COMMUNITY

Empowering the needy youth through self-help groups
Chandigarh, October 30
Over the past two decades, many tools have been devised and utilised for socio-economic development and uplift of the economically disadvantaged. Of these, micro-finance through self-help groups has emerged as the most powerful tool for generating self-employment, creating micro-enterprises and increasing household income of the poor.

City bazaars decked up for ‘fair’ shoppers

Chandigarh, October 30 Crystal jewellery sets, dazzling under the cheerful spotlights, besides glass and velvet bangles displayed on rehris and inside the shops, are luring the homemakers and working women alike as hectic preparations are on for Karva Chauth in the city.
Of brittle bangles and a strong will: With Karva Chauth drawing closer, women search for colourful bangles to match the brightness of the festival.  — Tribune photo Manoj Mahajan

200 challaned for traffic offences
Chandigarh, October 30
About 200 persons were challaned for various offences during a special traffic drive launched by the Chandigarh police here today. In addition to policemen from the traffic wing, personnel from various police stations as well as the Police Control Room were also involved.

FAUJI BEAT
Duty on CSD liquor withdrawn
Chandigarh
The cut in liquor rates in CSD canteens in Haryana has come as welcome news to Army personnel, who had felt hurt at the imposition of additional excise duty on liquor by the state government.

Zirakpur bandh call by shopkeepers
Zirakpur, October 30
The Shopkeepers Welfare Association, Zirakpur, has given a call for a bandh tomorrow against the alleged misbehaviour of officials of the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat and the Octroi staff with a local shopkeeper here today.

BJP supports UT employees’ demand
Chandigarh, October 30
The local unit of the BJP, has supported the demand of bonus to the UT employees and urged the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, to take an immediate decision on the demand.

Youth Congress to launch agitation
Chandigarh, October 30
The Chandigarh Youth Congress will shortly launch an agitation to compel the Union Government to create more job opportunities for the youth. In a press note, Mr Harmohinder Singh Lucky, president of the Chandigarh Youth Congress, said the Vajpayee government had failed on all fronts. 

Body lies unclaimed
Chandigarh, October 30
The body of an unidentified accident victim, who died on 19 October, is still lying unclaimed at the PGI. According to the police, the deceased was seriously injured on October 11 and was brought to the PGI. 

HUDA invites applications
Chandigarh, October 30
The Haryana Urban Development Authority has invited applications from registered religious institutions for construction of religious buildings. While stating this here yesterday, a spokesman of HUDA said that land would be allotted on a 99-year lease-hold basis.

F&CC meeting today
Chandigarh, October 30
The Municipal Corporation here today decided to call a meeting of the Finance and Contract Committee tomorrow for approval of an expenditure of Rs 74,000 for organising two functions on the inauguration of greenbelts in Sectors 44 and 45, among other things.

Bank to disburse loans
Chandigarh, October 30
The personal banking branch of the State Bank of Patiala, Sector 8, will disburse loans among permanent Central and state government employees under SBP-Utsav Scheme on the occasion of Divali and Gurpurab.

PU student robbed, 3 arrested
Chandigarh, October 30
The local police today arrested three persons on a charge of robbing a Panjab University student at knife point. Arvind Singh, a resident of Hostel No. 4 on the university campus, lodged a complaint that while he was returning from Ambedkar Bhavan, Sector 37, around midnight, he was stopped by three persons on the road separating Sectors 24 and 25. 

BUSINESS

Festival season fails to attract customers                                           
Chandigarh, October 30
The ongoing recession has shown its impact on sales during the current pre-Divali festive season. City marketes have failed to witness the usual festive buying spree of customers. In addition, a month-long gap between shradhas and navratras has led to a lukewarm response from the customer this year , leaving the shopkeepers dissatisfied.

84 cr collected under small savings schemes
Chandigarh, October 30
The UT Administration collected Rs 84 crore in small savings against a target of Rs 75 crore in the last financial year and Rs 30 crore have already been collected out of the targeted Rs 84 during the current financial year.

Woman entrepreneur
Chocolates for all tastes
Chandigarh
A day without chocolate is a day without sunshine, say chocolate lovers. For Rameet Bakshi, this holds even greater significance. She loves chocolates, good, hygienic, healthy chocolates and this made her go a step further and venture into preparing them.

Rough roads ruin business
Chandigarh, October 30
The condition of roads in Industrial Area Phase I is “suitable” to give nightmares to motorists and entrepreneurs are facing hardships as people do not want to visit the area thus affecting the business.

Muktsar resident wins Spice scheme
Chandigarh, October 30
Mr Ramandeep Singh of Muktsar was today declared winner of a consumer promotion scheme “ Spice apnao Australia jao” by Spice Telecom, a mobile phone service provider in the region. He has won return tickets for a couple to Australia.

PU YOUTH FESTIVAL
Plays evoke good response

Chandigarh, October 30 Powerful plays on various relevant themes staged by six different women’s colleges of the city evoked desirable response from the audience on the third day of the Panjab University Zone A Youth Festival organised by Dev Samaj College for Women at Tagore Theatre in Sector 18 here today.
Students of Home Science College, Sector 10, Chandigarh, stage a play, ‘Aala Officer’, at Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh on Tuesday.  —  Tribune photo Pradeep Tewari

PU to have postgraduate course in environment science
Chandigarh, October 30
In another step to strengthen the studies in environment science, Panjab University has decided to introduce a postgraduate course in the subject. Currently the subject has the status of being a compulsory subject at the undergraduate level. PU is among few universities in the country to offer the subject following directions by the Supreme Court.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
Suspension orders quashed
Chandigarh, October 30
Allowing a writ petition filed by Dr Balkaran Singh — Punjab’s Joint Director Agriculture-cum-Director Punjab State Seeds Certification Authority — a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today quashed orders placing him under suspension.

• Arrest stayed

• Coop decision stayed

• Interim bail for Bhullar

• Warrants issued

HC issues notice to UT Administration
Chandigarh, October 30
A division bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, comprising Mr Justice S.S. Nijjer and Mr Justice J.S. Khehar, issued notice for November 5 to the Chandigarh Administration on a writ petition filed by M/s Kalsi Construction Company, alleging malafide intention on the part of respondents in deleting the name of the petitioner from the list of prequalified agencies for the construction of Block D of Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh.

Forfeiture of surety in forgery case
Chandigarh, October 30
A local court has ordered initiation of proclamation proceedings against Arun Madan, booked by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for forging the Supreme Court orders and adjourned the case for December 12. The accused had reportedly been absconding since February 1.

Glimpses of Satyajit Ray’s genius
Chandigarh, October 30
After organising a series of lecture demonstrations by noted classical singers and dancers last month, the Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Among Youth (SPIC MACAY) has now shifted focus towards visual arts. 

Reflections of creativity through stained glass 

Chandigarh, October 30 It is strange to see how colours can fill up emptiness. They may or may not further the theme resting in artists’ subconscious mind, but they always add to the meaning of life. Thanks to this maze of colours, the silence of Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10, was broken by streaks of colours employed by artists participating in the third annual art exhibition being organised by BAMA Academy.

A group of visitors appreciate the works on display at the third annual art exhibition of BAMA Academy at Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Bengal artists to exhibit prints 
Chandigarh, October 30
Beginning tomorrow, art lovers in the city will have an opportunity to view some of the finest graphic prints. Teachers and students of Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Graphic Department, Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan, will be here to participate in Fusion, an exhibition of graphic prints, which begins tomorrow at art-gallery of the Government College of Art, Sector 10.

HEALTH

Iodine deficiency awareness drive launched
Chandigarh, October 30
With a view to creating awareness about iodine deficiency disorders, the National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme Cell, Chandigarh Health Department, in tandem with the Indian Council of Social Welfare, Punjab, launched a one-week awareness campaign here today.

Award for PGI docs
Chandigarh, October 30
Two PGI doctors, Dr Ashok Gupta and Dr M.G. Rajiniganth, have been awarded the best paper award for the S.B.S. Mann gold medal at the 25th Northwest Zone Conference of ENT held in Patiala past weekend.

Hockey players welcomed
Chandigarh, October 30
Two city hockey players namely Inderjit Singh and Raj Pal Singh, who were part of the Indian junior hockey team, which won the Junior World Cup title held recently in Australia alongwith a former hockey player, Mr N.S. Sodhi, who accompanied the teams as a manager, were welcomed by members of the Chandigarh Hockey Association at a function held at hockey stadium, Sector 18 this evening.

• Basketball team

• Office-bearers

• Ball badminton meet

• Football meet postponed

Mayor apprises IG of traffic problems
Chandigarh, October 30
The Municipal Corporation here today drew the attention of the Inspector General of Police, Mr Bhimsen Bassi, to the problems of safety, traffic management and ineffectiveness of beat system.