|
|
|
|
Grand welcome to Queen’s Baton in Doon
Information on wheels
|
|
|
Nainital next destination
Prem Kumar, a paralympic player, carries the Queen’s Baton in Dehradun on Tuesday. A Tribune photo
Human power fuels Mussoorie giant wheels
UGC team inspects Dev Sanskriti varsity
Attention kids
Meet targets on time, DM tells officials
The Uttarakhand tae-kwon-do team that has won the second position in the Second UP Tae-kwon-do Cup held
at Saharanpur recently.
Uttarakhand Police thrash Pachwadoon Club 3-0
Orientation on Youth Parliament concludes
NCC cadets of 29th Uttarakhand Battalion participate in a tree plantation drive
in Dehradun on Tuesday.
Roshi steers Sarvodaya Club to victory
|
|
Grand welcome to Queen’s Baton in Doon
Dehradun, July 6 A large number of people witnessed the run as they gathered on roadsides, terraces and streets to have a glimpse of the historical baton. Eminent sportspersons and budding sportsmen of the state were present at different points to run the baton. The baton relay received a grand reception outside the Raj Bhawan, where besides other state dignitaries, the Governor and the Chief Minister were also present. Both handed over the baton to first-runner Arjuna awardeee Padam Bahadur Mall. Mall, who bagged the first Asian gold medal in boxing for the country, said, “I am ecstatic and it is a proud moment for me. It is a matter of pride for Uttarakhand that the Queen’s baton has come here. It will be a big encouragement for the sportspersons of the region”. He passed on the baton to hockey ace Hardyal Singh, who represented the country five times and has been chief coach of junior and senior national hockey teams. Among other known sportspersons were Narender Singh Rana, Surender Singh, Amar Bahadur and BS Rawat. “This will create a spirit of sportsmanship among all. This really is a great event for the state as well as the country,” Surender Singh, Asiad rowing champion, said. Governor Margaret Alva, CM Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, state minister Prakash Pant and former CM ND Tiwari also graced the occasion. Later, the run culminated at the auditorium of the Parade Ground where sportspersons were honoured. Vidhan Sabha Speaker Harbans Kapoor addressed the gathering. The baton will be taken to Haridwar tomorrow morning. The Queen's Baton Relay carries a message from the Queen, Head of the Commonwealth Games, and is handed over to the first runner of the relay. At the opening ceremony of the games, it is handed back to the Queen. As per its tradition, the relay started from the Buckingham Palace in London and made a tour of the whole world. And today, it was the turn of Uttarakhand to receive the baton after it reached the state having visited other northern states.
|
|
Information on wheels
Haridwar, July 6 People’s interest can be gauged by the fact that despite heavy rain continuing for the past two days in the region, people from far-flung areas are coming to get information about the Commonwealth Games and advances in the IT in India. Visitors are also coming from nearby areas of Dehradun,
Mussoorie, Roorkee, Lakshar, Mangalore, Kotdwar and other districts to see the exhibits put up on the coaches. Comprising six bogies equipped with modern facilities and IT, the train is primarily a store house of all information related to the Commonwealth Games, specifically the upcoming XIXth New Delhi Commonwealth Games. The Commonwealth Express is on a 101-day journey covering 20 states touching a total of 49 major railway stations. The journey began on January 24 from New Delhi where the mega sporting event is scheduled to be hosted from October 3 to 14. The information about the first Commonwealth Games held in 1930 at Hamilton in New Zealand and a number of stadiums and 17 sports disciplines of the Delhi Games is available on the train. Models of the venues such as Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which is being rebuilt and will host the opening ceremony of the games, Talkatora Stadium, Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium (hockey event), Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, Siri Fort Sports Complex and Yamuna Sports Complex are displayed on the coaches. Apart from information on the Commonwealth Games, the train is also showcasing the success story of India in the field of the technology since ancient times when information was given via the smoke of chimneys to the present-day high-end IT technology of electronic mails and short-messaging services. In one of the coaches, the national e-governance programme is showcased. Another coach throws light on the information technology in the corporate world highlighting the immense role essayed by the IT in economic development, specially in the industrial sector. The relation between government nodal agencies and the common man is depicted in the fifth coach, focusing on service agencies
and programmes. A coach is given the shape of an auditorium and once a person is inside it he finds himself in a different world. The latest technological usages, life cellular technology, computer technology and related features are depicted in this auditorium through various models, signifying the technological advances and penetration in the IT sector. “This is one of the most innovative, people-friendly and best ways of disseminating a message. The response has been overwhelming in the eight cities we have visited till date,” said one of the exhibitors.
|
|
Nainital next destination
Nainital, July 6 The local administration has declared a half-day for schools in the town and it has also been announced that the Mall Road shall remain closed for the traffic from 3 pm to 5 pm when the relay moves from Tallital to the District Sports Authority grounds. The relay will reach Kailakhan by a chopper and then move to the Tourist Rest House at Sukhatal with the team taking a brief rest. Later, it will be received with traditional grandeur at the Tallital bus stand where folk artistes will present the Chholiya Dance. The relay will then move to the District Sports Association (DSA) grounds via Mallital Bazar. Prominent sports persons from across the region have started arriving for the event. Schoolchildren will cheer the relay as it moves through the Mall Road and a band will accompany these children. A human chain will be formed by the citizens at the DSA where there will also be a physical training display. This will be followed by a cultural evening at the Chalet Hall. The Queen's Baton Relay is similar to the Olympic Torch Relay. It is a relay held around the world prior to the beginning of the Commonwealth Games. The baton carries a message from the Head of the Commonwealth, currently Queen’s Elizabeth II. The relay traditionally begins at Buckingham Palace in London as a part of the city's Commonwealth Day festivities. The Queen entrusts the baton to the first relay runner. At the opening ceremony of the games, the final relay runner hands the baton back to the Queen or her representative, who reads the message aloud to officially declare the games open. Delhi is set to host the Commonwealth Games from October 3 to 14. It will be the biggest sporting extravaganza to be held in India after 1982 Asiad. India's only gold medallist at the Beijing Olympics, shooter Abhinav Bindra, was the first baton-bearer of the longest relay for any Commonwealth Games.
|
|
Human power fuels Mussoorie giant wheels
Mussoorie, July 6 According to Nitin Gupta, owner of the giant wheel at the Jhoola Ghar, he bought the manual giant wheel for Rs 2,000 in 1974 during the tenure of Nagar Palika chairman Bhola Singh Rawat. The wheel has a seating capacity of 16 and is operated by experienced staff. Tourists are attracted towards the giant wheel because it’s operated manually, thus is safe, says Nitin. Watching operators show their acrobatic skills on the wheel is a treat for tourists from India and abroad. This is one of the very few manual giant wheels left in the country, adds Nitin. A worker at the giant wheel, Tulsi, has been operating it with acrobatic skills to the surprise of tourists for the past 27 years. During his childhood he used to sit and watch tourists enjoying the ride and watch his guru Kalia display acrobatic skills on the wheel. Attracted by the acrobatic skills required in the job, Tulsi at the age of 15 decided to join as junior operator under the tutelage of his guru Kalia. Since then, Tulsi has succeeded in bringing a smile on the faces of millions of tourists, adults and children alike. Tulsi, speaking exclusively to The Tribune, said: “As the giant wheel is not powered by electricity, they climb in pairs to operate it with their legs, and once it starts rolling, things become easy”. He said sometimes they had to work till 11 pm during peak season. Speaking about the risks involved in the job, a resolute Tulsi recalls that he met with a major accident two years ago when he fell from the top of the wheel onto the ground. He got his both legs fractured and received 18 stitches. But, he was up again within a few months doing the same job. He, however, says the wages are paltry and it is becoming difficult to run the house amid rising prices. Being single, he is just managing, adds Tulsi. The giant wheel at the Children’s Park has not witnessed any major accident, barring a few minor ones in the ’80s. The family of a tourist from Patiala, Balvinder Singh, was of the view that the giant wheel was an expression of freedom and adventure for his kids. He said it offered a good alternative to adventure sports like mountaineering, but without the physical effort involved. “You get to enjoy a view of the surroundings from a great height,”
he said. Tourist Vishal from Meerut said the giant wheel served as a way to be near one’s
girl friend, who is afraid of heights. Another tourist Pankaj Handa from Delhi was of the view that the incredible view and the chance of stealing a kiss from your lover at the crest, are just a few of the highlights of this attraction. Funtech Amusement Ltd director and maker of joy rides in the country Perwej Yusufi was of the view that the demand for manual giant wheels has decreased as people are inclined towards the wheels that can touch sky, literally. Such a height can be attained only through hydraulic or electric-powered motors, hence, they have stopped building
manual giant wheels. According to local historian Gopal Bhardwaj, the history of the giant wheel is very old and rural folks in India have been riding on small gondolas run on the same principle in local fairs since ages. Roman traveller Pietro Della Valle has mentioned in his letters sent from Constatinople in 1615. Describing about the giant wheel during a Ramadan festival in Constantinople, he says: “I was delighted to find myself swept upwards and downwards at a such speed. But, the wheel turned round so rapidly that a Greek who was sitting near me couldn’t bear it any longer, and shouted out ‘soni! soni!’ (enough! enough!)”. The modern giant wheel is also known as the Ferris wheel as it was designed and constructed by George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. The term Ferris wheel later came to be used generically for all such structures. The Ferris wheel was launched at Chicago’s Columbian Exposition in 1893 as an attraction similar to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Since the launch of the original Ferris wheel of 1893, there have been eight tallest-ever Ferris wheels set up across the world. The current record holder is the 165-metre-high Singapore Flyer, which opened to the public in March, 2008. The 208-metre-high Beijing Great Wheel, under construction since 2007 and originally planned to open in 2008, has been delayed
until 2010. But, come what may, the charm of manually operated giant wheel will remain in Mussoorie till men like Tulsi are there
in Mussoorie.
|
|
UGC team inspects Dev Sanskriti varsity
Haridwar July 6 This visit by the UGC team is being carried out as per University Grant Commission (Formation and Maintenance of Standards Act-2003) applicable to all private universities to see that they conform to minimum guidelines and standards as per directions of the commission. The UGC team also met teachers, non-teaching employees and students taking information of the education environment, facilities, achievements and available infrastructural facilities. The delegation was apprised of innovative activities being conducted by the university like Gyan Deeksha wherein students were given moral education prior to the start of every academic session, programmes conducted by the School of Yoga and Health viz arogya polyclinic, panchkarma, naturopathy, computer lab, digitalised laboratory, gaushala, activities related with village management department, herbal science publicity, religion, science department operated six main religion-based educational activities, animation project, activities related with scientific spiritualism, school of education based newly commenced BEd, education science, tourism, research-publication, journalism-mass communication, public relations and employment related activities. The three-day evaluation concluded today with the team quite impressed by the Gyan Deeksha programme conducted on Sunday, which the team attended. Later, a meeting with Chancellor of the DSU Dr Pranav took place in presence of Vice-Chancellor Dr SP Mishra wherein UGC delegates discussed on the status and till date working of the university. The UGC delegation comprised team head Professor Vachaspati Upadhyay, Chancellor Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, New Delhi, while other seven members were Vice-Chancellors Prof Pankaj Chandey Kali Das Sanskrit University Nagpur, Prof Aditya Shastri Vanasthali Vidyapeeth, Dr IB VS Reddy director Morarji Desai National Yog Institure, Dr SN Roy, former Vice-Chancellor Lucknow University, Prof SN Kapoor former departmental head (ancient studies) Lucknow University, Dr Lata Kapoor of physchology department, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, and Dr PK Singh Joint secretary UGC.
|
|
If you believe playing video games instead of watching TV is less harmful for your child, think again, as a new study has claimed too much video games can sap a child's attention just as much as the idiot box. Researchers at the Iowa State University in Ames found that children who spend more than two hours daily in playing video games are 67 per cent more likely to suffer from attention problem compared to those who don't play less. According to them, watching TV and playing video games appear to have roughly the same link to attention problems, even though the latter is considered a less passive activity. Edward Swing, the lead author of the study, said: "Video games aren't less likely than television to be related to attention problems." "They were at least as strong as television at predicting attention problems," Swing was quoted as saying by a news channel. However, the study doesn't prove that video games directly cause attention problems. It could be that kids who have short attention spans to begin with might be more likely to pick up a joystick than a book, said the researchers. The relationship between video games and attention is probably a two-way street, Swing said. "It wouldn't surprise me if children who have attention problems are attracted to these media, and that these media increase the attention problems." Swing and his colleagues followed more than 1,300 children in the third, fourth, and fifth grades for a little over a year. The researchers asked both the kids and their parents to estimate how many hours per week the kids spent watching TV and playing video games, and they assessed the children's attention spans by surveying their schoolteachers. By looking at video-game use as well as TV watching, they were able to show for the first time that the two activities have a similar relationship to attention problems. — PTI
|
||
|
Meet targets on time, DM tells officials
Nainital, July 6 Bagauli was chairing a meeting at his office to evaluate the performance of various departments with regards to the implementation of the Central-sponsored schemes. He once again underlined that the officials must pull up their socks for achieving the targets given to them for the current financial year. It was underlined that the officials must ensure that the projects are executed in a planned manner and emphasis laid on qualitative work. The officials were asked to strive for executing the tasks pertaining to the 20-Point Programme in such a way that they are placed in A grade. The Chief Medical Officer was asked to ensure that the money lying with his office for the completion of works under the National Rural Health Mission
(NRHM) is spent optimally and the works are completed at the earliest. He was asked to take certificates for the completion of tasks from the officials entrusted with various responsibilities. The Health Department officials were asked to ensure that the vaccination programmes are run as per their schedule and there is no delay. The officials were asked to submit monthly reports with regards to the implementation of the developmental projects. The District Magistrate evaluated the execution of projects under schemes like the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
(NREGA), projects funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana
(PMGSY) etc. He once again asked the officials to ensure that works pertaining to tree plantation, water conservation and storage are executed effectively during the monsoons by making optimal use of the opportunity provided under
NREGA. Referring to the progress under the PMGSY, it was ordered that the works under Phase IV be completed by the end of the current financial year.
|
||
|
U’khand is UP Tae-kwon-do Cup runners up
Dehradun, July 6 Congratulating the team for the feat, president of the academy Jagdish Rana said, “This is very heartening day for us as the players have made the Uttarakhand state proud by winning laurels in UP”. As many as 32 schools had participated in this championship. In 23 kg category, Mohit Bisht of DN Saini School and Rachit Bisht of SGRR School got gold medal won gold medals. Other medal winners: Gold: Himanshu Saini (Government School), Saksham Tomar (The Montessori School), Aarti Gupta (Dehradun Sports College) Silver: Viplav Anant (Centre School) Bronze: Adarsh Kumar (SGRR School), Satender Kumar (Government School), Mohit Gupta (Government Inter College).
|
||
|
Uttarakhand Police thrash Pachwadoon Club 3-0
Dehradun, July 6 Uttarakhand Police’s Narendra (1st), Saurav (4th) and Himanshu (5th) scored back-to-back goals to put their team at a comfortable position quite early in the game. On the other hand, the Pachwadoon seemed no match for the Police team that routed it easily. However, the former managed to restrict the latter to score goal in the second half but it was too late an effort. In the second match played today, the Khalanga Boys beat Doon Valley 1-0. Khalanga’s Gokul (46th) scored the goal in the victory of the team. Meanwhile, the Cantt Blue and Garhwal Sporting are slated to meet tomorrow.
|
|
Orientation on Youth Parliament concludes
Dehradun, July 6 The programme was organised as a 23 National Youth Parliamentary Competition where 30 teachers of different units of the Kendriya Vidhyalaya had participated. Teachers and principals of other schools had also attended the programme. Dignitaries and intellectuals from the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and other departments of the Centre were also there at the closing ceremony. The chief guest of the occasion was Baijnath, Managing Director, ONGC, who culminated
the programme. The orientation was organised with a vision of holistic assessment of a learner, which also included co-scholastic area of life skills, attitudes and values, sports and games as well as co-curricular activities of a student. Also present at the occasion were R Kalawati, Assistant Commissioner (Education), Jagdish Mohan Rawat, Dr Anshu Sharma, RC Mohanty, NS Rana, Dr Inderjit and many others.
|
|
NCC organises tree plantation drive
Dehradun, July 6 Pahwa gave the details of NCC activities planned during 2010-11 in Uttarakhand. The activities would include both military and non-military subjects, social services, career counselling, disaster management, traffic control, treks to under-developed areas of the state, national integration camps, IMA attachment, unit attachment camps, combined annual training camps, blood donation camps and tree plantations. While addressing the gathering, Pahwa said, “The planting of trees will go a long way in reducing the effects of global warming improving the environment and reducing the effects of different types of pollution of air.” The NCC cadets also undertook the plantation programme where more than 1,000 saplings were planted. The plantation will be done with the assistance from the Forest Department Uttrakhand, State Bank of India and Sainik Cooperative Housing Society.
— TNS
|
|
Roshi steers Sarvodaya Club to victory
Dehradun, July 6 Roshi scored in the 17th minute of the game to turn the tables. Both teams had a stiff competition. Meanwhile, the association has decided to hold trials for Santosh Trophy on July 9 after 6 pm on the Pavilion Ground.
|
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
