Chandigarh, August 15
Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gen S.F. Rodrigues hosted “At Home" on the lush green lawns of Punjab Raj Bhavan here this evening.

Though "At Home" was attended by a cross-section of society, minister of state for finance Pawan Bansal and mayor of municipal corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) Pardeep Chhabra were absent.

While Bansal was held up due to an official function at New Delhi, Chhabra was reportedly "indisposed". Bansal and Chhabra do not see eye to eye with Rodrigues on a variety of issues.

Invitees from different walks of life started converging on Punjab Raj Bhavan to greet the Governor. The function started as the Chandigarh Police bands played the National Anthem.

Prominent dignitaries, including Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, GoC-in-C of the Western Command, Lieut-Gen T.K. Sapru, ministers of Punjab cabinet Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Bikram Singh Majithia, Punjab lokpal Justice D.S. Dhaliwal, judges of Punjab and Haryana High Court, advocate-general Punjab H.S. Mattewal, Punjab chief secretary R.I. Singh, adviser to the UT Administrator Pradip Mehra, senior serving and retired defence, civil and military officers, freedom fighters, vice-chancellors of different universities and senior journalists from Punjab and Chandigarh were present on the occasion.

Leaders of different political parties also joined the event and greeted the Governor. The governor and the lady governor Jean Rodrigues shared their joy and happiness with the gathering.

Panchkula, August 15
The identification of more than 100 countries by
a two-year-old child on a world map is bound to
surprise any one.

More surprising is that the child identifies the
nations standing in any direction of the map.

The child prodigy Anvita tells the climatic conditions
of a few countries too. The USA is home of George
Bush for Anvita.

Anvita can put her finger without blinking on Ecuador,
Alaska, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan,
Afghanistan, Falkland islands in the map as well.

“We thought of teaching Anvita to read the map when a child of four years identified more than 100 countries in ‘Shabash India,’ a programme on a TV Channel last year,” said D. S. Raman Iyer, father of Anvita, adding that “Anvita took no time in learning the names of five nations within one week”.

And now within 10 months, she identifies more than 100 countries, he said. “In fact, she used to identify the film stars appearing in songs on TV when we observed her unusual ability to identify the things,” said Meenakshi Raman, mother of the child.

Now, she can identify Shahrukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar and Arshad Warsi by their names.

However, earlier Sharukh was synonym of Dard-e-disco and Warsi of Loot liya for Anvita, said Meenakshi.

In addition to the names of colours, she feels no problem in identifying peach, golden and maroon.

Chandigarh, August 15
The municipal corporation follows a dual policy while recruiting and promoting fire department staff.

On one side it has rejected the appointment of a market board employee, who was eligible for the station fire officer’s post and on the other it has granted extension to an employee who was on deputation.

Sub-station officer M.L. Sharma, who is employee of the market committee, has been given six months extension as the station fire officer.

The application of the market board employee who had applied for the station
fire officer’s post was rejected on the grounds that he was not employed with
the fire department.

In the first case they are applying the policy that was approved in 2007. In this policy the post of the feeder cadre was to be only filled by the internal employees of the fire department. But, in Sharma’s case they are ignoring the same rule.

What is shocking is that the department not even bothered to consider their own employees for whom they had organised special training programme by spending more than Rs 1 lakh.

Sources revealed that there were four station fire officers’ posts out of which only one regular employee had been employed and another is being handled by a market board employee and two are lying vacant since long.

As per the department’s record, two employees who underwent training in 2005 and 2007 for the post of the station fire officer have not even been considered for the post till date. Another employee was also sent for the training this year.

Chandigarh, August 15
The Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee will monitor the critical parameters of benzene, lead and carbon oxide across the city.

This will enable the committee to ascertain the existing levels of vehicular pollution in the city.

Being done on the initiative of the Central Pollution Control Committee, the quality of air will be monitored at new ambient air-monitoring stations to be set up at different points in the city.

The Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee will get the entire funding for the project from the CPCC, costing around Rs 3 lakh.

Sources said with the fast urbanisation and mega projects coming to the city, the growing inflow and outflow of visitors is bound to increase vehicular traffic.

The areas of activity will be the North-East fringe, industrial area, Sector 17 and
the southern sectors. Technical bids are being invited by the department to undertake the study.

“The data will be held in improving the ambient air quality and health of residents”, said an official of the pollution committee.

Otherwise, the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee is already operating five National Ambient Air Monitoring Programme stations, including one in Industrial Area, Kaimbwala and Sector 17. The Sector 17 station represents residential-cum-
commercial area.

The number of vehicles in the city is high as compared to those in other cities. Against a pollution of around 10 lakh, there were around 7 lakh registered. The level of carbon monoxide is high on the Madhya and Dakshin Marg.

There have been reports that benzene and lead level are leading to various life-threatening diseases.

Chandigarh, August 15
Helpage India's name has been included in the Limca Book of Records for having the largest chain of Mobile Medicare Units (MMU) in the country.

The first unit of the MMU was launched in the year 1982 and its number has now gone upto 55 all over the country.

Through these mobile units more than one million patients are treated every year.

Talking to The Tribune, Helpage India state manager, Bhavneshwar Sharma, stated that the aim of starting the unit was to provide quality health care to the aged and poor living in slums and rural areas at their doorsteps as they could not afford to come to the medical centres.

To tackle this problem, a chain of MMU was put into service, each of which was manned by a qualified doctor, a pharmacist and a social worker.

“Each MMU unit cater 14 to 15 location in the villages or the urban slum area,”
added Bhavneshwar.

He revealed that out of 55 units, 18 units were in north India which catered to patients in Delhi, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Moga, Jammu, Srinagar, Jaipur, Udaipur, Kota, Lucknow, Kanpur and Mathura.

The average cost of maintenance of these units is around Rs 11 lakh annually.

He further added that these mobile units provided service to elderly and also maintained their medical chart to ensure constant monitoring of their health.

In case of complicated cases, the MMUs also referred them to the local hospitals.

Many corporate houses have been donating liberally for bearing the running cost of these mobile clinics.

This programme enables older people to play active role in maintaining and improving their own health and also encouraging others to do the same.

Chandigarh, August 15
The controversy over the entry of a law officer’s clerk into the residence of a High Court judge with a bag full of money is turning out to be a case of mistaken identity.

The cops were called late Wednesday night by Justice Nirmaljit Kaur's staff after the clerk of Haryana's Additional Advocate-General Sanjiv Bansal tried to leave behind the money at her residence in Sector 11.

It now seems that Bansal had asked his clerk to go to the house of one Nirmal Singh in Sector 18 for handing over to him the earnest money for a property deal.

But clerk Parkash Ram was more familiar with the names of the Punjab and Haryana High Court judges.

As such, he mistook the name and thought his instructions were to deliver
the money to Justice Nirmaljit Kaur and arrived at her house erroneously late
on Wednesday night.

The clerk, while handing over the bag to the security guard posted outside the residence of the judge, told him that it was from Delhi and was to be given inside.

The guard, in turn, informed the staff, posted at the Judge's residence, and it was duly taken inside by staffer Amrik Singh.

The judge, who was apparently not expecting any documents to arrive, became suspicious and instantly asked Amrik Singh to open it up. One look at the currency notes was enough to leave her infuriated.

Without even bothering to see how much the money was, she, along with Amrik Singh, rushed outside. At that time, Bansal's clerk was standing with the guard.

It is believed that Justice Nirmaljit Kaur saw the entire episode as an attempt to
win her over, though no important case with Bansal as a counsel was pending
before her.

Not the one to allow anyone to cast aspersions on her impeccable record as a
Judge and previously as a standing counsel for so many institutions, Justice
Nirmaljit Kaur instantly informed the police.

The newly appointed Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana, Tirath Singh Thakur, too was told about the incident immediately.

Bansal, meanwhile, tried to clear the air by calling up Justice Nirmaljit Kaur at her residence as soon as he came to know about the faux pas.

But by that time the police had taken the clerk to Sector 11 police station, along with the money. Bansal too was called, subsequently.

Police sources say the statements of Bansal, his clerk, the "Delhi party" and Nirmal Singh have been recorded.

Bansal said the money was meant to be handed over by the "Delhi party" to Nirmal Singh for a house.

The seller and the purchaser were both presented before the police to clear all doubts and the controversy stood resolved.

Chandigarh, August 15
Bonanza awaits the fans of evergreen romantic hero Dev Anand, who strode Bollywood like a colossus during the last 50 years.

Come August 16, Chandigarh will have a first-of-its-kind week-long Dev Anand film festival showcasing four of the all-time hits of the thespian.

To be organised by the Millionaire Trust in collaboration with the Chandigarh Tourism and STEPS, Dev Saab's four superhits--"Guide", "Hare Rama Hare Krishna", "Jewel Thief" and "Des Pardes", would be screened at the Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10 here.

It would prove to be a shot in the arm for the Chandigarh Tourism's endeavours to put the city on the cinematic tourism map of the country, according to tourism director Vivek Atray.

With big banners acknowledging Chandigarh as film destination, the administration is planning the third edition of the Chandigarh Film Festival in February next year.

During the release of Dev Anand's autobiography recently, a large number of his fans had expressed the desire to have the special film festival.

And Dev Saab was also favourably inclined to the holding of such festival here, Naveen Sharma of the Millionaire Trust said.

A unique exhibition showcasing some of the rarest photographs and posters relating to legendary actor's remarkable Bollywood journey would be added attraction for the movie buffs, an organiser said.

Atray said the administration would invite Dev Anand for the next film festival.

Chandigarh, August 15
For the armed forces, it is virtually a status quo. The revision of the Sixth Pay Commission (SPC) recommendations announced yesterday have enhanced pay scales of military personnel but the government appears to have failed to address the key issue of downgrading their status vis-à-vis the civil services.

Officers of the rank of colonel and brigadier and their equivalents in the other two services have been moved into a higher pay band (PB-4).

As far as status is concerned, this means little as equivalent civil posts have also been moved into the same pay band.

Moreover, civilian officers would still be gaining by seven years as they would reach the PB-4 level in 13 years, whereas Armed Forces personnel would take 20 years.

Following the revision of the SPC recommendations, officers at the level of lieutenant colonel would be the worst affected.

Their civilian counterparts, who at present were drawing lower salary, would
now move ahead.

“Civil officers like superintending engineer of the central engineering services or a director in the Central government, who were in the Fifth Pay Commission’s grade of Rs 14,300-18,300 have been put in PB-4 (Rs 39,200-67,000), the same as colonels and brigadiers,” pointed out Major Navdeep Singh, who had given inputs to the chairman, chiefs of staff committee on the SPC’s anomalies.

“Lieutenant colonels, who were receiving more pay and till now were in a higher pay grade of Rs 15,100-18,700, have been left behind to languish in SPC’s PB-3 (Rs 15,600-39,100),” he added.

Same is the case with additional commissioners of income tax and central excise and scientists ‘E’, all of whom were drawing lesser pay than a lieutenant colonel, but have now been moved to PB-4, thereby not only bypassing lieutenant colonels in pay but also in status.

One of the key areas of discontent on announcement of the SPC recommendations in March was that the status of armed forces personnel was downgraded and they were equated with civilian officers at one grade lower than the present set-up.

While seniors lieutenant generals, who were overlooked for promotion as Army commanders due to lack of residual service, would get the grade of the Army commander (Rs 80,000), the anomaly in their status vis-à-vis status with director-generals of central police forces remains.

Director-generals of central police forces, who have also been granted the grade of Rs 80,000, are placed at Article 25 of the Warrant of Precedence, while lieutenant generals and Army commanders feature in Article 24 and Article 23 respectively and are, hence, senior.

Mohali, August 15
Religion was on a pedestal higher than
that of politics but at present, less importance was being given to it, said former Jathedar of Akal Takht Joginder Singh Vedanti here today.

Vedanti, who was addressing a press conference organised by the All-India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF), said the sovereignty of the supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs, Akal Takht Sahib, had been diminished as all Sikh institutions and organisations were under the direct observance of the state.

He said he would lead an effort to restore the sovereignty of the Akal Takht but cooperation of the Sikh masses in India and abroad was needed.

There was a need to set up a procedure for appointment and removal of Akal Takht jathedars. Till this was done, due respect would not be given to religious leaders.

The former Jathedar termed the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as “Sikh genocide” and said there were instances to prove that political leaders were allegedly involved in it. Sikhs had not been given justice even when 24 years had passed.

Now an organisation “Sikhs for Justice” and the AISSF had taken an initiative to bring the guilty to book and would help in this regard by mobilising Sikh masses in India and abroad.

Karnail Singh Peermohammad, president, AISSF, said public interest litigations would be filed in high courts in states where Sikhs were allegedly killed during 1984 riots.

This would be done so that high courts ordered CBI investigations into the alleged killing of the Sikhs.

Chandigarh, August 15
Chalking out the future road map of Chandigarh, the Punjab Governor and UT Administrator, Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd) said today that bringing e-governance at the doorsteps of city residents, amending the city’s archaic building bylaws and adding thrust to the mass rapid transit system by instituting the comprehensive mobility study to RITES were among the major initiatives taken by the Chandigarh Administration this year.

The Administrator while recalling the sacrifices of freedom fighters and martyrs for achieving the Independence, unfurling the National Flag during the Independence Day celebrations organised by the Chandigarh Administration at Parade Ground here.

Speaking on the occasion, the Administrator said the administration was working hard to make the city one of the best cities in all respects.

Giving an account of the initiatives and featuring the future development road map of the Union Territory, Chandigarh, the Administrator said the administration was working hard to make Chandigarh the number one city in every aspect.

Talking about environmental issues, he said with a view to saving our environment and preserving ecological balance, the administration has decided to ban polythene bags from October 2, 2008.

It has further been decided that no person will manufacture, store, import, sell or transport polythene or plastic carry bags in the Union Territory. Running of LPG autos was another step to check environmental pollution.

Other areas of concern were social sectors like health, education, social security and empowerment of women and children.

Besides imparting vocational and other skills to school students, the education department has provided broadband connectivity in 80 government schools or maintaining school records through a management information system.

On the health sector, state-of-art facilities at Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, had been launched.

The administration had further decided to connect the community center, Mani Majra, and the community health center, Sector 22, with Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Sector- 16, through the telemedicine project.

The administration has doubled financial assistance for the Scheduled Caste women, under the “post-natal financial assistance to Scheduled Castes women for nutrition” scheme, from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000.

Financial assistance for marriage of daughters of widows and destitute women belonging to Scheduled Castes has been doubled from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000.

Recognising the growing power of IT for development and progress, General Rodrigues said the software exports from Chandigarh have witnessed an upsurge, reaching Rs 678 crore in 2007-08, with the share of the Union Territory crossing Rs 400 crore.

At the e-Sampark centres, the administration has enhanced the number of services from the Sampark centres and had started the collection of BSNL landline and WLL bills at e-Sampark and e-gram Sampark centres from March 8, 2008.

The administration has further decided to receive all VAT/CST returns, at all e-Sampark centres spread over the city in order to extend services to the assesses.

Other new projects were the Nehru Centre for Performing Arts in Sector 34, a world-
class aquarium, the Le Corbusier Center at the Old Sector-19 office of Le Corbusier.

During the parade, contingents of the Chandigarh police, CRPF, ITBP, Punjab Armed Police, Punjab Armed Police, Haryana Armed Police, Chandigarh Traffic Police, Chandigarh Home Guard, Civil, Chandigarh Fire Service, NCC Boys and Girls Wings, Scouts and Guides, road safety platoons, NSS girls and Scouts and St John ambulance, Red Cross and schoolchildren from different schools took part in the impressive march past. A colourful cultural programme was presented by the schoolchildren.

Chandigarh, August 15
The Chandigarh Administration should transfer necessary funds to the corporation. Mayor Pradeep Chabbra stated this while addressing the 61st Independence Day celebrations here today.

He stressed on need for exchanging ideas, improving civic amenities and beautification of the city.

The NGOs should be roped in for undertaking social projects for promoting transparency and accountability in the functioning of the corporation.

He said gender budgeting for economic empowerment of women should be provided. Self-help groups and financial literacy for economic empowerment of the weaker section of society should also be promoted.

While sharing the development work Chabrra said the water supply to the city had been increased up to 16 to 19 hrs from 13 hours daily, provision of multi-level parking in Sector 17 had also been made, 55 bus shelters in different roads on the BOT basis would be constructed and old bus shelters renovated, infrastructure in industrial area Phase-I and Phase-II would be upgradated and night food street constructed. V-5 and V-6 roads in all sectors would also be widened under the pilot project. The hi-tech life saving equipments like breathing apparatus, RCC cutting machines, gas detector and proximity suits had been handed over to the fire and emergency services.

He said the corporation was working out a plan for promoting people friendly paid-parking system. The upgradation of the Mani Majra motor market is going on. The facilities like a school, a college, stadium and a multi purpose hall-cum-convention centre will also be constructed at Mani Majra once the master plan is finalised. The bio- methanation plant has been set up for the disposing the slaughterhouse waste, he added.

Panchkula, August 15
Commemorating Independence Day, The Gurukul, Sector 20, here organised many competitions and activities in the school. Many activities have been going on over the past week.

An Inter-House Board Decoration based on the theme of ‘Flavours of India’ was organised. A fancy dress competition was also held.

At Holy Child School, the solemn ceremony was attended by Brigadier Rajendra Singh, Deputy Director General, NCC, Northern India, as a chief guest.

He was accompanied by other dignatories of Panchkula along with the executive members of the All-Saints Educational Society.

The students presented a cultural show to pay homage to the Nation. The show began with a welcome address from school captains. This was followed by a disciplined drill and march past by all four houses.

Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector-15, Panchkula, held its annual prize distribution function (for classes III-XII) along with the Independence Day celebration.

The function commenced with the auspicious lighting of the lamp by the chief guest, chairman of the Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan Managing Committee, Panchkula Kendra, Kulwant Singh. In all 250 prizes were given away to the students.

Independence Day was celebrated in Doon Public School, Sector-21, Panchkula, with great enthusiasm and spirit yesterday.

The inauguration of the day was done by Maj. Gen (Dr.) Kulwant Singh, who
hoisted the Tricolour.

Chandigarh, August 15
The Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Tirath Singh Thakur today unfurled the National Flag on the occasion of 61st Independence Day on the premises of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Speaking on the occasion Justice Tirath Singh said this historic day, apart from being a day of celebrations was also an occasion for introspection and making assessment of our achievements of the past more than six decades.

It was also a day to ponder over our duties and responsibilities towards our
nation, he added.

Judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Advocate Generals and members of Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association were also present on the occasion.

Panchkula, August 15
Haryana parliamentary secretary, Transport, Rao Dan Singh, honoured 32 persons including students and others who contributed in the fields of education, sports and other acitivities on the occasion of Independence Day here today.

Earlier, the parliamentary secretary unfurled the National Flag and took salute and inspected the guard of honour. He honoured Jodh Singh, a freedom fighter form Karanpur
village also.

Others who got commendation from the chief guest include war widows Vidya Vati, Jagir Kaur, Dyal Kaur, Sulochna, Swaran Devi, Darshan Kaur, Santosh Devi, Hardev Kaur, Ram Pyari, and Bala Ram.

The contingent of Haryana Armed Police Forces led by ASI Lakshmi Chand in the march past was adjudged first on the occasion.

Similarly, the NCC contingent led by Rinku Singla from Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 15, was adjudged the best among the schools.

Among the troupes who performed cultural programmes on the occasion, the first place was shared by Jainender Public School, Sector 1 and Shishu Niketan School, Mansa Devi Complex.

Second and third places were clinched by CLDAV, Sector 11, and Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 15.

The students who were honoured for outsanding achivement in education include Nitika of KVM S S School, Raipur Rani, Kriti Wadhwa of Azad S S School, Pinjore, Amit of Sarthak Public School, 12-A, Panchkula,

Girija of Government S S School, Raipur Rani, Viaks of New India S S School,
Sector 15, Tanu Shree of Hans Raj Public School, and Tushar Dogra of Manav
Mangal School.

Rohit Bajaj and Malika Sharma of Haryana Model School of Sector 10 were also honoured for outstanding performance in the field of sports.

Mohali, August 15
Defence Accounts Pensioners’ Welfare Association has urged the Haryana government to issue identity cards to senior citizens so that they could avail themselves of the benefits provided by the Central and state governments to them.

At a meeting of the association, it was pointed out that senior citizen I-card was considered an important document.

All states and union territories, except Haryana, had issued I-cards to senior citizens so that they could avail themselves of the benefits.

The association urged the Haryana government to consider the matter as top priority and delink these cards from the voter I-card as the senior citizens card was altogether different in nature.

The association demanded that the paying guest facility being provided by house owners should be withdrawn as it was a commercial activity.

The Chandigarh administration had issued a notification two years ago according to which registration with the estate office and the area SHOs was mandatory for introducing the PG facility.

The deputy commissioner of Chandigarh had recently sought a fresh survey of PGs and strict enforcement of rules.

In Mohali, GMADA had allowed PG facility in houses measuring eight marlas and above. Residents had argued that by allowing PG business in residential areas, GMADA had violated its own laws as it amounted to permitting commercial activity.

However, the deputy commissioner had asked GMADA authorities to review its decision while the Punjab DGP asked the Mohali SSP for police verification of PGs.

In Haryana, town planner and estate officer of HUDA had pointed out that no guidelines were issued relating to PGs because commercial activity in residential areas was banned.

The association demanded that the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007 should be implemented on a priority basis and price rise of essential commodities should be checked.

He sought pay as per the scale of the assistant excise and taxation commissioner from November 29, 1988, to June 15, 1995.

According to a press note issued here, for any assistance on the RTI-related queries Garg can be contacted at 9872692400.

The liquor war between Punjab and Chandigarh is getting hotter day by day. To check the smuggling of liquor into Punjab from Chandigarh, liquor contractor of Punjab are not only employing muscle men but suspended Punjab cops also.

Enterprising liquor contractor of Baltana village (Mohali district), adjoining Raipur Khurd village, are taking services of suspended constables to check the flow of liquor into Punjab.

The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference’s president Omar Abdullah, a suave, upright and the third-generation politician, has recently bade adieu to blogging which he had undertook in April this year.

In his last post “Alvida” he expressed his anguish over heap of abuses hurled on him and Kashmiri Muslims in comments on his posts. (<http://jknc.org/blog/>)

It is a personal decision of Omar Abdullah to start and close blog. He cited cyber-hatred as a reason for arriving at the painful decision. But perhaps he concentrated only on his blog and comments on the posts, made by him, otherwise he would not have abandoned blogging.

His brief (one minute) speech in the Lok Sabha during the Trust Motion has been appreciated in the blogosphere. He had said, “The enemies of Indian Muslims are not the Americans, and the enemies of the Indian Muslims are not ‘deals’ like this.

The enemies of Indian Muslims are the same enemies that all poor people of India face, namely, poverty and hunger, unemployment, lack of development and the absence of a voice. It is that we are against, namely, the effort being made to crush our voice.”

(<http://www.blogbharti.com/sudipta/india/omar-abdullas-blog/>)

Any online debate on blogs on sensitive issue of Hindu-Muslim relations leads to a heap of hatred-comments, even exceeding the limits of civilised conversation, often leading to unsubstantiated accusations and counter-accusations. Does it mean we should shun this new medium of blogging? Can we stop the march of technology?

The equally disgusting is the mushroom growth of cyber-zealots. The skilled young surfers - the very people whom the internet might have liberated from the shackles of state-sponsored ideologies - are using the wonders of electronics to stoke hatred between communities, races or religions.

The medium of internet is being used to fuel and indulge prejudices. In fact, spreading hatred on the web has become far easier since the sharp drop in the cost of producing, storing and distributing digital content.

Moreover, a decade ago, a zealot seeking to prove some absurd proposition - such as the denial of the Nazi holocaust - might spend days of research in library looking for obscure works of propaganda.

Today, digital versions of these books, even those out of print for decades, are accessible in dedicated online libraries. In short, it has never been easier to propagate hatred and lies.

The internet has also become a platform for cyber-dissidents who are professional journalists or citizen journalists who post news, information or comments on the internet that implies criticism of a government or regime.

Cyber-dissidents are more pronounced in regions of the world where media, including print, broadcast and electronic are tightly controlled.

In such countries, anonymous online postings on various blogs by cyber-dissidents remain the only source of information about the experiences, feelings, and opinions of ordinary citizens.

It is also a fact that this advantage may be offset by the difficulty in assessing the good faith and accuracy of reports originating from anonymous sources.

At first sign, the posts by cyber-dissidents on various blogs look like one more
case of a clumsy, authoritarian government being wrong-footed by nimble creatures from cyberspace who acknowledge no borders and can leap effortlessly over almost any obstacle.

YouTube, the website that dominates the market in user-generated, online videos (or in plain language, a place where almost anybody can post a film about almost anything) is replete with negative images of leaders like George Bush.

A few months ago, YouTube was blocked by Thailand’s Military backed government. The ban was imposed in a fit of indignation over a 44-second clip that mocked the country’s monarch. According to the Economist magazine, it was a crude bit of work, showing King Bhumibol Adulyadej with feet over his face and mouth, an image certain to offend Thai Buddhists.

Thailand’s rulers have a big stake in the sovereign’s prestige. However, the ban backfired. Within days of the site being blocked in Thailand, the clip was seen more than 16,000 times by people around the world.

Then the clip was removed by its maker but it succeeded in unleashing a chain of clips, also insulting to the king, on the website. Little wonder, a lot of Thais blamed the government for turning an obscure bit of nonsense into a global free-speech issue. And Bangkok’s youngsters, as internet-savvy as their counterparts all over the world, rushed to view the anti-royalist footage on alternative providers.

When Russian president Vladimir Putin in 2006 called on his nation women to have more children, journalist Vladimir Rakhmankov published a satiric article on the Internet calling Putin “the nation’s phallic symbol”. Rakhmankov was found guilty and fined by the court.

China’s official internet-monitoring body has announced a few days ago that China had passed America, the inventor of Internet, to become home to the biggest population of internet users. The torrent of information now accessible online and the ability to discuss it give many young urban Chinese a sense of freedom that their parents could only dream of at that age. Even then China remains the worst case of blockade of online’s voice.

Amnesty International report is blocked in China. Same is the fate of the Wikipedia. The Chinese rulers are in no mood to relax curb on internet, the last bastion of free speech. The assurance to make internet free of any restriction during the Olympic Games has also gone haywire.

Recently, Huang Qi, an online activist based in Chengdu, a city near the earthquake zone was detained. He had been a prolific publisher of human-rights news on the internet. He has been accused of acquiring state secrets, a charge that often heralds a jail term. But have the Chinese rulers been able to contain cyber-dissidence by resorting to such tactics? No! It is bound to boomerang. It may lead to a Tianamen Square in cyberspace.

The situation is not altogether different in many third word countries and Communist regimes as well as mideast countries.

AnilM is an editor with Instablogs.com.

AnilM@instablogs.com.

Chandigarh, August 15
Premises of KB DAV-7, Chandigarh, was filled with zeal of patriotism today to mark the 62nd Independence Day today.

The celebrations started with paying tribute to the martyrs of nation. School principal Madhu Bahl hoisted the national flag and national anthem added to the spirit of patriotism.

Enthusiastic tiny tots of pre-nursery performed on number 'chak de India’. Next came up nursery lads dressed up as soldiers presenting an item on 'yeh desh hai veer jawano ka'.

Kindergarten kids came up with latest number ‘welcome, welcome’. Seniormost among the junior section, Class I, presented drill attired in Tricolour costume. The programme concluded with a presentation of patriotic song by the school choir.

Green Castle Public School-47: Green Castle Public School, Sector 47, celebrated the day with great pomp and show.

The programmme began with the hoisting of the Tricolour by chairman of the school, Rajesh Kapoor, while principal, Mankotia, gave a welcome speech.

A drill was presented by students. Tiny tots of the school gave a performance on a patriotic song.

Teachers of the school too presented a patriotic song which was followed by a fancy dress competition of nursery students.

St Thomas School-18: Independence Day celebrations started with a word of prayer at St Thomas School, Sector 18.

Manager of the school, Emmanual Nahar, hoisted the flag. Students presented a small cultural programme which was followed by drill and bhangra. In the end, sweets were distributed among the students.

DAVSSS-8: Patriotic fervour marked the Independence Day celebrations at the DAV school, Sector 8.

School principal, Vibha Ray, unfurled the national flag at a brief function attended by hundreds of students and teachers. Several competitions, including patriotic songs, were other highlight of the day.

DAV Model School-15: The celebrations started with a Yajna performed by members of staff with prayers.

Students exhibited their prowess in activities like drawing and poster-making from Classes I to X. Venture of oratory skills was also performed. Principal, Rakesh Sachdeva, unfurled the Tricolour.

Students presented dances and songs and recited poetry. Sweets were distributed. CEd department of the school presented a dance and group song.

GMSSS-33: A cultural activities like group songs, poems, dances by school students was presented during the celebrations which was presided over by Rajesh Kumar Gupta, municipal councillor. Highlight was the participation of students of Alternative Innovative Education (AIE) centre and Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan.

These students were from GMSSS-47, GMSSS-33, GHS-31 and GHS-47.Children with best performance were also honoured. Movies like Wagah Border were also shown to the students.

GMSSS-47: Around 90 NCC cadets, along with more than 1000 students, presented colourful programme to mark the day. A rally by students of SSA was also organised to motivate the children for education.

Cultural programme included patriotic songs, dances and skits. Damini of Class VI and Sakshi of Class IX delivered speeches on the freedom movement.

Girl students of Class XI presented patriotic group songs and dances. Priyanka and Mehak of Class III recited poems.

GMSSS-35: Neelam Damija, representative of Arya Mahila Sangathan, Chandigarh, unfurled the national flag at the school.

A cultural programme was presented by students of the school and students of the AIE Centre, falling under the cluster head of the school. PTA president, Jasbir Singh, gave away the prizes to the participants of the AIE Centre.

GMHS-43: The school celebrated the spirit of independence on its school campus. Headmistress Anita Kapoor started the celebration by hoisting the national flag followed by cultural programme presented by students.

The school and PTA members honoured the prize winners who participated for a week in different activities and competitions concerning Independence Day like poster making, essay writing, solo song, poetry recitation, fancy dress and rangoli.

GMHS-26: The students of the school presented songs, dance and fancy dress. Dilip Kumar and Raj Kumari told the students to stay away from drugs.The students of AIE Centre also participated in the programme.

St Xavier’s School-44: Virat, a student of Class VII, through his vibrant speech, enriched the students with value of Independence Day.

School principal, Mervin West, hoisted the national flag followed by national anthem and song and dance by students.

Carmel Convent-9: Colorful flags, march past, patriotic songs, motivational speeches and a pledge to make the city polythene-free marked the day.

Class XII students commenced the programme with a prayer for the nation. Maths teacher Kalia then hoisted the flag and the entire school sang the national anthem.

This was followed by a march past by Classes X, XI and XII, after which Class X students sung a Hindi patriotic song. Following this, Nazuk Kumar delivered a motivational speech.

Kendriya Vidyalaya- 47: A Tae-Kwang-Do show was presented by the students. Tiny tots from the primary sections dressed up as freedom fighters and sang patriotic songs.

Mansi rendered the song ‘Ae mere watan ke logo’. Geetanjali Niar, president, AFWWA (L) 12 Wing, distributed sweets among the students. Air Cmde S.R.K. Nair, VM, AOC 12 Wing, chairman, VMC, was the chief guest.

A poem by Navjot Kaur urged to have an optimistic attitude towards life. Imran’s speech was full of patriotic fervour laced with couplets and quotations.

Delhi Public School-40: Head girl and Head boy of the school gave a message to preserve and uphold the hard-won freedom.

Principal Reema Dewan applauded the contribution of the young Indians in bringing about a dynamic change in the present society.

Later, the school choir sang the patriotic songs like ‘Saare jahan se achha’ and ‘Vande Mataram’, which all the students and staff joined in. The celebrations concluded with refreshments.

Pandit Mohan Lal SD Public School-32: Principal Manju Bhardwaj hoisted the national flag and the national anthem was sung by school students.

Activities related to Independence Day like extempore speech, poems, patriotic and action songs were held and prizes were given to the winners during the function.

In extempore speech, Darpan of Class XII (commerce), Yati of Class XII (arts) and Gurjeet of Class XI (commerce) bagged the first, second and third prizes, respectively. Patriotic song competition was also held in which Sunil of Class XII (commerce) was awarded the first prize.

Sacred Heart-26: A variety programme of songs and dances conveying the patriotic zeal of the young generation were organised on the occasion.

A quiz on energy conservation was held in the school premises with the students of senior classes taking part in. The programme ended with the national anthem.

Saupin's School-32: Students, along with members of the staff, were present on the occasion. It all started with a welcome speech, flag-hoisting and the national anthem. This was followed by the march past and the cultural programme.

Patriotic songs like 'Ae mere watan ke logo' and 'Vande matram' were sung. Students presented a colourful dance on the tune of 'Rung de basnti'. Solo instrumental music events were presented by Avtansh of Class VIII and Sanskriti of Class V.

Mohali, August 15
Swami Vivekanand Group of Institutes celebrated Independence Day on its campus. The programme was attended by over 150 hostel students, senior faculty members, staff members, management, directors and principals of various institutes under the umbrella of Swami Vivekanand Group.

Chairman of the group Ashwani Garg hoisted the National Flag. He was escorted by Satinder Pal Singh, Sergeant, Indian Air Force (retd). Dr Sanjay Bajaj, principal, Swami Vivekanand College of Pharmacy, concluded the function by presenting the
vote of thanks.

Chandigarh, August 15
Greetings, guard of honour, march past, patriotic songs, honouring of employees and colourful performances by students and distribution of sweets and snacks formed part of Independence Day celebrations on Panjab University campus here today.

Students of music department, Ankur School, PU, Government Model School, Sector 26, SGGS School, Ratwara Sahib, scouts and guides of Chandigarh and children from Bhaskar Colony presented their items. Prof R.C. Sobti, vice-chancellor, hoisted the national flag.

Recalling the supreme sacrifices of freedom fighters, Dr Sobti emphasised on the need to secure and fortify the hard-earned freedom and for efforts to take the country to newer heights.

“The need of the hour is to develop healthy team spirit, deep commitment and zest for profession to arrest crises of our times.”

Listing the achievements, the vice-chancellor said the university could take pride in having overhauled the examination system where there were no result late cases and timely declaration of results.

There had been transparency in internal assessments and practical awards. The university would soon have indoor shooting range, turf for lawn tennis and plastic surface for hockey ground, he added.

The vice-chancellor shared his sense of satisfaction in having initiated steps in making the university a no-smoking zone, polythene-free and garbage-free campus. The university had developed gardens, which included Rose Garden, Trifla Garden, Palm Garden, Hibiscus and Bougainvillea Path. He complimented the university ecological society in arousing ‘green consciousness’ among residents.

He also made a fervent plea to observe first Monday of every month as a ‘no-vehicle day’ at the campus.

He also complimented the student community for forming student body Sankalap for undertaking cleanliness on the campus.

Names of the employees who were awarded mementoes, cash prizes of Rs 1,100 each and commendation certificates for their commitment, sincerity and alacrity are: Dharminder Kumar, Vinay Kaushik, Anil Kumar Sharma, Mridula Kumari, Ram Dev and Ravinder Kumar, Gurcharan Singh, Desh Raj, Dinesh Kumar, Baghicha Singh, Amardeep Singh, Kunal Singh and Avtar Singh.

Chandigarh, August 15
Students of the department of mass communication and journalism, Panjab University, now have an opportunity to get hands-on experience in public relations while studying.

For the department is soon going to start a ‘young PR chapter’, in collaboration with Public Relations Society of India (PRSI), for the students who want to make a career in public relations.

Under the proposal, the students will be given demo lectures by industry professionals, generation of solution-driven case studies, work on live projects, organisation of events and conferences, right from the concept to implementation.

“The objective is to bridge the academia-industry gap and to give the students an idea of what it takes to belong to a profession, including abiding by its code of practice and to evaluate the work when benchmarked against industry standards,” said Mohanmeet Khosla, chairperson of the department.

“We are also looking at having the same kind of structured industry-academia interaction where the other areas of mass communication are concerned as well,” she added.

Similar proposals have also been sent to the department of mass communication, Punjabi University, Patiala, and Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan, here.

“The young PR will be an extension of PRSI. The idea is to give the students an exposure to handle real projects and clients. Right from conceptualising to
organising resource persons, to getting sponsors, the students will do it all in
regular monthly exercises under the programme. This will help the budding PR professionals make good contacts in the industry as well,” said Renuka Salwan, former chairperson, PRSI.

Echoing similar views, Charanjit Singh, managing director of Core PR, and former regional vice-president, PRSI, said: “Around six to seven activities will be organised in the department in a month and all the case studies will be evaluated by industry professionals. The students will be asked to handle PR campaigns and will also learn ethical aspects and practical aspects of PR industry.”

For the projects, the students will be given awards and certificates, which will help them enhance their job prospects.

Chandigarh, August 15
Independence Day was celebrated by the staff and students of Government College for Girls, Sector 11, here with great fervour and gaiety today. Principal Promila Kaushal, unfurled the national flag.

Volunteers of NSS made patriotic speeches and appealed to the students to uphold the unity and integrity. Students of music department presented patriotic songs.

Government College of Education-20

The occasion was celebrated with traditional patriotic fervour in the college. Dr Joginder Mukherjee, senior lecturer unfurled the national flag. Dr Harsh Batra, principal of the college, recalled the sacrifices of our great freedom fighters.

She saluted the valiant soldiers and security forces of the nation for successfully guarding the frontiers of our nation and to keep pride and dignity of the nation.

She also spoke on the need for working towards eradication of long-standing social evils like dowry, discrimination against girl child, female foeticide, domestic violence and drug addiction.

Government College-11

The celebrations commenced with hoisting of the national flag by college principal Dr A.L. Gauba. Dr Gauba highlighted the need to minimise social evils prevalent in the society such as illiteracy, ignorance, dowry, corruption, child abuse, female foeticide and gender discrimination.

He exhorted the students to channelise their energies and potential in the best possible manner. Pragmatic, positive and planned life of the youth can strengthen the society thereby augmenting strength to the nation, said Dr Gauba.

First issue of the monthly newsletter ‘Ripples’ prepared by public relations wing of the college was also released by the college principal.

A special issue of the wall magazine was also prepared and presented by the wing. Students of the music department presented patriotic songs.

Dev Samaj College of Education-36

NSS units of the college celebrated Independence Day with great zeal and enthusiasm in the college premises.

The children of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries Of Charity-23 hoisted the national flag and sang national song. This was followed by a group song ‘Prano se pyare Bharat’.

The college students presented a skit ‘Jashan-e-Azadi’. The students also presented various patriotic songs.

Dr Shashi Jain, director, Dev Samaj College Of Education, was the chief guest. Shashi Jain stressed self discipline in order to remain away from the evils prevailing in our society.

In the end, children were presented token of appreciation as a gesture of thanks and were also given refreshments.

GCC and Business Administration

Principal Dr A.S. Sethi unfurled the national flag followed by a cultural programme by the staff and students. Prof Bhupinder Singh, former principal of the college also took part in the celebrations.

Students presented cultural items on freedom struggle, songs and speeches. The martyrdom of Saheed Chander Shekar Azad was enacted by students of the college.

Chandigarh, August 15
Government College for Girls, Sector 11, retained top positions in Punjab University examinations 2007-08.

According to college principal Promila Kaushal, the GCG students, from both postgraduate and undergraduate classes, have done brilliantly in the recently announced annual result by the Panjab University.

The postgraduate departments of public administration and music instrumental have bagged all the top positions.

The department of psychology made the college proud as its BA II (Hons) students got all the first three top ranks in the annual exam.

In the stream of BCA and Bcom, the pass per centage was almost 100 per cent, more than 80 per cent of which got first divisions.

Pardip Kaur, who stood first in MA Ist year Music (Instrumental) and Navneet Kaur, who stood MA Ist in Public Administration examination conducted by Panjab University in Chandigarh.