A mini pension adalat was organised at Allahabad in the premises of CDA (pension), Allahabad under the aegis of Principal CDA. The mini adalat which was chaired by Mrs Sasi Srivastava, Joint CDA (pension) drew a huge response from the pensioners residing in and around Allahabad.

The complaints of the pensioners were examined by the staff of PCDA (pension) deputed for the purpose. Refering to various rules and regulations on pension matters, a total of 101 complaints were settled on the spot.

It was also informed by the PCDA (pension) that more mini pension adalats will be held infuture. The information about the proposed pension adalat will be disseminated through media. The pensioners can also log on to the web site http://pcdapension.nic.in of PCDA (pension) to update themselves about their queries on pension matters.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AY Tipnis, felicitated the IAF hockey team for winning the 48th Inter Services Hockey Championship in Mumbai. Defeating the Army Red by 2-1, the victory for the IAF team came after a gap of ten years. The Air Chief also presented cash awards to all the team members and the coaches on the occasion.

The championship was organised in Mumbai by the Indian Navy. The IAF team played its first match against Army Green and won it through a golden goal moving to semi finals. In the semi finals, IAF faced Indian Navy. The IAF team won the match 7-6 in sudden death, as both the teams were tied at the end of regulation period.

In the final match, IAF, playing against Army Red, dominated the match. Sgt Balbir Singh scored two field goals in the first half to take a 2-0 lead. In the second half, the Army Red was able to narrow down the lead to 2-1. The IAF team has won the championship twice earlier in the year 1964 and 1991.

The Air Chief, speaking on the occasion, said that Air HQrs would continue to strive for providing best possible facilities to promote sports and adventure activities in the IAF.

A seminar on "Electronic Chart Display and Informaton System - A Tool for Safe Navigation" was held at Lal Bahadur Shastri College for Advanced Maritime Studies and Research, Mumbai. The seminar was organised by the Naval Hydrographic Department of India.

The seminar was inaugurated by the chief guest, Mr DT Joseph, Director General Shipping. The chief guest in his inaugural address remarked about tremendous capabilities of human brain and emphasised that all modern equipment are useless without training of individuals who use them. He also highlighted the importance of ECDIS for safe navigation and thanked the Naval Hydrographic Departrment for putting focus on this apsect. Earlier, the key- note address was delivered by Rear Admiral KR Srinivasan, Chief Hydrographer to the Government of India. The Admiral emphasised the need for increasing awareness of users and warned against unofficial and pirated electronic charts.

Capt H Subramaniam, Principal, LBS CAMSAR put forth mariner’s perspective in his speech. He gave example from reminiscences when a lot of scepticism was prevalent about radar. He said that the apprehensions about ECDIS are short-lived and the system should be used as another aid to navigation.

The seminar was attended by approximately 200 delegates from the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, civil government agencies in marine sector, faculty members of LBS CAMSAR and ECDIS manufacturers. Delegates from NHO and ECDIS manufacturers presented professional papers. ECDIS related activities were covered in detail. There were a large number of queries from the audience on dangers of piracy and legal issues. The Chief Hydrographer answered the questions and warned the marine community to use only approved ECDIS. He educated the audience on authentic electronic navigational charts and ECDIS in the light of international regulation.

The National Hydrographic Office is the national authority for hydrographic surveys of the Indian coast and production of navigational charts and publications including electronic navigational charts. A demonstration of ECDIS was presented by manufacturers.

The quality can be associated not only with the products and commodities, but also with policing services. The first-ever ISO certification for services to any police organisation in this country has gone to Indo-Tibetan Border Police for their Services and Supply (SS) Battalion and Engineering Services. According to the certificate awarded to them, the quality management system of the ITBP has been assessed, approved and found in accordance with requirements of ISO-9902.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police, an elite para-military mountain fighting force, was raised in 1962 subsequent to the Chinese aggression. The ITBP guards the India-China border from Tinkar point in UP to the Karakoram Ranges in Ladakh, covering a distance of 2,165 km. The ITBP outposts are deployed in altitudes ranging from 2,000 metres (6500 ft) to 5,950 metres (18,000 ft), with temperature going down to minus 46 degree centigrade during winters.

Going by the old adage that an army marches on its belly, the importance of the SS battalion cannot be over emphasised. Keeping the personnel in fighting-fit conditions and ready to face any challenge in such desolate conditions, involves a stupendous logistic exercise in which the Engineering Wing and the Services and Supply Battalion of ITBP play very major roles. The SS Battalion provides logistic support in the form of ration and clothing, high altitude ration and clothing, snow clothing, web equipment, mountaineering and rock climbing equipment, stationery, tentage (normal and arctic), cooking utensils and cots. The battalion has a team of dedicated officers who coordinate for assessing and supplying the sanctioned requirements to the units.

As the bulk of the Force is deployed in the Himalayan heights, it is imperative that ration and clothing are stocked well in advance at posts. Apart from ration, clothing and equipment to fight a war, the troops need shelter to live during peace time and tactical defences to fight wars. The engineering wing of ITBP takes care of all these aspects.

The engineering wing also constructs buildings in these areas. Keeping in mind the inhospitable climatic conditions in these places, stress is laid on choosing appropriate material for construction. The state-of-the-art FRP shelters and solar lighting experimentation with building designs are some of the innovative contributions of the engineering wing to make living a little easier for the troops in these desolate areas.

High-fibre food is essential for good health. It reduces risk of disease. There are two types of fibres: soluble and insoluble. Fruits, vegetables, cereals (oat, barley) and legumes (dried peas, lentils) are major sources of fibre.

(a) Insoluble fibres check constipation.

(b) Soluble fibres trap fatty materials and prevent their absorption.

(c) They halt progress of disease through rival antioxidants.

(d) They reduce heart attack by 25-30% and lower BP.

Sedentary life is a big curse. Keep yourself active.

Be under-weight rather than over-weight. The thumb rule is to reduce intake of calories and increase the output. Weight will go down.

Take regular exercise to ensue movement of all muscles of the body. Age is no bar. While walking we exercise calf and thigh muscles. It may sound strange but this also helps toning up of heart-muscles. No wonder after a heart-attack the medicine recommended is walk.

Short-temper, anger and uncontrolled emotions are the worst enemies of your heart. To say that one is short-tempered by nature is a myth. One can always change through self-education. For years we are educated to sharpen our intelligence. No effort is made to educate us on control of emotions. Life will be much more pleasant if you could control your temper and emotions.

Intelligence is the sum total of all traits. Sharp memory, tactfulness in maintaining harmonious family life and good neighbourly relations - one needs to develop all traits to make life comfortable.

Some people talk and they talk endlessly. Such people generally land up in trouble. Be a good listener. Give others a chance to speak.

There are times when you are highly agitated. Speak out your mind and unburden yourself before a close friend. He is the best counsellor.

As we grow old there is tendency to walk with drooping shoulders. As a result, the normal curvature gets deformed. It results into spondylitis and backache. Remember the "roar" of your GTI during training days! "Chest-Out". Follow it.

Finally if nothing helps opt for meditation.