Chandigarh, October 3
The NSS unit of MCM DAV College celebrated Women Empowerment Day today. Santosh Singh, chairperson of women and child support unit of the Chandigarh police and a permanent member of Lok Adalat, addressed the volunteers. The volunteers also gave presentations on the burning issues of disappearing daughters and child abuse to mark the day. A collage making competition was also held on the same theme.

CAMP CONCLUDES: A valedictory function to mark the closing of the 10-day NSS camp of Government Home Science College, Sector 10, was organised today at the college. The NSS volunteers put up a colourful cultural program. Ravinder Nath Sharma was the guest of honour on the occasion who is also the NSS program coordinator of PU. Around 100 volunteers participated in the camp. The projects focused on general, mental, spiritual health under the theme ‘Healthy Youth for Healthy India’ like nutrition health education, domestic cleanliness and also some self-employment crafts like embroidery knitting painting etc.

COMPETITION: On the sixth day of 10-day NSS camp at the Government College of Education, Sector 20, an extempore competition on ‘India of My Dreams’ was held. The NSS volunteers expressed their thoughts about what they want India of their dreams to be like. A magic show on the theme of blood donation and other social issues was also held which was organised by the State Blood Transfusion Council, Chandigarh. In the afternoon, a talk and an interactive session on mental health was also held, during which eminent psychologist and counsellor Dr Ranjiv Mittal, former deputy director, health department, Haryana, gave practical tips to the volunteers to lead a stress free life.

Sponsored by the ministry of youth affairs and sports, more than 100 NSS volunteers are participating in the gamut of activities which begin early morning and continue till late evening.

The day starts with a ‘Parbhat Pheri’ followed by yoga, recitals of shabad and bhajans and working in the grounds. Various informative workshops, lectures, 
seminars like that on HIV AIDS, female foeticide, right to information, are organised each day followed by cultural functions during the evenings.

The participating contingents, along with their program officers, are more than overwhelmed and are enjoying every bit of the camp.

Says Ashok Kumar, program officer of the J&K contingent, “When we were leaving Jammu, we were really sceptical of how things are going to be and anticipated that we might face some problems as well, but Punjabis are very warm people. They are extremely polite,” he chuckles.

Sankarshan, a volunteer from Patna University, says, “I have attended two camps before this but the hospitality and management of this one has swept all of us off our feet. Right from the food to lodging and boarding, everything is very well taken care of.”

Pushpinder Kumar, a volunteer from Governemnt Degree College, Akhnoor, J&K, says, “I feel on cloud nine being here. There are so many students from other states I am getting to interact with through this camp and it’s an emotional integration.”

“Chandigarh is very beautiful and the people are very disciplined. I can’t wait to get back and share the beautiful experiences with my family and friends back home,” chirps Ashish from Rajasthan.

Gaurav Gaur, lecturer in the department of social work, PU, and Sandeep Mittal, NGO adviser, State AIDS Control Society, UT Chandigarh, conducted a workshop on HIV/AIDS, STDs and adolescent health today, informed Dr Sahib Singh, camp director.

Also, Dr R.K. Sharma, reader, department of public administration, PU, spoke on the Right to Information Act and good governance.

In the afternoon, the students went around the city for sight seeing and visited Panjab University, Rock Garden, Rose Garden and Sukhna Lake, informed Dr Harinder Kaur, camp coordinator. The camp will conclude on October 5.

Chandigarh, October 3
A local court today acquitted Shiv Karan (49) of raping a minor due to lack of evidence.

He had been booked under Section 376 of the IPC for allegedly raping a minor on September 2, 2004.

It was alleged that Shiv Karan had threatened to kill the girl if she raised the alarm.

Mohali, October 3
The SDM has ordered that a resident of Sector 66 be sent to the mental hospital in Amritsar as he could be a threat to the society.

Balraj Singh was produced before SDM Raghbir Kaur Khaira today after he had allegedly manhandled a man. Phase XI police station SHO Rajpal Singh said the police had received a complaint from Charanjit Singh, a resident of the same area, alleging that Balraj Singh caught him from his hair and dragged him. Though he managed to free himself, moments later, Balraj Singh emerged from his house with a kitchen knife and again threatened Charanjit Singh, who called the police.

The SHO said Balraj Singh was taken to the civil hospital where the doctor said he was not in a proper state of mind. — OC