Romas come home to perform
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 8— "We are Punjabis, who are visiting our land after many years", said the five-member Roma dance troupe from Norway.

It is currently in Chandigarh to perform "in front of our people". The troupe includes world-renowned Roma dancer Raya, who is on her third visit to India. The dance group includes her daughter, Natasha and grandsons Nikak and Aleco, and Goran.

Popularly referred to and even understood as 'gypsies', concentrated mainly in eastern Europe, besides being found in the USA and Russia, the Roma, however, do not like to be identified with this term. Says Raya,

"It was earlier believed that the Romani people came from Egypt and so we were called gypsies. But the roots of our fore-fathers can, in fact, be traced to India". The Roma have now been officially accepted as an ethnic minority by the United Nations.

The women dressed in bright clothes and bangles, and the men looking like any other firangis, expressed their "intense happiness" at seeing the sweltering sun, and insisted on "enjoying the heat of the sun" even during the blazing hot summer afternoon! But it was on listening to their smattering of Romani language, mixed with some Norwegian and French, that the Indian-Roma link could be gauged. With words like 'pani' (water), 'baal' (hair) and 'mooh' (mouth) being a part of the Roma language, Raya proudly proclaims, "Not only are our tradition and culture similar to those of Punjabis, with even 60 per cent of our language sounding the same, our blood is also that of the Punjabis".

But are the traditional Roma dress and food Punjabi as well? "We wear the salwar-kameez only on stage shows now, since we are no longer 'wanderers' in the true sense of the word, but are a 'civilised' group", said Natasha. Added her son, Nikak, "Like the Punjabis, we also just love chicken. The fondness for chicken also stems from the fact that it was always the easiest to steal when most Romani people were poor".

Talking passionately about his first visit to India, and especially Punjab, 20-year-old Aleco said, "Whenever people ask me where my home is, I don't seem to have any answer. But the nearest home I see is Punjab, and so I always say that I come from Punjab. This has been an overwhelming trip for me, very emotional".

"This is like discovering my roots, and returning home. I am very happy to have got this opportunity in my life-time to have visited Punjab —my real home", added his brother Nikak.

For Raya, who was born in Russia, "dancing has been a way of life", in which she has included her entire family. "Again a Punjabi passion", she reminds. While noting the changes that have cropped in the country since the last time she came here in 1983, Raya said, "Roads are better now.

And it is surprising to see such a huge number of cars having replaced bicycles in the past so many years. Even television programmes and dances seem to have become more modern. But people are still the same".

While remembering her "good friend", Mrs Indira Gandhi, Raya said, "She was always there for all my performances, and we used to communicate regularly through letters. Mrs Gandhi has been a great influence on me, and I always found her to be a very impressive woman".

On the issue of Roma as an ethnic minority and the fear of getting 'extinct', Raya said, "Ours is a very united group. And since we do not really have any country or land to call our own, the only thing that keeps us alive is our language and our tradition".

Her grandsons, Nikak and Aleco, while agreeing with her said, "Most of the young Romani people like us want to keep our heritage alive, and would like to work with our elders to preserve it".

Pre-paid phone cards from today
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 8 — A person can now buy a pre-paid card from the telecom department and use the 10-digit confidential number given with the card to make calls from any telephone in the city, while the bill amount for calls will be deducted automatically from the amount paid for procuring the card.

The sale of cards called the “Virtual Calling Card” would start tomorrow, Mr Prithipal Singh, Principal General Manager, Telecom, said. A Rs 100-card could be used for making only local calls eliminating the need to have change to make a call. A Rs 200-card could be used to make local and STD calls, while a Rs 500-card could be used to make local, STD and international calls. There would be 5 per cent tax on each card.

With the card, a 10 digit confidential number would be provided. This code number could be used only from tone dialling or a fast-dialling phone. To use the card, one would have to dial the access code ( 1602-03) from any telephone. The computer would announce the balance against the card and ask for the confidential number. The desired telephone number could be dialled and the amount of the bill would be automatically deducted from the card.

Once the receiver was put down, the activation of the card would end. To dial the next number, the code would have to be fed in again through the telephone. Persons using cards of the values of Rs 200 and Rs 500, could dial STD and ISD numbers , respectively, from phones that do not have these facilities.

The department planned to set up free telephones at various points in the city, said Mr Prithipal Singh. The card would expire within six months if the person did not use it, and no refund would be given. The same card number could be used from telephones in Calcutta, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bhopal , Jaipur and Lucknow. Anandpur Sahib was added onto the list today, the telecom authorities said.

Mr Prithipal Singh hoped that persons wanting to make STD calls from telephones that did not have the facility would use the cards besides persons on the move.

The cards would be available at the office of the department in Sector 8.

Internet rates cut
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 8 — The local telecom department today cut the rates for usage of Internet. The rates for 100, 250 and 500 hours have been reduced from Rs 3,500, Rs 7,000 and Rs 10,000 to Rs 3,050, Rs 6,025 and Rs 9,000, respectively.

Similarly, the rates for renewal have been reduced from Rs 3,000, Rs 6,500 and Rs 10,000 to Rs 2,400, Rs 5,200 and Rs 8,000 for 100, 250, and 500 hours, respectively.

Crane begins towing work
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 8 — Towing of vehicles is on in the city as a team of the Chandigarh Traffic Police, acting on the order of Dr Kiran Bedi, IG, today toured the Grain Market and the Transport Area and picked up wrongly parked trucks with the help of a crane.

Police sources said no challans were issued but the yellow-coloured crane had its impact as parking of vehicles was in the right manner today. In the morning the IG along with the Chief Engineer, Mr R.K. Jain, visited the known bottlenecks along Madhya Marg and discussed engineering solutions.

The diversion of the slow-moving vehicles onto side carriageways also commenced today.

Family contests police theory
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 8 — A local resident is refusing to believe the theory put forward by the police saying that his brother has died in an accident.

Jagdish Chand, a resident of colony No 5, alleges that his brother, Ramesh Chand was murdered in October last year and did not die in an accident.

He says the theory of the police is based on the eyewitness account of only one person, Ghanshayam, who did not see the vehicle that is said to have hit Ramesh. "The police has not even bothered to get my version for investigations even after submitting two applications alleging that it is a case of murder," says Jagdish Chand while questioning the style of investigation.

Ramesh Chand was injured when he was found lying on the road passing in front of colony No 5 on the night of October 12 last year.

He was rushed to the PGI where he died the next morning. The family of Jagdish Chand says the keys of the bicycle of the deceased were found in his pocket while the cycle was not traceable. Jagdish Chand says that the eyewitness has reportedly told the police that a Maruti car had hit Ramesh Chand, who was walking.

Jagdish Chand says it is a murder and the eyewitness should be called in before the family of the deceased to give his statement. The Sector 34 police authorities, which have registered a case of accident, say the investigations were carried out and the report of accidental death was based on the versions of the doctors who treated him and later conducted a post mortem.

Ghanshayam knows about the facts, alleges Jagdish Chand while demanding a thorough probe from a senior policeman into the incident.

Meanwhile, no arrests have been made in the accident also, according to sources.

Khalsa celebrations in city
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 8 — As part of tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa Panth, the Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee of Shri Guru Gobind Sabha, Milk Colony, Dhanas, has decided to take out five nagar kirtans through various parts of the city from April 12.

Mr N.K. Sharma, a spokesman of the colony, said the first nagar kirtan would be taken out in the memory of Bhai Sahib Bhai Daya Singh from Gurdwara Shri Guru Singh Sabha at 12 noon. The nagar kirtan procession would pass through Dadu Majra Colony, CTU Workshop, Sectors 14, 25, Sector 15 market, Gurdwara, Sector 15, Sector 24, Sectors 37, 38, 36 and 35 and conclude at 7 p.m. at Gurdwara, Sector 34.

SNIPPETS

Nurses threaten‘work to rule’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 8 — The ANM Action Committee, Punjab, has threatened that as many as 5,000 auxilliary nurses and midwives will resort to a work-to-rule agitation from May if the rent-free accommodation facility is not restored immediately.

In a press note issued here today, Ms Satwant Kaur Johal, President of the committee, said the rent-free accommodation facility, which had been provided to nurses, was withdrawn on March 24 by the state Finance Minister, which was nothing but an instance of injustice to them.

He said with the act of the government about 40,000 members of the paramedical staff in the state would be affected. She said the committee members would join the state convention of employees on April 11 at Jalandhar to lodge their protest against the ‘black’ act of the government.

Train-the-trainer programme
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 8 — A five-day train-the-trainer programme, which is on at the Food Craft Institute, Sector 42, is focusing on both practical and theoretical aspects of training methodology. The programme is being conducted by the India Tourism Human Resource Development Committee.

About 15 participants, including senior people in the hospitality industry from CITCO, the FCI, and the Chandigarh Tourism are attending the programme.

Mrs Geetanjali Dhar, training consultant from Delhi, who is here to conduct the programme, said that the aim of the programme was to enhance the communication skills of these trainers so that they in turn were able to impart these training skills to people working under them, particularly the entry level staff. Audio-visual aids were being used to train them on various aspects of demonstration, particularly the practical knowhow.

She said that after their assessment at the end of the programme they would be certified as tourism trainers.

Light shower in city
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 8 — A light drizzle notwithstanding, the day temperature touched 37.4°C. This was as high as the day temperature during the past two days.

However, the minimum temperature was recorded at 21°C. The met office said that the drizzle was due to western disturbances.

200 students get degrees
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 8 — Degrees were conferred on 200 students at the 44th annual convocation of the Government College of Education, Sector 20, here today. Six postgraduates in education and as many graduates of education with specialisation in yoga were also honoured degrees.

The toppers of the college were given special prizes at the function. While Manni Sharma and Manhar Jyoti received prizes at the postgraduation level for standing first and second, respectively, Amandeep Kaur, Mantoli Sethi and Parul Chopra were honoured at the graduation level. Three prizes, which went to Taranjot Kaur, Sushma Rani and Vijay Lakshmi were given for graduation with specialisation in yoga.

In her address at the convocation, Mrs Surinder Paul Kaur, Chief Commissioner, Income Tax, North-Western Region, congralutaled the students and said that ``disemination'' and ``empowerment'' were the key words in the teaching profession. Further, she stressed that teachers must update their information, be patient listeners and inculcate discipline. She warned the teacher graduates against being mercenary by opening teaching shops which were fast replacing the citadels of knowledge — the schools and colleges.

Earlier, the function began with a ''Saraswati vandana'' which was followed by the college report read by the Principal, Mrs Surinder Kaur Tangri, in which she highlighted the activities of the college.

Swimming pool for children
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, April 8 — “Children’s swimming pool”, the first of its kind in the city, which has been constructed by the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) at the Phase VI swimming pool complex, will start functioning from April 19.

The low-depth swimming pool has been constructed at a cost of about Rs 2 lakh with a view to train school-going kids in swimming.

According to Ms Seema Jain, Additional Chief Administrator of PUDA, the swimming pool has a depth of 2.5 feet, while its total area is about 300 square feet. The pool, which is part of the existing swimming pool, has been adequately equipped with necessary equipment like life saving tubes, she added.

“The depth of the baby pool is 2.5 feet, but keeping in view the safety of the children, we will fill it up to a depth of only 1.5 feet,” said an official.

According to Mr Inderjit Kumar, Divisional Engineer of PUDA, the pool will be linked to the water treatment plant of the existing pool. Besides, other facilities of the existing pool, such as changing rooms, will be utilised for the new pool.

“We have also created a seating place with a capacity of 100 for the guardians accompanying the kids,” Mr Kumar said.

Cultural programme by senior citizens
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, April 8 — A cultural programme by senior citizens marked the annual function of the local Senior Citizens Council organised at the Day Care Centre of the council in Sector 15 here today. The Member of Parliament from Ambala, Mr Aman Kumar Nagra, was the chief guest .

Mr M. L. Sharma, General Secretary of the council,said that the number of its members had gone up to 656. He said a HAPS scheme for senior citizens had been introduced with the help of the police.

Under the scheme, any senior citizen could approach the police for medical aid and security. He said the council proposed to acquire a plot adjacent to the Day Care Centre for the construction of an old age home.

The council demanded that the 30 per cent concession by the railways to senior citizens be raised to 50 per cent. A 50 per cent concession by the respective state roadways was also demanded.

Free medical treatment in government hospitals, reservation of plots by the HUDA and raising of retirement age from 60 to 65 years was also demanded by the council.

Suspects still on fast
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 8 — Jagtar Singh Tara and Paramjit Singh, two suspects in the Beant Singh assassination case, today continued their fast on the fourth day in the high-security Burail Jail.

They had started the fast to protest against the rejection of their prayer by the Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi, to get themselves baptised.

Bees invade school, bite students
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 8 — Nearly 100 children studying in Saint John’s School in Sector 26 were badly bitten by bees during recess this morning.

The incident occurred around 11 a.m. Luckily the students of KG classes had just gone inside when a swarm of bees invaded the school.

First aid from the police was rushed. Some private doctors also came to the school.

Children having more stings were given injections while others were given first aid and medication.

Activities of the school carried on as usual.

Carcass not removed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 8 — Ms Balwant Walia, a resident of Sector 71, has complained that in spite of a number of complaints the local Municipal Council authorities have not removed the carcass of a dog which has been lying there for the past three days.

Ms Walia said that a strong stench was emanating from the carcass as no official of the Municipal Council turned up to remove it from outside her house No. 110, in spite of a number of complaints in this regard.

“When I contacted the MC office over the phone somebody retorted that the MC was not responsible for the removal of the carcass,” she said, fearing that it could lead to spread of some serious disease.

Ban on polythene: 85 objections filed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 8 — The UT Administration has received 85 objections, on the expiry of the sixty-day mandatory notice, issued by it on January 15, before a final notification is issued by it for a ban on carrying and use of polythene bags in Sector 17.

Interestingly, 80 objections sought a ban on the use of recycled plastic along. “It seems that these 80 objections have been filed by the same person, as photocopies of the same letter have been used by those who have filed their objections,” said an official. Some persons, in their objections, demanded that the ban should not be enforced in Sector 17 alone, but in the whole of the city.