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Tribune News Service

Patiala, March 3
Medical education and research minister Tikshan Sood yesterday asserted that the government had released a grant of Rs 3.67 crore to upgrade facilities at Patiala Nursing College.

He said this grant had been released by the Central Government. The minister was here to inaugurate a conference of the north-west chapter of the Indian Association of Pathology and Microbiology at Government Medical College yesterday. He added that the work of renovating Patiala Nursing College had been handed over to Hospital System Consultancy Corporation.

He said it was for the first time in the country's history that 11 per cent of the budget had been allocated for medical education and research. He also said the state had got its share of Rs 140 crore for medical education and research. The minister added that a report had been finalised to include the local government medical college in the Prime Minister's ‘Sehat Surakhya Yojna’ scheme. For, this, Sood said Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was shortly going to meet the Prime Minister. Under this scheme, every medical college is given a grant of Rs 100 crore for upgradation of its exiting facilities.

“A team has been constituted which will work to ensure the smooth running of private dental and nursing colleges. To improve the working of medical colleges, a report is being prepared by Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Public Administration,” added Sood. About the paucity of staff in medical colleges, particularly nursing staff, the minister said the vacancies would be filled up shortly.

Bassi Pathana, March 3
The case registered against eight industrialists, including PSEB officials, by the Mohali police following suicide by Kali Charn, a local social worker, has 
led to major controversy.

Certain residents have come out in support of the industrialists, whereas on the other hand, Hindu organisations, headed by Manoj Banda, are bent upon seeking justice for their deceased member and action against the industrialists who forced him to commit suicide. Today the local unit of the BJP, under the presidentship of Rajesh Gautam, held a meeting to mourn the death of Kali Charn and passed a condolence resolution.

Meanwhile, local DSP Rajwinder Singh Sohal told The Tribune that Bassi Pathana police had already filed a DDR in the suicide case on the complaint of local industrialists.

The DSP said certain local industrialists complained to the police that Kali Charn was threatening them that he will commit suicide and mention their names in the suicide note. He said the police registered a DDR.

The Bassi Pathana police informed the Mohali police in this regard.

Meanwhile, confusion prevailed over Gurdeep Singh’s name being mentioned in the FIR as in the suicide note, the deceased had not mentioned which Gurdeep Singh he was talking about. There are three industrialists named Gurdeep Singh.

News reports had wrongly mentioned Gurdeep Singh as councilor-cum-industrialist.

Bassi Pathana, March 3
Thousands of income tax assesses and the Taxation Bar Association have condemned the arbitrary decision of the authorities to shift the income tax office from Sirhind, the district headquarters of Mandi Gobindgarh.

The Sirhind office was opened in 1994 and catered to Bassi Pathana, Chuni, Khamano, Ucha Pind Sanghol, Kheri Naudh Singh, Jakhwali, Badali Ala Singh and the surrounding areas.

President and general secretary of Taxation Bar Association Randip Singh and S.S. Dhiman, and president of the district beopar mandal Varinder Rattan said after the intervention of the then MP and MLA, the office was opened here for the convenience of the 3,000 income tax assessees in 1994, who had to go Mandi Gobindgarh for filling returns.

He added that since the opening of the office here, the number of income tax assessees had gone up to 16,000. Majority of them filed returns on their own, he added.

They said the district headquarter was becoming a major attraction with the coming up of big institutions, private banks, World Sikh University and other educational institutions. However, the department had taken a "Tuglaki decision" to shift the office to Mandi Gobindgarh, causing great inconvenience to the assesses, they lamented. 

Ambala, March 3
Galaxy World Mall in Ambala city, which was inaugurated on February 15 this year, is facing a new kind of a threat these days which is giving the employees of this mall sleepless nights.

HARD DAY AHEAD: Rural women head to their homes in Ambala on Monday. Photo: Kamal Sachar

The employees are not scared of a bomb going off in this plush mall but of chewing gum!

The mall security staff has been put on high alert to ‘apprehend’ any visitors who are found carrying chewing gum. The security staff ensures to ask each visitor in every possible way if they are carrying something known as a chewing gum. A few perplexed visitors are a bit taken aback by such a query while many have to be explained by the staff what is it that they are asking for.

In between this commotion, the staff misses to check carefully, the visitors’ bags for any other suspicious elements that might prove to be dangerous. The staff, however, is not bothered by such small details. “We have strict instructions from our superiors to not let anyone carry chewing gum inside,” states the security staff.

CEO of the mall Nancy Kataria reconfirmed this weird instruction while stating that it took immense patience and effort to remove a chewing gum from the mall’s otherwise spotless floors. “It is in fact one of the most difficult things that the staff has to do and it is also one of the biggest problems that the malls have to face,” she informs.

“Cleanliness is the main issue,” stated Nancy, who informed that the staff, which was from a Delhi-based company, had these instructions from there itself. “All malls face this problem.”

“Almost 30 per cent of the mall is already functioning. By summer holidays, the mall is expected to be fully operational, which also means more work for the staff,” said Nancy.

Ambala, March 3
The district administration has launched a drive against dhaba owners making use of domestic LPG cylinders for commercial purposes. The deputy commissioner had received complaints that a large number of dhabas, restaurants and commercial organisations had been using domestic cylinders.

A team of food supply department raided several dhabas in Ambala city today and confiscated their cylinders. Around 15 cylinders were taken into possession.

It is to be mentioned that residents have been facing acute shortage of cooking gas for the past three months. Generally they have to wait at least for a month to get the booked cylinder.

During the past two months, the consumers have expressed their annoyance by demonstrating before various gas agencies at Ambala city.

According to information, around 300 domestic cylinders are used in dhabas, restaurants and other commercial orgainsations at Ambala city every day. The administration conducted raids at those commercial organisations earlier too but to no avail.

Chandigarh, March 3
With their terrific performance, the ‘Men in Blue’ have put the Australians under pressure, feels former Australian batsman Damien Martyn, who arrived in the city today afternoon.

“Winning the remaining two finals of the ongoing CB series would not be an easy job for the host team. As the Indian cricketers, especially the younger lot, have been putting up a great show with both bat and ball, the team would have an edge in the coming matches,” opined Martyn, who was mainstay of the Australian batting lineup during his days.

The 36-year-old Martyn, who has played 67 Tests (4406 runs) and 208 One-Day International matches (5346 runs) for the Australians, is all excited about his new assignment of leading the Indian Cricket League’s (ICL) team ‘Ahmedabad Rockets’.

“It will be exciting to lead the bunch of players belonging to different countries. Twenty-20 format is not a new thing to me as I have already played a few matches for my country. Adjusting in the shortest version of the game would not be difficult for me,” said Martyn, who played a key role in Australia’s first Champions Trophy triumph in India in 2006. Martyn has scored 156 runs at an average of 31.20 in five Twenty20 matches before announcing his retirement in December 2007.

When asked why he preferred ICL to BCCI’s Indian Premier League (IPL), Martyn said, “ICL officials approached me last year before their inaugural championship, but I had to turn down the offer as my wife was expecting then. However, I accepted their offer when they contacted me this year again.”

On ICL and IPL, Martin was of the view that both the bodies have opened new channels for talented cricketers.

Chandigarh, March 3
Krishan Kumar of DAV College, Sector 10, won top honours in the 75-kg category in the S. Harnam Singh Memorial Chandigarh Bench Press Powerlifting Championship held at Weightlifting Coaching Centre (WCC), Sector 42, here today.

Surinder Singh of the WCC secured second position while Harpreet Singh of DAV Colege, Sector 10, finished third in the category.

As many as 47 powerlifters participated in the championship.

The other results:

56 kg: 1 Arun Dev Singh, 2 Gursewak Singh, Raman.

60 kg: 1 Jarnail Singh, 2 Baljinder Singh, Devinder Singh.

67.5 kg: 1 Rahul Dahiya, 2 Pardeep Bhatia, 3 Hardeep Singh.

82.5 kg: 1 Gurinder Singh, 2 Ram Chand, 3 Roshan Lal.

90 kg: 1 Amit Kumar, 2 Bhupinder Singh, 3 Amanpreet Singh.

100 kg: 1 Baljit Singh, 2 Pritpal Singh, 3 Ravinder Singh.

110 kg: 1 Pawan Kumar Bhalla, 2 Harpreet Singh, 3 Gurinderjit Singh.

Chandigarh, March 3
Press Club XI, Chandigarh, defeated Adviser’s XI by one run in a nail-biting finish to the 20-20 matches at Sector 16 Cricket Stadium in the Samuel Banerjee Cup here.

Press Club XI won the toss and elected to bat first. Adviser XI restricted Press Club XI to a total of 145 for 5 wickets in 20 over. Daniel Banerjee was the most successful bowler for Adviser XI with 2 for 19 in four over.

Chasing the total, Adviser XI were in deep trouble at 17 for 2 before Narender Kwatra (20) and all rounder Daniel Banerjee scored 52 runs partnership for the third wicket.

Vivek Atray and Daniel Banerjee put a fruitful 63 run stand for the fourth wicket before Daniel Banerjee got run out for 35.

Adviser XI was finally left stranded at 144 in 20 over losing the match by one run.

Chandigarh, March 3
The body of an unidentified man, in his mid-thirties, was found from near Sector 21 petrol station, here, this evening. Police said the incident came to light at around 7pmand no visible injury marks were found on the body.

The deceased was wearing black trousers, black shirt and black shoes. A jacket was found lying near the body. Police have also found a Rs 10 Nepalese currency note from the deceased’s pockets.

The body has been sent to Sector 16 Government Multi Speciality Hospital for identification. 

Chandigarh, March 3
Popular playback singer Sonu Nigam is in the process of completing his most prestigious music album "Punjabi Please," disclosed the star performer during a video press conference organised by the Big 92.7 FM Radio, the partners in the venture. The title song , "Punjabi please" was aired today by all Big 92.7 FM stations.

Conversing with this correspondent Sonu maintained that the melodic richness and grace of Punjabi folk and pop music is of paramount charm among my listeners in India and abroad. Instead of crooning Punjabi numbers by other singers I am in the process of releasing the album with five more songs written and composed by me.

Another noble project of paying a musical tribute to his idol Mohammad Rafi is in the offing, which will be released around July 31, the death anniversary of Rafi Sahab. The album includes 18 film songs.

Speaking on the occasion the Big 92.7 FM’s vice-president Anand Chakravarthy, divulged on their new project "Sing with Sonu,” a talent hunt interactive show. It will provide five talented singers from across the country, who will get an opportunity to sing with Sonu Nigam during a five-city tour comprising Chandigarh, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata, added Anand Chakravarty.

Chandigarh, March 3
"Over the years, precisely during the last four decades, the concept, trend and process of filmmaking in India has undergone substantial transformation, aimed at catering to the taste of cine lovers, which is conditioned by the environment and the social milieu." Observed the acclaimed actor and director Padmashri Dr Mohan Agashe. A renowned psychiatrist and former director general of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTTI), was in city on the invitation of NFTI, Chandigarh.

Known for his exemplary performances in 50 films and plays, including Rang de Basanti, Apharan, Asambhav, Gangajal, Mritudand, Gandhi, Ab tak chhapan, Hu tu tu, Train to Pakistan, to name a few, Dr Agashe talked to the Tribune on the contemporary cinema and TV in India.

Because of the globalisation and advanced technology in communication, the scope of quality filmmaking has offered more challenges in all fields like training of actors, technicians and marketing personnel. The sound, audiovisual knowledge and the study of good literature are most essential for an actor. He lauded the efforts of thespian

director Umesh Kant, dean of National Film and TV Institute (NFTI) for stilling the requisite performing skills in students. The old belief that "Actors are born and not made" stands negated today and also gone are the days when a handsome looking guy with average acting potential could vie for a long term career in films. In view of the toughest competition now only an accomplished artist with quality acting skills can survive.

This invariably justifies grooming by experts only in institutes equipped with production related infrastructure.

The growing multiplex cinema culture has its own advantages encouraging producers to make recoverable budget-experimental or art films sans the glamour lure. Reserving his comments on financing film production by the underworld Dr Agashe averred that the big corporate companies prefer to create better book value getting their projects financed by authorised channels.

The film or TV productions must reflect rich Indian ethical values in their presentations rising above the commercial considerations. Commenting on the rich Tamil and Malyalam cinema, Agashe as compared to Marathi or Punjabi cinema, disclsoed that in general, Punjabis prefer to view Hindi films than Punjabi films.