Amritsar, May 31
Even after a year of the opening of Punjab’s first Herbal Garden in Gole Bagh, it is still out of bound for the visitors.

For decades the same patch of land had remained unutilised, as it was covered under the shrubs and dumping of wastage. The residents around the park and the visitors resented that the gates were locked while minimum success was achieved in turning it in a park.

As many as 30 different species of plants, right from kachnar (Bauhinia-varigata), brahmi (Bicopa-maneri), amaltas (Cassia-fistula), amla (Embelica-officenalis), vasa (Ada-toda-vasaka) to kawargandal (aloevera) were planted.

The then Health and Family Welfare Minister Laxmi Kanta Chalwa had inaugurated the garden. The garden was set up under the state government’s plan to gradually replicate such gardens in different cities.

Brij Mohan Kapoor of Katra Parja said he along with his friends has been coming to the bagh regularly for the past two decades. He said the herbal park was opened after clearing dense bushes and waste lying over the patch of land for many years.

He said the visitors and the residents of nearby area felt a sigh of relief with the setting up of the park. He said but the park remained locked and people were unaware about the kind of medicinal plants to be grown.

Dr Suresh Chauhan, an environmentalist, said growth of medicinal plants under a reserved area was appreciable step but at the same time common people must be made aware of their beneficial properties. He said display boards enumerating the benefits of various parts of the trees must be installed near the park.

He said barks, leaves, seeds, pulp, flowers and other parts of the trees help in curing various ailments. For instance, flowers of Amaltas help in reducing cholesterol and the number of people suffering from the ailment was very high in the city. Similarly, bark of Arjun is used for heart ailment. However, under the ignorance of these facts people could not enjoy these benefits.

Municipal Corporation, Executive Engineer (Horticulture), Daljit Singh Sandhu said the park was not being maintained by the corporation. He said another agency has been given its maintenance responsibility and he did not remember its name. He said once the park was handed over to the corporation, efforts would be made to install the requisite information on display boards for the visitors.

Amritsar, May 31
Contrary to the myth, consumption of tobacco has shown an alarming increase in Punjab in last over a decade.

Revealing this Dr Prahlad Duggal, head and neck oncologist, talking to The Tribune, pointed out that the migrants from other states where the consumption is high to Punjab besides its cheap rates and easy availability as compare to other habit forming drugs has contributed to its augment in the border state which is also on high in drug addiction.

“We are getting increasing number of patients suffering from oral cancer from local population,” said Duggal while adding that more efforts were required on part of the governments to curb the usage of tobacco in the society.

“For records, tobacco is the leading cause of cancer in the country with almost one third of the population in India, about 275 million adults, is consuming tobacco in one form or other. About 1 million people die due to cancer caused by tobacco chewing,” Dr Duggal said. Other health hazards include heart and lung diseases and oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSF) as well as still births.

“As per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India has one of the highest rates of smokeless tobacco usage in the world. Majority of the people (in India) uses smokeless tobacco in the form of gutkha, khaini, pan masala etc,” he said.

He said there is no particular data of the state or district as it was only recently that the government has started the registration of cancer patients.

Dr Ravi Mahajan, famous plastic surgeon talking to this correspondent, said it is very difficult to reconstruct the oral cancerous area that is removed during surgery. Moreover, it involves high cost which the majority of patients could not afford, he pointed out.

He said the government should immediately ban advertising tobacco products in media besides forming stringent policies before it’s too late.

Meanwhile, Voices of Victims --- an NGO formed by the patients who have suffered from oral cancer in Mumbai (supported by various other NGOs and health institutions), has decided to approach parliamentarians and policy makers to sensitize them about the lack of stringent action against tobacco companies and growing plight of victims across the country.

Under this programme, the association through local Amandeep Hospital shot a letter to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal demanding banning Gutka, implement stringent pictorial warnings on chewing tobacco products, increasing taxes on chewing tobacco products, putting an end to advertising of chewing tobacco products besides stopping sale of chewing tobacco products near educational institutes besides formulating strong policies and programs for tobacco control in consultation with victims of tobacco consumption.

Meanwhile, district health authorities organised a seminar at Community Health Centre at Manawala. The authorities spread awareness about the ill effects of tobacco consumption.

Amritsar, May 31
Resentment is brewing up among the residents of the holy city as the Amritsar-Chandigarh Duranto train remained a non-starter even after one and half years of its announcement by the Railway ministry.

Mission Aagaaz, an NGO working for environment has shot a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to hold a probe in this connection as to why the train could not be started.

CPI and CPM also demanded high level probe into this.

Meanwhile, the leaders of CPI, CPM who have been on chain hunger strike for over one and half month today threatened to resort of Rail Roko Andolan from June 13. Amarjit Singh Asal, district secretary CPI, alleged that the government was dithering on its promise to commence the train due to pressure from transport mafia being run by political bigwigs of the state.

“We came to know from our party leaders from Delhi that the file is pending with safety manager of the railways for want of his clearance who has adopted dilly dallying attitude towards the commencing of train,” said Asal.

“Its been over a month that the members were holding hunger strike but we have not received any response from the government and railways ministry and this is highly deplorable,” he added.

Leaders of CPI, CPM during a protest sought formation of a central level committee for probing into the alleged corrupt practices in the railway department and expose the railway authorities who were in collusion with the transport mafia.

Gurbhej Singh, General Secretary, Mission Aagaaz in the letter to the PM pointed out that the people was aware of the fact that road transport in the state and particularly in Amritsar is functioning under the patronage of the politicians who had floated their own transport companies and plying luxury buses to the state capital. He alleged the railway officials were hand in glove with the luxury bus operator’s lobby and were intentionally delaying the commencement of the train.

Amritsar, May 31
The Force India Formula One Team Academy today announced the launch of the Amritsar leg of the ‘One From A Billion Hunt’, a grassroots initiative aimed at identifying racing talent via a karting programme in India.

This initiative is being undertaken in partnership with Mobil 1. The One From A Billion Hunt in Amritsar will be spread over seven days from June 6, 2011 to June 12 and will be held at G-Force Karting, Rainbow Resorts, Attari Border Highway. The Amritsar leg of the One From A Billion Hunt is the seventh stage in a seven-city, nationwide hunt.

Over the next five days of the hunt in Amritsar, participants will be able to do 5 laps and their best lap timing will be considered. As many as 14 participants from Amritsar with the fastest lap timings will be shortlisted and they will then move on to compete with 86 other finalists from the other six cities in the national final in September 2011.

Commenting on the launch of the Amritsar leg of the One From A Billion Hunt in Amritsar, Ravikant Sabnavis, Vice-President, Marketing, Kingfisher Airlines, the primary sponsor of the Force India Formula One Team Academy said, “After an outstanding response in Mumbai, Goa, Kolhapur, Bangalore and Hyderabad, we are delighted to kick-off the Amritsar leg of the One From A Billion Hunt. Through the Hunt we hope to identify and nurture racing talent in India and give promising aspirants a platform to showcase their racing skills. We are looking forward to an equally fantastic response in Amritsar.”

Accompanying them were the six talented go karting racers who earned positions in different states. They were Gaurav Davare from Pune, Yash Jhawani from Mumbai, Rubeel Salim from Bangalore, Mihika Sood from Delhi, K Dsouza from Goa and Abha Mankar from Hyderabad.

Interested participants in 14-17 age group can register at the venue right till June 12. The first two days of the hunt in Amritsar, will be reserved for participants who would like to come and practice on the track at a subsidised rate of just Rs 150 for 10 laps. This facility is an exclusive offer to the participants of the One From A Billion Hunt by the Force India Formula One Team Academy in collaboration with G-Force Karting.

To be part of the Hunt, you can register at www.onefromabillion.com, or register at G-Force Karting, Rainbow Resorts.

Amritsar, May 31
Sparing a thought for the unemployed youth, who have passed Class X and XII, Guru Nanak Dev University has offered job-oriented certificate and diploma courses for the session 2011-2012. These one-year courses would begin at Amritsar campus, Gurdaspur regional campus and ASSM College, Mukandpur, from July.

These courses are being conducted by the university under the aegis of its Lifelong Learning Department, formerly known as Department of Adult Continuing Education and Extension.

Department director Dr Rajinderjit Kaur Pawar said the prescribed forms are available at all the places, adding that unemployed boys and girls, seeking admission to these courses, are required to submit their applications on prescribed forms at the place where they intend to take admission.

The last date for submission of forms for Amritsar campus is June 30, while these could be submitted at Gurdaspur and Mukandpur till July 4. Interviews for admission will be held at the respective campuses.

At Amritsar, diploma courses in textile designing, interior decoration and cosmetology are for 12th pass girls, while both boys and girls with the same qualifications can seek admission in diploma courses in computer hardware & maintenance and computer application.

Boys with higher secondary background can apply for admission in diplomas in electronics, TV maintenance and servicing, while matriculate girls are eligible for certificate course in dress designing, cutting and tailoring, she added.

Dr Pawar said at University Regional Campus, located at Hardo Chhani Road, Gurdaspur, matriculate girls are eligible for admission to one-year certificate course in dress designing, cutting & tailoring, while 12th pass boys could seek admission in diploma in computer hardware maintenance.

Amritsar, May 31
Showing concern about the scant arrangements for the treatment of cancer in the state, the Akali Dal 1920, has urged the government to raise the medical infrastructure specifically for cancer patients.

While condoling the demise of Bibi Surinder Kaur Badal, party president Ravi Inder Singh said Parkash Singh Badal, during his four terms as Chief Minister, never spared a thought for establishing cancer hospitals in the state. Consequently, the patients would have to either go to Chandigarh or Bikaner to get treatment.

“The only cancer research institute Guru Ramdass Cancer Research Centre initiated by the SGPC, too could not get start due to political interference and controversial dealings in purchase of the machinery etc. The government should take initiative to utilise this infrastructure in the interest of the suffering humanity,” he viewed. The party also advocated to frame liberal policy matters for the farming community and to conduct SGPC elections, at the earliest.

Family entertainer Hero Honda Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs is all set to return in a new avatar on Zee TV.

After a talent scout across the nation, Hero Honda Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs has selected its top 18 contestants who are all geared up to enthral viewers with their singing. The most talented singers from the age group 7 to 14 years across regions have been chosen to perform in India’s most prestigious musical talent show for children.

This season of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs will be high on the cool quotient. Right from the cool attitude of the judges and the anchors to the cool equation between the Guru’s and the Shishya’s to the overall show and hence the tagline, Music Ka Gurucool.

The show that has been a rage among music lovers not only in India but around the globe will be judged by accomplished singer and concert pianist, Adnan Sami, soulful singer Kailash Kher and popular Bollywood playback singer, Javed Ali. Alka Yagnik will be the Mahaguru and these musical geniuses will guide the young singers to showcase their prowess with the seven notes of music and bring the nation’s best singing talent to the fore.

Adnan, Kailash and Javed are well versed in the technicalities of music and their portfolios speak volumes about their work. While Adnan is very emotional about his music, Javed is pretty authoritarian in nature when it comes to picking the right sur and taal. Kailash says that he has come here to learn from the kids and not teach them. Alka Yagnik as Mahaguru, whose career as a playback singer is unparalleled, will be instrumental in deciding the eliminations every week.

Non-fiction head of Zee TV, Ashish Golwalkar says, “We have tried and brought in innovations in the format to make the show a complete entertainment package while presenting some amazing singing talent. There is already a huge buzz around the show and we are very hoping that our viewers will love the kids we have selected this season.”

Heartthrob Jay Soni has been roped in to anchor the show along with kiddie hosts of last season, Afsha Musani and Dhairya Sonecha. Li’l Champs will be a 13 week series starting June 3rd 2011 at 10 pm on Zee TV and will be aired every Friday and Saturday. — HRM