooden houses have paved way for the cement constructions.

Khir Bhavani ‘Tulmul’, Jayeshda Devi, Chakreshwar, Shankracharya and Amarnath are the most famous religious places of the Kashmiri Pandits. While some like the Amarnath cave have become famous, the others are in a state of neglect.

She has given an elaborative description of art forms, foods, farming practices and architecture relating to Kashmiri Pandits that have now faded into history due to mass migration of the community from the valley.

Faridabad, July 2
The Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) has had as many as 23 commissioners since its inception in 1994. The government has now posted 24th commissioner, who is scheduled to assume office here tomorrow, after the transfer of Mahtab Singh.

Mahtab Singh was to complete a two-year term on July 8. The Rs 500-crore budget corporation came into being

in 1994 after the state government decided to upgrade it from the Faridabad Complex Administration, which had an HCS-level officer as its administrative officer.

The budget of this body was merely a few crores, but the development and the rise in urban population in the past decade have led to a tremendous growth in various aspects of the body and its works. While an IAS-level officer was posted as its commissioner, three HCS-level officers were made joint commissioners of three zones.

N.C. Wadhwa was posted as the first commissioner here on June 1, 1994. He remained at the post for just a year. On an average tenure of acommissioner here did not go beyond eight months.

Pushpraj Singh was the only officer who completed two years. His total stay was for 25 months from May 19, 2001 to June 19, 2003.

Mahtab Singh, the 23rd incumbent who joined here in July 2005 has been the second such official who completed almost two years. The tenure of Vijayendra Kumar was the shortest with just nine days, from May 10 to May 19, 2001.

"Though there may be reasons, including political ,that may have made the government shift the officers at such a fast speed, but it has affected the development work and efficiency of the corporation, claimed Shiv Charan Lal Sharma, senior deputy mayor.

Lauding the work done in the past two years, Rattan Lal Rohilla, secretary, Haryana Nagarpalika Karamchari Sangh, said Mahtab Singh worked hard the welfare of residents and staff.

Meanwhile, the employees gave a send-off to the outgoing commissioner today. 

Greater Noida, July 2
An alert has been sounded in the NCR for the ruthless criminals of notorious Bawariya tribe will be on the prowl.For them the next 15 days of Asadh month are auspicious for committing crimes.

The crime season starts with a worship.Teams six members each fan out for marked houses.In the NCR they gather at a lonely place near Balbhgarh in Haryana .Their women bid them 'good hunting' by applying 'tilak' on their foreheads. All groups return exactly after 15 days to the same lonely spot to divide and distribute the booty. The teams this year comprise 55 members who will fan out in entire NCR, it is learnt.

In Gautam Budh Nagar alone, there are 35 villages vulnerable to their attacks.

According to sources, there are 25,000 Bawariyas reportedly in the NCR region. There are 950 Bawariyas in Delhi, 2,000 in G.B. Nagar, 700 in Ghaziabad, 8,000 in Bulandshahar, 11,500 in Meerut and 3,000 in Faridabad who have become a cause of concern for the police of these districts.

The Bawariya criminals apply a lot of oil on their bodies so that in case someone tries to grapple with them, they could easily slip away.On being challenged, they do not hesitate to deliver a lethal blow.

Some Bawariyas have been arrested in Delhi in the past few days, but they have not given away clues about their tribe members. 

New Delhi, July 2
The East district Delhi police has finally arrested Deepak, the alleged killer of his stepfather Puran Chand. On June 25, Deepak, a resident of Trilok Puri, allegedly killed his father with a heavy hammer and packed his body in a cloth bag. The accused, who had been absconding since then, was nabbed by the police team at the ISBT bus stand at road no. 56. After interrogation, the police claimed that the accused had committed the crime with the help of his friend Dheeraj.

According to the police, Deepak had a serious dislike for his father due to the discrimination faced by the stepchildren and their mother.

New Delhi, July 2
Delhi urban development and PWD minister A. K. Walia has criticised the Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC) for delaying the clearance of six Commonwealth Games-related projects of the Public Works Department (PWD).

Walia added that the DUAC was sitting on these projects which had been diligently prepared by the PWD and approved by the DDA sub-committee and DDA technical committee. The delay in clearance of projects would lead to cost escalation and non-commissioning of projects before commencement of Commonwealth Games 2010.

Dr Walia claimed that out of 27 projects of the PWD, work on 15 projects had been started, whereas files relating to 10 projects are gathering dust in the DUAC (6) and the DDA (4). The projects, which were held up in the DUAC, include Gazipur flyover, Apsara border flyover, national highway No. 24 link road, Nangloi flyover and Karkari Mor flyover. 

New Delhi, July 2
The World Radiation Safety Day is being observed on July 5 at the Sri Sai International Centre here by the Global Wellness Foundation and Karamjyot Seva Trust of Gujarat. Eminent scientists, environmentalists, social activists and NGOs are likely to participate in the programme and also take a solemn pledge to save the planet from the hazards of radiation emitted by electronic gadgets. The Foundation also plans to launch a year-long awareness programme 'Sab Ko Bachao'.