Chandigarh, May 28
Proving that visual impairment cannot mar his academic career, Hitkarsh, a student of Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 27, scored 91 per cent marks in the humanities stream in Class XII. Despite being 75 per cent visually impaired, his success story can show way to many.

Hitkarsh, who is suffering from "Nystagmus", believes that one needs to have faith and should be focused on the goal. “If you really like what you are doing, then success will be your companion,” he said.

For him, reading books was a big challenge, as he had to hold them very close to his eyes. “I didn’t take anybody’s help while studying; I prepared for the exam all by myself,” Hitkarsh said.

Hitkarsh cannot move out of the house alone. He has to be dropped and picked up from the school.

Academics is not the only platform where he has proved himself. Hitkarsh is a musician too. Passionate for contemporary rock, Hitkarsh plays the guitar and has performed on various occasions. “I am a member of a band that has played at many places,” he said.

His grandfather, Surinder Kumar Nagpal, said, "Hitkarsh is a hardworking boy, who aims high and ensures that he achieves it."

Hitkarsh has already enrolled himself in a university in the US. He will soon leave for the new destination where he will stay alone. “I am excited to join the university where I will have a year’s time to choose the course which I want to pursue,” he said.

Chandigarh, May 28
In yet another incident, a head constable with the traffic police was hit and his challan book snatched by a speeding motorcyclist, who was signalled to stop at the Sahib Singh light point in Sector 17 here this morning.

The incident occurred at the light point at 9.15 am when traffic police personnel noticed the motorcyclist jumping the red signal. He was also riding without a helmet.

Head constable Mohinder Singh and Home Guards volunteer Deep Ram were on duty at the light point.

Instead of stopping his bike, the motorcyclist accelerated and snatched the challan book (number 34645) from the head constable and fled away with it. Twelve challans had been issued from the challan book.

The partial number of the bike was noted down as 1225. There are no CCTV cameras at the light point which could have helped the police trace the accused.

The police have registered a case under Sections 332, 353 and 394 of the IPC at the Sector 17 police station.

Not the first case

Last week, youths in a car had managed to snatch a wireless set in Sector 21 after they were signalled to stop by the police. They had later dropped it at a police beat box. 

Chandigarh, May 28
A true champion off and on the field, Tavleen Batra, an international golfer has proved that success has no limitations and once an achiever is always an achiever, as she scored 93.5 per cent in humanities in the CBSE Class XII exams.

The young golfer has not only made her school, Bhavan Vidyalaya, Chandigarh, and parents proud but even her golf coaches. Tavleen while in a jubilant mood said, “I took no extra coaching for studies, it was purely self-study that helped me pass with flying colours.”

The young achiever, daughter of a hotelier, who is usually found on golf courses rather then school, said, “Even while my boards were going on I was playing golf tournament in China. I did to and fro between my board exams and the tournament.”

On what gets her going she claims, “I believe in giving my best and 100 per cent in whatever I do be it studies or sports. For me it’s only dedication that matters.”

Moreover, she said that it was only one-month preparation that helped her achieve these marks.

With an aim to be world’s number one golfer, she said, “I wish to pursue psychology honours from Panjab University.”

While stating her golf achievements she said, “ I had bagged the 20th Punjab Open Ladies Championship early this year, while I had also represented India in Sir Nick Faldo Grand Final Tournament this year. However, last year I had been the runners up in the 54th Albatross Junior Golf Tournament.” She has been training for golf since the age of 12. 

‘Nothing is impossible’ 
Akash Ghai
Tribune News Service

Sahibpreet Kaur (swimmer) 94.4% medical

Mohali, May 28
Achieving new heights both in studies and games simultaneously is certainly not an easy task. But Sahibpreet Kaur says “nothing is impossible in life”. For the national-level swimmer, getting 94.4 per cent in medical was as easy as swimming across a pool.

Sahibpreet, a student of St Soldier International Convent School at Phase VII, here, said she gave sufficient time to both swimming and studies.

“Whenever there is a swimming competition, I give more time to my sports and when exams come near, I divert all my attentions to studies, said Sahibpreet. Sahibpreet has participated in national meets thrice. “This year, I was ranked ninth in the SGFI School Games, held at Pune (Maharashtra)”, she said.

Sahibpreet Kaur has been a recipient of two gold medals and one silver in the state -level championships in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

“I have won around 60 medals in all so far”, said Sahibpreet.

Giving credit of her success to her parents, father Gurcharan Singh, a ECG technician and mother Rajwant Kaur, a housewife, and her teachers, Sahibpreet said that her aim was to be an Army doctor. 

Chandigarh, May 28
Less than a month after the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation claimed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court that not even a single case of rabies was reported in the city during the past four years, the petitioner in the case today refuted the claim.

He told the Bench of Justice Rajan Gupta that a case surfaced in Sector 18 recently and he was informed about it by some residents and associations. He claimed that the affidavit denying any case of rabies in the city during the past four years was, as such, incorrect.

Taking a note of the assertion, Justice Gupta asked the corporation to respond. The authorities concerned were also asked to inform the Bench about the status of the dog-bite helpline. The People for Animals (PFA) was also made a party in the matter.

Justice Gupta, on the previous date, had sought a status report from the corporation on the issue of monitoring funds allocated to NGOs for sterilisation and immunisation of dogs. The direction came after the High Court was told that the corporation was paying Rs 1,000 per dog to local NGOs for sterilisation, immunisation and treatment.

MC joint commissioner Rajiv Kumar Gupta has already filed an affidavit before the court underscoring comprehensive schemes for management of stray dogs in Chandigarh.

Giving details, the joint commissioner said complaints related to dog bite incidents could now be made online on the corporation website. Besides this, relevant information on dog control cell, dog catching van and NGOs engaged by the corporation to deal with stray dog-related incidents was available on its portal. He claimed the corporation had already spent Rs 2,28,354 on education, literature and rabies vaccination.

“The implementation of the scheme is an ongoing process, which is in its nascent stage and its effectiveness can be gauged only after the lapse of reasonable period,” the corporation stated in its affidavit.

It was also added that the scheme required undisturbed run for at least five years to prove its effectiveness. Referring to the issue of disposal of dead dogs, the corporation claimed that an incinerator would be installed at each dog shelter. Else, a common incineration plant for the disposal of dead dogs would be set up.

Gupta had also informed the High Court that 8,199 incidents of dog bites were reported at Rabies Vaccination Clinic in Sector 19, Chandigarh, from January 2013 to April 2014. Of the total incidents, 1,823 cases pertained to bites by pet dogs, while the remaining incidents pertained to bites by stray dogs.

Chandigarh, May 28
After Punjab reduced value added tax (VAT) on tobacco products, inviting criticism from several quarters, the Chandigarh Administration today increased VAT on tobacco products.

“We have got the UT Administrator's approval in this regard," said a senior official of the UT.

The UT has increased VAT from 12.5 per cent to 20 per cent, bringing it almost on a par with that in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. Himachal Pradesh has the highest VAT of 36 per cent on cigarettes.

Sources said since VAT on tobacco products in the UT was less, these products were being smuggled to neighbouring states.

“This was resulting in a loss of revenue to the neighbouring states,” said an official of the Excise Department.

Punjab had hiked VAT on cigarettes from 22.5 per cent to 55 per cent on April 1, 2013. However, this year the state withdrew the sin tax on cigarettes, bringing VAT down from 55 per cent to 22.5 per cent. The state reverted to the old system of imposing 20 per cent VAT plus 10 per cent surcharge.

According to excise officials, major cigarette brands had increased their supply to Chandigarh and reduced it for Punjab areas, giving rise to illegal trade.

Mohali, May 28
The Municipal Corporation today removed illegal advertisement boards put up on the top of shops. More than 20 such advertisement boards were removed from a pocket of Phase V here today.

The drive started yesterday when a large number of boards were removed from other areas as well. No resentment was noticed during the drive as the civic body had given notices in newspapers asking the shopkeepers to remove all advertisement boards, which had been put up illegally and in violation of the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The drive was carried out by employees of the Tehbazari Wing with the help of the police and the fire brigade.

Mohali, May 28
The District Legal Services Authority, Mohali, along with the Generation Saviour Association (GSA), in an endeavour to create a smoke-free society carried out a campaign to install warning boards and signages in the District Courts complex here today. The aim of the campaign was to highlight that smoking in public places is an offence and punishable under the law.

The drive was inaugurated by PP Singh, Additional District and Sessions Judge-cum-chairman, District Legal Services Authority, Mohali.

Tarantaran Singh Bindra, secretary, District Legal Services Authority, emphasised the need for making efforts to make public places smoke-free in order to provide a smoke-free atmosphere to the people working there and those visiting the area.

He also requested the police to take part in the drive so that penal action could be initiated against the violators.

Amteshwer Kaur, president of the GSA, said the association was in the process of installing such boards and signages in all courts of Punjab.

Amteshwer Kaur said the association had given a representation to the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and was expecting action soon.

Chandigarh, May 28
Patients visiting Government Multi-Specialty Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16, have been facing inconvenience for the past over two weeks, as the ultrasound machine has been lying damaged.

During emergency, the hospital has been utilising an alternative machine in the Gynaecology Ward, while a majority of other patients are being forced to get the test done from outside.

Patients come out of the ultrasound centre at the GMSH, Sector 16, Chandigarh. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

Harish Mahant (name changed), a 60-year-old patient, who visited the hospital twice in the past one week, but all in vain. He was told to get the ultrasound done from a nearby private lab and show the report in the next OPD.

“When I visited the hospital, last week, I was told the machine was not working. I decided to wait and came today. But it is still not functional. There is no assurance from the hospital authorities as to when the machine will be repaired,” he said.

Amarjeet (name changed), who took her 5-year-old son for a check-up for pain in abdomen today, was asked to get his ultrasound done and get the report. However, she had to pay for the ultrasound done at a private lab.

When contacted, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Vandana Gupta, said, “The machine had a technical fault. We got it repaired a week ago. But it again developed a snag and now, we have contacted the company officials. They are on the job (repairing). To bring down patients’ inconvenience, we have now installed a portable machine in the area which was earlier being used in one of the operation theatres.”

Mohali, May 28
Members of Assistant Block Managers Union, Punjab, today staged a protest in front of the office of Director General School Education (DGSE), PSEB. vRajesh Watts, media coordinator of union said they were getting Rs 7,500 per month. A total number of 216 ADMs were appointed in 2009. 

Chandigarh, May 28
The treatment for children with Primary Immunodeficiency Disorders (PIDs) should be included in the Central Government’s priority list and free of cost treatment should be provided, demanded the parents during a meet with the doctors at the PGIMER here today.

While sharing their inability to cope with the high expenses involved in the treatment, the parents also thanked the philanthropists for supporting them.

The doctors also felt that though the diagnosis of PID has improved over the past couple of years, not many children have been able to avail the right treatment due to expensive medicines and high treatment costs.

Prof Surjit Singh, Head of Pediatric Immunology Unit, Advanced Paediatrics Centre, said, “For a similar disease like haemophilia, which is equally expensive, many state governments (around 18) have started supporting the patients. Then why not PID be included in the category when it a more severe disease? Following the example set by Karnataka where treatment for PID is being provided free of cost, other state governments have taken steps in the direction and this should be encouraged by the Central Government.”

Currently, more than 300 children are being followed up at the Immune Deficiency Clinic at APC, PGIMER.

KD Arora and Air Marshal (Retd) RS Bedi from Kusum Arora Memorial Trust, Shalini Mehta from God’s Child Foundation, Vivek Kapoor and members from Paediatric Medical Support Society, Gurshabnam Kaur and members from Sukhmani Foundation, Dr J Chattwal and members from Veerawali Foundation Nanhi Jaan along with Milkha Singh, Dr Sneh Harshinder Sharma, Vishnu Sharma, Siddharth Chaudhary, Punita Sethi, Sudhir Anand and Harbhajan Kaur have generously contributed to the care and well being of these children and their families over the years. 

What is PID?

* Primary Immunodeficiency Disorder is a condition in which a part of the body’s immune system does not function properly.

* Affected children get recurrent infections in the form of repeated pneumonia, diarrhoea, skin and soft tissue infections.

Chandigarh, May 28
The Estate Officer has constituted three-member committee headed by Assistant Estate Officer Rahul Gupta to look into the cases of sealing of booths in Krishna Market, Sector 41, here.

The committee has been constituted after the shopkeepers protested against the sealing of their booths by the estate office for being in illegal possession.

Only yesterday, the estate office team had sealed seven booths, attracting protest from the shopkeepers. Teams of Enforcement Wing of the Estate Office (EO) have been sealing two booths in the Krishna Market on the basis of a report prepared by the survey team of UT Administration to find out violations of building bylaws in the city. The team had conducted an extensive survey to verify the ownership of the booths on Tuesday. The owners of booths failed to produce the ownership documents to the teams at the time of the survey. The survey was carried out to ascertain the credentials of those occupying these properties.

According to rules, the booths cannot be sold within 15 years of their allotment to anyone by the original allottees, but officials in the Estate Office said that they had suspected that many beneficiaries had sold their properties for a premium by throwing rules and norms to winds.

The report of the survey was sent to the branch concerned for further verification and action was being taken on the basis of the report. Sources said that around 59 booths are under scanner of the UT Administration.

Chandigarh, May 28
The paid parking contractors in Chandigarh are going to make the city parking free for one-day in protest against the Municipal Corporation’s decision to charge service tax from the contractors retrospectively from 2012 to 2014.

The MC had paid the service tax to the government and later informed the parking contractors to pay the service tax retrospectively.

Tejinder Singh, supervisor of Sahib Singh parking lot in Sector 17, stated that why the contractors should pay service tax when they themselves didn’t charge the tax from the people using the paid parking service. “This is totally wrong following which all the parking contractors have decided to make parking at all places free for a day in protest,” Singh said.

Contractors stated that the MC had claimed that they would forfeit 50 per cent of the bidding amount deposited as bank security and 25 per cent cash deposit in case the contractors failed to pay the service tax.

BJP councillor Saurabh Joshi stated that the agreement held between the MC and contractors at the time of allotment of parking didn’t mention any such clause that the securities would be fortified if they didn’t pay the service tax. “When there was no such clause then how can the MC suddenly take the decision to forfeit the booths,” he stated.

The parking contractors will also be staging a protest at the MC office before the members of the Finance and Contract Committee during their meeting tomorrow.

Chandigarh, May 28
Continuing her streak of bagging the first position in class for 11 years in a row, Meenakshi — a student of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Sector 25 — has again topped in her class by scoring 94 per cent in the non-medical stream.

Meenakshi — whose father is employed as a helper at Punjab Governor’s residence — says she aims to become a civil servant.

“I want to fulfill my father’s dream. We are three sisters and he wants all three of us to be IAS officers,” she said.

Indra Chaudhary, Meenakshi’s school teacher, said, “Everyone had high expectations from her. She is disciplined, hard working and an all-rounder. A good score in Class XII was expected from her.”

Meenakshi, who has won two gold medals in Taekwondo at the national-level, had scored 10 CGPA in Class X.

Chandigarh, May 28
The urge to set new benchmarks helped him excel in his endeavours. Mohit Kumar, son of a waiter, scored 94 per cent in the Class XII examinations of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

A student of commerce stream at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16, he aims to be a Chartered Accountant. Mohit’s father Sadhu Ram works as a waiter with a catering contractor, while his mother works as a domestic help.

To score good marks in Class XII, Mohit restricted his outing schedule and spared only one hour every day to relax. ”I followed a strict time-table and used to study till late night,” he added. Mohit, a resident of Dadu Majra, believes a real hero is one who fights against the odds to achieve his goal.

His father Sadhu Ram was on cloud nine after he got to know that his son had scored good marks. “I will offer financial support to my son so that he is able to fulfill his dreams,” he added.

Mohit faced financial constraints during his initial schooling days.

“Once I did not have money to buy books. My teachers helped me by giving books,” he added.

Nowadays, Mohit is busy looking for a part-time job to ensure that his studies are not disrupted.

“I will work after the college hours. This way I can also support my family financially,” he said.

As Mohit cannot afford to study in a private college, he has decided to enrol at the Post Graduate Government College, Sector 11.

Panchkula, May 28
Odd circumstances failed to dampen the spirits of these students, who braved all difficulties to bring laurels to their school and city.

Ritu Mann, an orphan who stays at Ashiana in Sector 16, scored 85 per cent in the Humanities stream. She is a student of Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 15, in the city. Mann not only devoted six to eight hours of study at the destitute home, but also took special learning courses at her school.

“She was always willing to devote more time to studies. We ensure that special attention is given to such students,” said Shashi Banerjee, principal of Bhavan Vidyalaya.

Meanwhile, Ashwini Kumar, whose mother works as a maid, scored 80 per cent in the Commerce stream. He is a student of The Gurukul, Sector 20.

Ashwini’s mother Saroj was in tears after she learnt about the success of her son. Saroj is employed as a maid in the school itself.

On his success mantra, Ashwini, said, “Regular study can do wonders.”

Gold medallist in cha-kwon-do, Divya scores 94.2%

A gold medallist in cha-kwon-do, Divya Thakur scored 94.2 per cent in the Commerce stream. A student of Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 15, Panchkula, Divya has thrice been a national gold medallist. She is also the school head girl. — TNS

Panchkula, May 28
Sharing the crown of the tricity topper in the Humanities stream is Mehak Chadha from Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 15, who scored 97.6%.

Mehak, who lost her father two years ago in a road accident, passed the exams with flying colours.

“For recreation, I would go for a walk for half-an-hour rather than logging onto social networking sites,” said Mehak.

Before her father’s demise, they were staying in Delhi.

Following the tragedy, Mehak along with her sister and mother shifted to her maternal grandfather’s house here. She joined Bhavan Vidyalaya in Class XI. She aims to become a lawyer or a clinical psychologist. 

Panchkula, May 28
Even as students in Panchkula fared well and managed to bag positions in the tricity, yet the schools did not deliver the expected results this time. However, Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 15, topped among all the schools in Panchkula with more than 30 students, out of 80, scoring 90 per cent and above.

Out of 147 students of Satluj Public School, Sector 4, 11 students scored 90 per cent and above.

Hansraj Public School, Sector 6, had just one student out of 41 to score above 90 per cent.

At DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, only five students out of 70, scored 90 per cent and above. Ajit Singh topped the school by scoring 95.8 per cent in the non-medical stream, while Garima Khanna scored 93.6 per cent in Commerce.

Meanwhile, at Chaman Lal DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 11, the top position was bagged by Dikshant from the non-medical stream by scoring 89.2 per cent. 

Mohali, May 28
Shweta Singh of the Sri Sukhmani International School, Dera Bassi, stood first in the entire district by securing 96.4 per cent marks in the non-medical stream in the Class XII examinations of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

Shweta wants to be a computer engineer.

Her father, Ram Kumar Singh, is a production manager in a drug factory in the area. “My daughter has always topped in her class. I’m happy that she has maintained her record,” said Ram Kumar Singh.

Meanwhile, students of the Shivalik Public School, Phase VI, Mohali, have topped in the medical and commerce streams in the district. Jaspreet Kaur of Shivalik School topped the medical stream by securing 95.4 per cent.

Students of medical stream — Simranjeet Kaur of Shivalik School and Kanupriya of Lawrence Public School — bagged the joint second slot in the district by scoring 95 per cent marks.

In Commerce, Shivalik School student Karam Deep Kaur stood first in the district with 95.2 per cent. Navpreet Kaur of APJ School, Kharar, bagged the second slot with 95 per cent.

In Humanities, Supreet Kaur of Lawrence Public School scored 92.8 per cent.

Chandigarh, May 28
Cases of bogus messages sent to the candidates who appeared in the recent common admission test for admission to University Business School (UBS) came to light at the Panjab University (PU) today.

PU spokesperson revealed that various candidates today made an inquiry from the UBS Department that they had received a text about five seats being vacant in the management quota of the university and last date of submission. A website was also given in the SMS, where the students were directed to apply.

The officials of the UBS Board of Control had a meeting in this regard and felt that it was a serious issue and could adversely affect the fair name and goodwill of the department and university.

PU spokesman urged the admission seekers not to fall prey to such mischievous, deceitful and criminal designs. He asked the candidates to report any such message to the PU authorities. PU authorities were also considering of bringing this matter to the notice of the police and taking due legal action against the culprits.

The spokesman informed that there was no management quota in UBS or any other course in PU. All the admissions to PU are on the basis of merit and the university has not authorised anybody to contact any candidate in this regard, he added.