"Values must be taught early"
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 7 — The murder of Jessica Lal has testified the fact that law, as the common man knows or fears, is not for the so-called rich and influential. This is mainly responsible for the growing incidence of violence in the social set-up.

A cross-section of people contacted by Tribune News Service to elicit their views on what corrective measures could be taken to curb violence were of the view that law should treat everyone equally, social values should undergo a change and parents should spend more time with children to monitor their lives in a better way.

Dr B.S Chavan, Professor and Head of Department of Psychiatry, Government Medical College, Sector 32, recommends early detection of emotional problems among children . He further suggests that parents should not hesitate to approach counsellors or psychiatrists to help them in case of any problem.

Both parents and teachers can play a significant role in identifying such problems through various direct and indirect indicators like withdrawn from others, lack of interest in studies, missing classes, constant fighting etc. He is of the view that pent-up emotions, conflicts and unsolved problems of growing children often lead to aggression.

Hence, children should be encouraged to participate in various recreational and religious activities.The channelisation of the excess energies of youth in the right direction will go a long way in easing anxiety and tensions, which at times manifests in the form of violence.

Lamenting the social acceptability which drugs and alcohol have come to enjoy in society, he stressed on the need to educate parents and children on the hazards of drugs and how the problem can be detected at an early stage. He revealed that youngsters who get used to alcohol and drugs lose inhibitions, judgement and motor co-ordination and this often leads to aggression.

"A change in social values is the need of the times. Both youngsters and adults need to consciously shun commission of violence from their day-to-day lives by going in for more constructive activities,'' says Mrs Raj Sethi, Chairperson of the Department of Sociology, Panjab University

Listing some of the preventive measures which could check the growing incidence of violence, she said that greater obedience and respect for law and law enforcement agencies should be inculcated among the masses, particularly among the mighty and powerful sections of society, who consider themselves above law. The agencies should not discriminate between the mighty and the ordinary people so as to curb violence. Besides, this intelligent and investigative mechanism should be used to check illegal activities and nip crime in the bud.

With a view to restoring the faith of people in the enforcement of law, Mrs Sethi suggests trict enforcement with higher rate of prosecutions and convictions based on evidence and general merit of the case. The projection of violence in the media should also be shown a little more subtly since children do have a tendency to identify with most of the violent happenings, she opines.

Mrs Asha Dhir, Assistant Director, Ballistics, Central Forensic Laboratory, Sector 36, maintains that a spurt in the number of discotheques, bars and high-profile restaurants in the city have led the youth towards westernised culture. This, coupled with the freedom and money, which the youth of today enjoyed were responsible for majority of the ills in society. She was of the view that parents instead of giving them unlimited freedom and money should try and spend more time with them and try and solve their problems through counselling. They should also refrain them from going for late night parties and emphasise on a strong value system.

"The case not only exposes the inner secrets of such socialite evenings but the general degeneration that has crept in society due to lack of effective control of elders," says Dr S.N.Singla, principal, GCM, sector 11. "The projection of violence in the media also adversely affects the impressionable minds"

Parents should regulate the lifestyles of the children by involving them in sports and hobbies so that they are not left with much time to socialise or watch television at the end of the day. Both schools and colleges should also avail the services of counsellors to tackle their emotional problems and help them move on the right path. Effective and responsive police and administrative authorities can also play a major role in checking violence, he adds.

Violence can be checked by removing the social inequalities between the rich and the poor , asserts Mr Amar Singh Chahal, a lawyer in the district courts. " Even in the education system we have failed to evolve a system where the gap between the rich and the poor can be bridged."

The neo-rich class, who have acquired wealth all of a sudden should try and exercise refrain from spending illegal money as in most cases it leads to law breaking activities, he added

Mr O.P Gagneja, a parent, calls upon the parents to mend their own lifestyles before exercising a check on their wards as children do have a tendency to get influenced by their parents. They should cut down on their social activities and concentrate on providing quality lives to their children. They should inculcate in them fear of religion so that they imbibe right values and do not go astray. He also advocates proper utilisation of the capacity of youngsters for the betterment of society at large.

Yoga — cure to all diseases
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 7 — The renowned yoga expert and Chief Adviser to the Indian Yoga Federation, Prof M. Lall, while cautioning the people against going to the "untrained" yoga experts, has claimed that yoga could cure any disease not requiring surgery.

In a chat with TNS, Professor Lall, who is here to conduct free yoga camps for the treatment of common ailments like spondylitis, migraine, backache and headache being organised by the Chandigarh Yoga Sabha, said yoga was not simply an exercise but a total approach to life.

The yoga exponent, who has conducted yoga programmes like "Yoga for Everyone" on Doordarshan and other television channels, including, foreign channels, said the right kind of "aasanas" under the supervision of a trained yoga teacher for each individual depending upon his age, capacity, profession and lifestyle was a must.

Claiming to have cured over 50,000 asthmatic and cervical spondylitis patients, Professor Lall said simple "aasanas" and "pranayams" developed by him could enable a person to control tension. The "aasanas", which did not require much time and expertise, could help people live with minimal intake of medicines, he added.

Regarding the introduction of yoga in schools, he was of the view that it could be introduced in the school curriculum but the imposition would not work. Any system accepted by the masses gained popularity and yoga was becoming popular throughout the globe, he added.

Professor Lall stressed that man could live a long life with a simple and balanced diet. The "satvic" food, comprising natural, fresh and nourishing products was ideal for the human body. The excessive use of stimulative food products like sugar, salt and liquor should be avoided, he advised.

Professor Lall, who heads the Yoga and Nature Cure Institute, New Delhi, which was founded by his father, Yogiraj Swami Devi Dayalji, claimed that the main objective of the institute was to popularise yoga to make human life healthier using simple yoga techniques.

The Secretary of the Asian Yoga Federation, Mr M.L. Vairagi, said that the federation would open its branches in Singapore, Japan and Thailand this year to promote yoga in Asia.