Chandigarh, October 18
There is high maternal and newborn mortality rate and newborn are dying from diseases such as diarrhoea, pneumonia and sepsis. This was stated by Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, deputy regional director, WHO South-East Asia region, here today.

She was the chief guest at the convocation of the National Institute of Nursing Education, PGI.

“Nurses can persuade pregnant women to get adequate antenatal care and let the newborn have essential care,” she said.

The WHO has been working with the Indian Nursing Council for the establishment of a consortium for PhD in the nursing science programme by pooling resources from six premiere nursing educational institutes in the country, she said.

A total of 302 BSc and 19 MSc nursing students were awarded degrees. Medals were given to M. Divya, Gagandeep Kaur, Rajinder Kaur, and Damanjot Kaur for 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, respectively, for standing first in BSc nursing (4 years).

BSc nursing (post basic) university medals were awarded to Jatinder Kaur for 2003 and for MSc nursing the medals were given to Amrinder Kaur Sayan, Monika Dutta, Suresh Kumar Sharma and Sonali Banerjee for 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, respectively.

Prof K.K.Talwar, PGI director, said, “A nurse has many roles, including looking after the emotional, intellectual, social and spiritual needs of patients. A patient has more faith in the nurse attending to him than anyone else involved in his care.”

Dr Indrajit Walia, principal of the nursing institute, said BSc nursing seats had been increased from 90 to 100 and MSc nursing from eight to 20 with five fields of specialities.

A request to increase BSc nursing seats by 40 was pending with the INC, he added.

The institute had conducted workshops for in-service candidates from the North.

It had collaborated with the World Federation of Paediatric Intensive and Critical Care Society to organise a workshop on monitoring critically ill children at the advanced paediatric centre at the PGI in March last.

The nursing institute had also assisted the South East Asia Nursing and Midwifery Educational Institute Network in organising its first meeting in Chandigarh in May, he added.

Chandigarh, October 18
The on going youth festival of zone A at SGGS College, Sector 26, entered its third day today.

Students participate in dance competition during the Panjab University zonal youth festival at SGGS College, Sector 26, in Chandigarh on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

The morning session started at four different venues simultaneously.

Dr Deepak Manmohan was the chief guest for the literary items session.

Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema, chief advisor of Punjab CM was the chief guest for the folk songs, kavishri and vaar items.

Rana Randeep was the chief guest for mime, mimicry and skit.

He gave few performances of his own than the regular speech that fired the spirit right from the start. Member of Rajya Sabha Varinder Singh Bajwa came as a chief guest for the drama items.

In the afternoon session, AICTE president Dr Ram Avtar Yadav was the chief guest.

The folk dances added more colour and remained the most entertaining performance of the day.

Results

Kavishri: 1. DAV College-10, 2. GGDSD College-32, 3. GC-11

Vaar singing: 1. DAV College-10, 2. SGGS College-26

Kali: 1. GC-11, 2. GC-46

Mime: 1. SGGS-26, 2. GGDSD College-32, 3. GC-11

Mimicry: 1. GC-11, 2. DAV College-10, 3. SGGS College-26

Skit: 1. DAV College-10, 2. GC-11, 3. GC-46

Ladies traditional singing: 1. SGGS College-26, 2. GGDSD College-32, 3. GC-11

Debate: 1. Harpal Singh Brar (DAV College-10), 2. Anuj Malhotra (DAV College-10), 3. Kritika Sangani (SGGS College-26) and Neha Verma (PU Campus)

Poem recitation: 1. Navjot Kaur (GGDSD College-32), 2. Amardeep Singh (DAV College-10), 3. Harjot Singh (SGGS College-26)

Elocution: 1. Vasu Kumar (PU campus), 2. Kritika Sangani (SGGS College-26), 3. Shagun Sharma (DAV College-10)

Classical dance: 1. PU campus, 2. DAV College-10, 3. GGDSD College-32

Group dance: 1. GC-46, 2. SGGS College-26, 3. GGDSD College-32

Individual prices in group dance: 1. Anil Mangla (PU campus), 2. Bloosm (SGGS College-26), 3. Swati Sharma (GGDSD College-32)

Folk dance: 1. GC-46, 2. GGDSD College-32, 3. GC-11

Individual prices in folk dance: 1. Sukhwinder Singh (GGDSD College-32), 2. Amardeep Singh (GC-46), 3. Paramjit Singh (DAV College-10).

Zone B

Project: The department of science and technology, ministry of science and technology, Government of India and Technology Bhavan, New Delhi, have sanctioned a new research project for two years to Dr Suman Bala Beri, professor at the department of physics. This project is in addition to two research projects that she is already doing along with other faculty members of the department.

CET dates: The Panjab University has decided to conduct CET-2008 on May 18, 2008. It has also been decided to give 25 per cent weightage for the qualifying examination (10+2) and 75 per cent for the CET entrance test-2008 for admission to various courses except BA LLB (honours) 5-year integrated course for which the admission shall be based on 50 per cent marks obtained in 10+2 examination and the entrance test respectively.

Workshop: Under the aegis of the National Foundation for Corporate Governance (NFCG), the University Business School (UBS) is conducting a two-day workshop in corporate governance for teachers of colleges affiliated to the university offering commerce and management programmes.

Chandigarh, October 18
Over 1,000 students of Sacred Heart School, Sector 26, presented an outstanding “God Still Loves the World” light and sound show celebrating 40th year of their foundation. The evening commenced with the lighting of the lamp by chief guest Rt. Rev. Gerald John Mathias, bishop, Shimla-Chandigarh diocese and the guest of honour was Dr John V. George, ADGP, crime branch, Haryana. The two-hour musical presentation, replete with beautiful dances, showcased the birth of Lord Jesus. The function at Sacred Heart School will continue at 6 pm tomorrow.

AWARDED: Vivek High School has bagged the prestigious national award for excellence in computer literacy racing ahead of all other schools in the nation. The school has been given a trophy and a cash award of Rs 10 lakh. The school also received the state-level award consisting of a trophy and Rs1.5 lakh by minister for communication and information technology A. Raja at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, today.

DUSSEHRA CELEBRATION: Dussehra was celebrated at Shishu Niketan Public School, Sector 43-A, with traditional zeal and fervour here today. A large number of students came dressed as various Ramayana characters including Lord Rama, Laxmana, Sita, Hanuman. As many as three Ravanas were created by the school teachers and students. Later, the three Ravanas were consigned to flames.

FOUNDERS’ DAY: Paying tributes to founder Kundan Lal, Kundan International School, Sector 46, Chandigarh, celebrated its first founders’ day at the school here today. The chief guest on the occasion was former VC of Panjab University. The programme commenced with a semi-classical dance performance. The function also had a mock function show by nursery children, but the befitting finale to the function was with the spicy flavour of Punjab where children dressed in traditional outfits performed foot-tapping bhangra.

ALUMNI MEET: The Kabir’s Roll of Old Students (KROS), an alumni association of St. Kabir Public School, Sector 26, Chandigarh, is scheduled to hold its annual reunion in the form of a “Dine & Dance” evening at the CGA lawns in the evening here tomorrow. “The alumni meet forms part of the 34th founders’ week celebrations of our alma mater,” said Pankaj Chandgothia, president (KROS). The ex-students of the school can contact project chairman Arshdeep Singh Lehal on 9815687888, co-chairman Raman Sapral at 9888513016 or Chandgothia on 98724-15356. The founders’week celebrations will conclude with holding of a blood donation camp on the school premises on October 20.

COMPETITIONS: Chandigarh Institute of Hotel Management today organised a salad and cake decoration competition in collaboration with Diplast Veggie Fresh on its premises. The competition fetched approximately 100 entries with young children, budding professionals, students and housewives taking interest enthusiastically. In salad decoration, Rohan Sharma won the first prize followed by Baljinder and Aman Kumar at second and third places respectively. In the cake decoration category, first prize went to Davinder Singh followed by Jatinder Walia and Gauri Handa at second and third place respectively. A prize distribution ceremony was organised and prizes were given to the winners. Neelam Gupta, S K Saluja, principal CIHM, Alka Gupta and Mohd Shahid Husain were the judges for the competition.

Chandigarh, October 18
The Consumer Forum-II has ordered the divisional manager of the Life Insurance Corporation of India, northern zone, to pay Rs 1.3 lakh with an interest of 9 per cent per annum from the date of repudiation of claim to the beneficiary of a policyholder.

The corporation has also been directed to give a compensation of Rs 10,000 for not giving the claim to Sarabjit Kaur.

The husband of Sarabjit, Chattar Singh, an XEN at municipal corporation, had got his life insured for Rs 1.3 lakh. However, the amount was not refunded by the corporation after his death.

The corporation stated that Chattar was suffering from a pre-existing diabetes. The existence of the disease led to the death, claimed the corporation.

During the court proceedings, it came to light that the policyholder had taken the insurance policy as medical and not non-medical case. This meant that the doctor must have examined him for medical fitness before recommending the issuance of the policy.

While Sarabjit stated that both documents showing death notification issued by the PGI on December 25, 1999 and certificate of hospital treatment were given to the insurance corporation.

The forum said: “There is no evidence given by the corporation from which it can be concluded that Sarabjit has purposely suppressed some facts. It is difficult to accept the contention of the opposite party that there was material concealment of facts.”

Chandigarh, October 18
The number of cheque bounce petitions being filed in the district courts has been on the rise. This has been attributed largely to the filing of false cases by plaintiffs. And a majority of such plaintiffs have been found to have filed complaints in dozens.

Records suggest that one such plaintiff, Jarnail Singh, has 40 cheque bounce cases pending under Section 138 of the IPC in different courts.

Also, Randhir Singh has filed 21 cases and Parkash Chander Pandey 18 cases in court.

Lawyer Sajal Koser relates this to the nexus between financiers and their “plaintiffs”.

“Financiers hire employees who file a cheque bounce case against the consumer on their behalf.” Financiers take blank cheques from those who take loans or from guarantors in the name of their employees. When a cheque bounces, a notice is served on them through court.

Echoing a similar view, another lawyer says: “It has become very convenient for financiers or their employees to file a case. They do so to double their recovery amount, as the court often penalises the offender.” On filing of large number of cases by a single person, Koser asserts that such plaintiffs are on the payroll of financiers.

Citing an example, the lawyer said a complainant during examination had once admitted to earning Rs 2,000 a month on account of filing cases on behalf of his employer. To cap the filing of false cases, law-makers need to streamline the process, Koser says. “It should be made mandatory for those filing a case to deposit an affidavit mentioning their bank statement, income tax returns and source of income.”