IN Brief

The evening devoted to a social cause set off as an opening to their three-day techno cultural fest — Panache 2010 — that commences from March 10,2010. The event was organised in association with ArriveSAFE,an NGO, as a part of their campaign — “Buckle up India “. The campaign was initiated by renowned actor – Aamir Khan at Mumbai on January 19,2010. The event,in collaboration with the Chandigarh Police,was staged in Sector 17. The students took an oath to wear safety gear. Road traffic injuries are a public epidemic that costs our country millions of rupees. There is an urgent need to address issues,such as,speeding,driving under the influence of alcohol and use of helmet,seat belts and other restraints,said a volunteer.

International Women’s Day celebrated
To portray the power of women in the corporate world,Aryans Business School for Women celebrated International Women’s Day on the college campus in Nepra village near here today. Faculty members of Aryans Group gave presentations on biographies of various business leaders like Indra Nooyi (Pepsi Co),Chanda Kochhar (ICICI Bank),Niana Lal Kidwani (HSBC India),Kiran Mazumdar (Shaw Biocon),Shahnaz Hussain (beauty expert) and Vinita Bali (Britannia). Dr Parveen Kataria,Director General,Aryans Group,while addressing the students,said,“Its not only the men who can excel in the business world but several women are a live example in history which prove that if given a chance women can perform far better than men”.

Suspected vehicle-lifter consumes poison in Ambala police lock-up
One of the three youths arrested by the Ambala Sadar police in connection with lifting of trailers yesterday,consumed some poisonous substance in the toilet of the lock-up today.

Identified as Rajinder,a resident of Delhi,the suspected vehicle thief was taken to the civil hospital around 9:30 am. There,doctors referred him to the PGI in Chandigarh in view of his serious condition. Instead,the police kept him in the hospital till 3.30 pm and then took him to the court with a glucose drip,where he was given a judicial remand. Rajinder told the media that he was involved in a false case of lifting trailers and was arrested on February 26 from Delhi. He,along with two others,was brought to Ambala and was tortured to confess to the stealing,he alleged. The police have said the three accused stole heavy vehicles and were arrested following a tip-off on the NH1 near village Devinagar,Ambala.

FM gives away North-West QualTech Awards for 2009
Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal conferred the North-West QualTech Awards for 2009 at a ceremony held at Gian Jyoti School at Mohali on Friday evening.

Instituted in 2004,these are prestigious quality awards of the region,which recognise project teams from organisations which have achieved outstanding results in their quality improvement journey. In the manufacturing category,Subros Ltd,Noida,won the Vardhman Quality Navigator Award for large business,Moser Baer Photo Voltaic in Noida,won the Trident Quality Pioneer Award for medium business and Hycron Electronics,Baddi won the Winsome Quality Pathfinder Award for small business. In the service category,Tata Teleservices Ltd in Mohali won the Educomp Quality Innovator Award. “Such Quality awards have a tremendous impact on the work culture and productivity of organisations,and this year’s recipients have shown how quality,innovation and an unending quest for excellence are helping India march forward on the road to global competitiveness,” Badal said.

Nursing students at Fortis pledge to serve humanity
The lamp lighting ceremony of the ninth batch of General Nursing and Midwifery students at Fortis School of Nursing was held at Fortis Hospital auditorium on Saturday,in which students took an oath to serve the ailing humanity with utmost sincerity and resolve. The chief guest Dr Jai Kishan,Director,Research and Medical Education,Punjab ,and president,Punjab Nursing Registration Council,lit the ceremonial lamp. As two faculty members of the school held candles in their hands in front of the portrait of the legendary Florence Nightingale,the other students appeared on the dais in twos and lit their candles,taking an oath to serve humanity with compassion and empathy. This Nightingale pledge is significant in the nurses’ lives since the nursing profession was started by Florence Nightingale,who was called the ‘Lady with the Lamp’ as she challenged the prejudices against the nurses and elevated the status of nursing to a respected profession.

Demand for pension parity in armed forces: Ex-servicemen to give memorandum to President to press
The members of the ex-servicemen wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal will give a memorandum to President Pratibha Patil to press their demand for implementing the one-rank-one-pension scheme. The national president of the wing Col Pratap Inder Singh Phulka (retd) said ex-servicemen would make thumb impressions with blood on the memorandum before submitting it. A zonal level meeting of the ex-servicemen was held at the head office of SAD today that was attended by representatives of ex-servicemen from Delhi,Haryana,Punjab and Chandigarh. Col Phulka said the Prime Minister made a wrong statement on the floor of Parliament by saying that one-rank-one-pension had been implemented by the government. “The ex-servicemen are suffering because of the indifferent attitude of the government. We have seen that our returning medals had no affect on the government that dumped these into store rooms. We are adversely affected by price rise. Should we beg for our rights,” he said. The ex-servicemen would be submitting the memorandum on March 14.