Date:26/02/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/02/26/stories/2004022606730400.htm

Annual day celebrated

NEW DELHI FEB. 25. The Darshan Academy, Kirpal Bagh, celebrated its 7th annual day on Sunday. At the function, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj, was felicitated for being awarded two Honorary Doctorates in Peru during his tour of South America. One of the awards was for his work for world peace, unity and global harmony.

"At the meeting, Sant Raijinder Singh Ji Maharaj released the 3rd issue of `Darshanika 2004', the annual magazine of the school. During the function, students of Darshan Academy performed several programmes based on the theme "The Awakened Soul".

BEL's goodwill gesture

NEW DELHI FEB. 25. Bharat Electronics Limited has extended help to the underprivileged by donating a modern computer lab to the Blind Relief Association. It is also donating a recording studio equipped with state-of-the-art PCs, software and audio equipment.

The computer lab was formally handed over today by the General Manager of BEL, Ghaziabad, N.K. Sharma. The unit is spending Rs. 10 lakhs for the activity. The computer lab will help blind students to undergo comprehensive computer training using JAWS Braille interface software. Study materials including textbooks upto post graduation level will be recorded in CDs in the recording studio.

In addition, the BEL has donated traffic lights and expanded school buildings in Ghaziabad. Further, the unit has donated a mobile medical van to HelpAge India for providing medical facilities in the villages around the Ghaziabad unit of the company.

Dispensary foundation stone laid

NEW DELHI FEB. 25. The Union Labour Minister, Sahib Singh Verma, today laid the foundation stone of an ESI dispensary-cum-local office complex at Dwarka in South-West Delhi. The three storey complex will be constructed at a cost of about Rs.80 lakhs and on its completion the existing dispensary and local office operating from rented buildings in Palam village will be shifted to the new complex.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said the objective of the corporation was to provide all possible facilities nearer to the doorstep of the beneficiary population. "The dispensary on commissioning will have some additional features for improved services which may later be upgraded to a full-fledged health centre," he added.

College honours Kuldip Singh

NEW DELHI FEB. 25. The Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College (SGTBKC) felicitated the Chairman of its Governing Body, Justice Kuldip Singh, at the college premises earlier this week. Justice Kuldip Singh is also the Chairman of the De-limitation Commission.

In his address the president of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, Prahlad Singh Chandok, expressed confidence that the educational standards of the SGTBKC will improve with Justice Singh taking over the reins.

The Chairman of the Minority Commission, Tarlochan Singh, said: "The SGTBKC should feel proud to have a man of the calibre of Justice Kuldip Singh as its Chairman. Even if few of the hundreds of students were to follow his footsteps, society will stand to benefit."

Free Colo-Rectal camp

NEW DELHI FEB. 25. To mark the completion of two years of its existence, the Colo-Rectal Clinic of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital will be organising a free consultation, examination and investigation camp this coming Friday in its premises. Since the Colo-Rectal Clinic specialises in treating patients suffering from piles, an infra-red photo coagulator treatment for bleeding piles will be available. The doctors will offer treatment after proper diagnosis. Those patients who are in need of surgical intervention would be given appointments.

62 prizes for NDMC gardens

NEW DELHI FEB. 25. The Horticulture Department of the New Delhi Municipal Council bagged 62 prizes this past week at the 17th Garden Tourism Festival organised by the Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC) and also at the YMCA's Flower Show.

The NDMC Chairperson, Sindhushree Khullar, congratulated the winners for their performances in both the shows and hoped that they would maintain their winning streak.

Award for NTPC film

NEW DELHI FEB. 25 . An NTPC film, "Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya" (From Darkness to Light), directed by Shyam Benegal, has won the award for the best film on "Corporate social responsibility" in the 5th all-India competition for CD-ROM/Video Production and House Journal Awards conducted by the Public Relations Society of India, Andhra Pradesh chapter. The award was presented by C. Narayana Reddy, Chairman of the A.P. State Cultural Council, at the valedictory function of the 7th Andhra Pradesh Public Relations Conference held in Hyderabad. C. Vijayakumar, General Manager (HR), NTPC, received the award.

The 45-minute film portrays the trials and tribulations, hopes and aspirations of a growing company.