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DNA damage among Punjab farmers high: Study Attar Singh Tribune News Service
Patiala, March 13 These findings are part of a study made by Dr Raminderjeet Kaur, a research fellow working under the guidance of Dr Satbir Kaur of the Department of Human Biology at Punjabi University. The study, “Assessment of genetic damage in workers occupationally exposed to various pesticides in selected districts of Punjab,” examined DNA fragmentation from blood cells. The researcher collected samples twice after six months between December 2003 and January 2006. The first blood samples were collected from 210 farmers after one day of intense spraying of pesticides. In the second sample, 60 workers were selected from the sub-group who showed DNA damage six months after the first samples were taken during a low or no-spraying period to determine the frequency of spontaneous DNA repair. The study reveals that the DNA fragmentation was found in 36 per cent of the freshly exposed group in the first sampling and among 25 per cent of the “followed up” cases. The highest DNA damage was found among users of herbicides followed by organophosphates and then chlorinated hydrocarbons. The study added the confounding factors such as variable duration of exposure, age, smoking, drinking and dietary habits which were expected to modulate the damage, were instead found to have no significant effect on DNA fragmentation. The researchers observed less than 10 per cent workers never used any protective clothes or equipment and typically handled highly toxic chemicals with bare hands and without masks. There was a complete unawareness of the extreme dangers to which they were exposing themselves. It was even found that pesticide containers were being used as kitchen containers and vessels. “The situation urgently calls for mass education programme and mandatory provision of protective gear and warnings by pesticide companies as well as reduction in the use of pesticides failing this a epidemic of genetic damage diseases, particularly cancer is likely,” the study added.
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Kinnow sellers add to traffic chaos
Ambala, March 13 The problem is acute on the Derabassi-Lalru stretch. Their carts parked one after the other often lead to traffic jams. The problem is aggravated by the fact that most of the highway between Derabassi and Lalru is closed from one side, leaving only one side of the highway for flow of traffic. Worse, many travellers stop at these stalls to purchase kinnows which causes a major traffic hazard. Acknowledging the fact, Lt Col K.P. Sharma, project director of NHAI said they had already written to the deputy commissioner, Mohali and also to the SDM, Derabassi, regarding the problem but no action has been taken so far. “We had requested them before the onset of the kinnow season, but no action has been taken,” said Sharma. On the other hand, kinnow sellers are hazarding the risk as they can make upto Rs 2,000 a day and with the produce being good this year they can make a lot of money in times to come. |
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Balmiki community members stage dharna
Ambala, March 13 The incident occurred on March 8, when members of the Balmiki community were on their way to Bagwala from Banundi village for the marriage ceremony of Raju. An altercation ensued between the marriage party and a resident of the village Ajay Rajpal, belonging to the Rajput community, over who would cross the road. Members of the Balmiki community alleged that Ajay banged his tractor into their car and a motorcycle before proceeding further. Later, he returned with his friends to the wedding venue and misbehaved with the women present there. This led to a fight between members of the Balmiki and Rajput community. Five members of the former were admitted to Nariangarh civil hospital, while an FIR was lodged against Ajay Rajpal in the Raipurrani police station. Meanwhile, the group reached the IG’s office today and things went out of control when they found that the IG was not in office. They decided to stage a dharna and demanded a hearing. Attempts to pacify the group also proved futile. Later, members of the local BSP unit also tried to intervene and called Ajay Rajpal’s father to the scene. However, the matter could not be resolved. The whole incident carried on from noon till about 5 pm. It was later decided to put forth the issue in front of the panchayat in Bagwala village tomorrow. |
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Doctors demand ordinance against attack by mobs
Fatehgarh Sahib, March 13 Terming the ordinance as extraordinary and historic, the state branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Punjab Academy of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (PAFMAT), which represent most of the doctors in the state, has demanded that a similar ordinance be passed by the Parliament also. According to the ordinance, any offender who commits any act in contravention of Section 3 can be punished with imprisonment for a period of three years and with fine, which may be extended to fifty thousand rupees. Besides, such an offense would be considered to be cognisable and non-bailable. The offender would be liable to a penalty of twice the amount of purchase price of medical equipment damaged and loss caused to the property as determined by the court trying the offender. Dr D.S. Bhullar, president of PAFMAT, said the ordinance by AP government must be made an act by the Indian Parliament because for the last couple of years, medical professionals had been subjected to violent assault, intimidation and harassment by the relatives of patients, whom the doctors are unable to save despite their best efforts. Dr O.P.S. Kande, chairman of the legal cell of the Punjab branch of IMA, said the doctors had been raising this issue at local, state and national levels on every possible forum seeking a permanent solution. However, till date there has been no relief for the medical professionals who continue to work under fear of attack. |
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Allies unhappy with UPA, says
Ambala, March 13 He said the Third Front would become an alternative of UPA and NDA and it would play an important role in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. He said no party could form the government without the support of the Front. He said Lok Sabha elections could come earlier as the allies of UPA were not happy with its performance. Chautala alleged that the voice of leaders from opposition parties was being muzzled in the current session of Vidhan Sabha, as the government did not want that the problems of the common people could be highlighted in the assembly. He alleged that the Congress had made mockery of democratic set up and leaders of the opposition were not being allowed to speak in the house. Criticising the general budget, he said it would not advantage the poor farmers in any manner. The banks would avail its benefits, he added. He said if the UPA Government claimed to be a well-wisher of the farmers, it should straight way let off the loans of the farmers up to Rs 1lakh. |
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ITI students protest privatisation
Bassi Pathana, March 13 The group raised slogans against the government and demanded withdrawal of the decision. Addressing the
dharna, Beant Singh, state executive member of Punjab Student’s Union, said earlier the government had decided to hand over only six ITIs to the private sector but now it has been decided to hand over all the
ITIs. He alleged that the decision would ruin the chances of thousands of students from middle class background as the education would become costly. He warned that they would not allow privatisation and protest against the decision vehemently. They students urged the government to review the
decision. Manjit Singh, Gurinder Singh, Surinderpal Singh and Tejinder Singh also addressed the
dharna. Later, they submitted a memorandum to the SDM. |
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GCC students given roll nos
Patiala, March 13 Over the past couple of days, students had staged a dharna in protest against the college management’s decision of denying them roll numbers, which would have meant the loss of an academic year. However, Punjabi University officials diffused the situation. A team from the varsity reached the college campus today and after deliberations arrived at the decision that students would be given roll numbers on a condition that students would apologise in writing for their behaviour. College principal Indra Bagga while confirming the decision said students who had missed their examinations would be compensated adequately. |
Irfan my favourite, says Sanober
Panchkula, March 13 She performed on a medley of hits like ‘Jhalak dikhla ja, Pyare pyare lamhe.’ Draped in golden and armed with attitude, Sanober ascended the stage twice during the day for performance. Reaching out from across the stage, she beckoned the youngsters to join her footsteps. The crowed danced to her tunes. “Audience matter during live performance,” said Sanober during a press conference after her performance late this evening. The sensuous performer made the crowd douse to her steps. “I love live performances. I think item numbers are good for shows and I will continue to perform on them. The more such songs I do for big films, it enhances my image as a performer.” Sanober loves cricket and her favourite player is Irfan Pathan. But unfortunately, she didn’t get a chance to meet him.
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All Over An Alarm
Chandigarh, March 13 Savneet Kaur, proprietor of Sector 35-based Beyond Computers, a distributor of laptops, said the policemen rained blows on her employee, James, hurting his ear. Shocked, Savneet of Mohali took up the issue with the UT SSP today. In her complaint, she alleged that at 10.30 pm last night, a security alarm at her computer store went off either on its own or due to a theft attempt. She received a call from a policeman (on 98551-58822), asking her to rush to the store. She asked her store manager and peon, James, to go there instead. As soon as James reached the store, the policeman began thrashing him. He threatened to book him in a case. When contacted, the SSP S.S. Srivastva said he had received no such complaint and was not aware of
the matter. Savneet’s husband I.P. Singh met DSP (South) Jaswant Singh Khaira who said he would look into the matter.The DSP said the errant policeman had been identified as beat constable Manoj Kumar. He assured appropriate action against him if found guilty.
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Maestros for preserving purity in classical music
Chandigarh, March 13 The maestros are in the city for a performance at the 38th Bhaskar Rao Sangeet Sammelan. They shared their views with The Tribune on retaining the pristine purity in the classical arts as enshrined in Bharat Muni’s Natyashastra. Swapansundri, director of Kuchipudi dance theatre, is also an ace exponent of Bharatnatyam and Vilasini Natyam. She is hailed as the youngest dancer recipient of Padma Bhushan award and also the youngest teenager to perform at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London. She says Kuchipudi has its origin as a dance-operatic form, called the Yakshagana, in which dance troupes would travel from village to village rendering legends and episodes from Hindu mythology through dance, music and dialogue. Now the glamour and debasing power of money has overtaken the sanctity of the art, she rued. She said it is challenging for a classical dancer to attract audience for a concert. She emphasised the role of research to add meaningful dimension to artiste’s potential and intellectual growth. Kuchipudi dance is a cumulative process and collective efforts made by the Gurus, exponents and scholars, which is to stay and grow as supplemented by all the official establishments dealing with culture. This synergy is the biggest factor, which has contributed to its success story. Certain other lists of requirements for an ideal dancer are mentioned in the dance texts such as Natya Shastra and Abhinaya Darpana. However, these need to be interpreted in the present day context. Swapnasundari’s most notable achievement is considered to be the revival of the ancient Bharatham practiced by the temple-dancers of the Telugu belt, her single-handed crusade of this traditional dance form and its successful re-establishment as ‘Vilasini Natyam’. In 1996, she became the first and only dancer in post-Independent India to realign worship and dance by dancing within a temple during the ritual-ceremonies and to the accompaniment of Agamic mantra chanting. Musicologist performer of international eminence Haricharan Verma, a former DDG (AIR) maintained that the All India Radio had played a pivotal role in preservation of Indian classical music unlike the private FM radio or TV channels. |
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‘Indian music inspires us’
Chandigarh, March 13 Addressing a press conference on the eve of the group's presentation at Wanderers from Rajasthan at the Indradhanush auditorium, Sector 5 in Panchkula, the noted director said he spent over 6 months in India doing research for various productions. The production toured the Netherlands in 2003-04 and it was a huge success. It brings the colourful culture, drenched in dance music and passion of gypsies from the entire world. The journey of the gypsies started in Rajasthan in India and took them all the way to Western Europe, informed M.M. Sharma, regional director of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR). The production will commence with dances from India and music and dance from France, Spain, Russia, Egypt and other countries. The production shows the influence of Indian music and dance on various countries in Europe and beyond through the traveling gypsies, Geel said. Founded in 1961, the group has gathered a number of choreographies, musical instruments and costumes from all over the world. The group now has a permanent staff of 70 persons, including 32 dancers and seven musicians. The group has been brought to India by the ICCR, the Royal Dutch Embassy, the Indian Embassy in The Hague, the Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Ford Foundation. |
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