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Doctors form joint action committee
Major from city reaches ‘Roof of Africa’
Ruckus over presence of contract labourers in Rail Coach Factory
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Security personnel in Phagwara look for elusive bombs
Computer teachers hold protest rally
23-year-old shot dead in Manila
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Doctors form joint action committee
Jalandhar, March 26 A Doctor-Public Joint Action Committee has also been formed by the PCMS Association, with an objective of building public pressure to compel the Punjab government to withdraw its decision to privatise medical services in referral state medical colleges’ hospitals and in rural dispensaries by hiring private doctors as service providers. Making a scathing attack on the government’s move, the association alleged that from moral and legal point of view, privatisation of medical services was not a sustainable decision. “Punjab government is a custodian and not the owner of public property, including hospitals and dispensaries. These have been raised through public exchequer and the people are the share holders in their capacity of being tax payers. Moreover, a welfare state cannot run away from its responsibility of providing services like education and medical care. Right to life and health are included amongst the fundamental human rights in all the UN declarations,” claimed Dr M.S. Randhawa, the patron of the PCMS Association. Describing the proposed privatisation of medical services as a “shady deal”, the association alleged that the entire move was aimed at the transfer of high-priced public property worth thousands of crores to certain vested interests in the name of upgradation of facilities. “If the government is serious about the upgradation of medical facilities, one most viable option could be to give just one per cent of such property to people by way of auction, and the amount generated will be more than sufficient to remove financial constraints and to equip government hospitals and dispensaries with most-modern medical and surgical equipment,” said Dr Randhawa, and Dr M.B. Bali, the senior vice-president of the association. On this occasion, Mr Nirmal Dass Malhotra, the president of the Patiala Beopar Mandal, was first one to join the Doctor-Public Joint Action Committee. He alleged that the ill-advised decision of the Punjab government was, in fact, like signing of death warrants of unsuspecting and helpless poor masses, who would be left to die without any treatment in a welfare state. According to Dr Randhawa, who is also the state convener of the Doctor-Public Joint Action Committee, the committee had given a call for holding statewide public protests jointly by doctors, common people and health employees on March 29. |
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Major from city reaches ‘Roof of Africa’
Jalandhar, March 26 With as many as 15 glaciers hanging from it, Uhuru Peak, popularly known as “Kili”, provides the greatest of challenges to climbers, who come from across the world. Major Sarfaraz Singh, who hails from Jalandhar, scaled the peak on March 1, 2006, at 6.15 am. “The experience was different. The peak is unique in itself and provides varied climbing experiences,” the Major said. He is presently posted in Goma, Congo with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force. Situated on the border of Kenya and Tanzania, the volcano, within the boundary of the Kilimanjaro National Park, has three peaks— Shira, Mavenzi and Kibo. Uhuru Peak is on Kibo. The peak is situated at a height of 5,895 metres and its base is 80 km by 40 km wide. Major Sarfaraz Singh said he inherited the spirit to scale the peak from his family of sportsmen and armymen. “I’m a fourth generation soldier. My father, Olympian and Arjuna Awardee Colonel (retd) Balbir Singh, my grandfather and my great-grandfather have all been into sports and had also taken part in both the World Wars. Being a fauji in the Indian Army, training and strength comes naturally.” The Major said he started his journey from Goma by bus. He traversed through Zaire, Kigali (Rwanda’s capital), Mbarare towards Uganda, Kampala and Jinja. He passed through Nile, Nakuru, Lake Victoria, Nairobi, and then Arusha and Moshi. Uhuru Peak is the highest point of the African continent. Major Sarfaraz Singh said the summit of Kibo-Uhuru has 15 glaciers hanging from all sides, adding to the thrill and challenge of the climb. He said he covered the entire area on bus seeking visas at the respective immigration offices, as he crossed various borders. The Kilimanjaro office gave him the necessary permit to climb the peak. He took the Marangu route, climbing up through the Kilimanjaro Gate, Mundara Hut, Horombo Hut, Kibu Hut, Saddle, Gilman’s Point, and reached Uhruru Peak. The peak takes six days to scale, including one day of acclimatisation at the base. But the Major took just three days to climb the peak and return. The great-grandson of a wrestler, who fought in World War I, is no stranger to the mountains. Last year, the Major climbed Nun Peak, situated at a height of 7,140 metres in the Kargil sector. “I achieved yet another high when I got married three months back.” |
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Ruckus over presence of contract labourers in Rail Coach Factory
Kapurthala, March 26 As soon as the workers on their morning shift reached the factory by 7.50 am, they allegedly asked the labourers hired by private contractors to leave the workshop. In order to avoid a confrontation, most of the labourers left the factory and those who put up some resistance were allegedly forced to leave. The RCF union leaders denied that they had exhorted the workers to resort to measures as this. They claimed the workers had acted on their own. They also claimed that despite the incident, work in the factory remained unaffected. The leaders alleged that the RCF management had violated the September 2, 2004 agreement between the Staff Council and the Railway Board on the issue of contract labour. They claimed that the Chairman of the Railway Board was also apprised of the violation when he visited RCF in December last year. Defending the action of the workers, the union leaders alleged that the factory management had violated the sanctity of the decision taken in the Railway Board’s Agenda Meeting. According to them, it was resolved in the meeting that contract system would be abolished in the factory by March 2005 and existing contracts would not be renewed. But they alleged that the RCF management continued allocating works on contract basis and claimed that at present more than 1000 contract labourers were working in the factory. They further claimed that there were more than 25 contracts being carried out in different sections of the RCF. On the other hand, the RCF management denied that it had hired any labourers on contract basis. Mr Gurjit Singh, the RCF’s Public Relations Officer, claimed that those labourers who were present in the factory were working under the “supply, installation and commissioning” system. Under this system, he said, suppliers sent their labour to install and commission the components supplied by them to make sure that their products worked properly. The official claimed that some labourers were also hired to carry out jobs like glass wool fixing and emulsion, since “factory workers usually avoid such jobs because it results in skin irritation”. “We have started counselling the employees to avoid these types of actions which can affect the production of coaches and create losses to local suppliers,” Mr Gurjit Singh said. |
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Security personnel in Phagwara look for elusive bombs
Phagwara, March 26 But the GRP, RPF and police teams along with railway staff left no stone unturned to took precautionary measures in and around the railway station. An area of about one kilometre along the tracks was searched by the security forces. “We are taking no chances and each and every train is being searched,” GRP’s SP (Operations), Mr Tulsi Ram claimed. When the correspondent reached the railway station this morning, all senior officers were seen camping and supervising the search operations. Mr Tulsi Ram told The Tribune that high alert had been sounded at all railway stations under Ferozepore railway division after the Phagwara Station Superintendent, Mr R.K Suman, received the threatening letter yesterday. “Earlier it seemed to be the handiwork of some mischief mongers, but the security forces have not taken the threat lightly. It may have caused harm to the lives of thousands of passengers,” the SP said. Meanwhile, security forces had to face difficulties in their search operations due to the absence of power supply in the station for nearly 12 hours. Search operations had to be carried with the help of generators. When contacted, officials at PSEB said power lines broke down in yesterday night’s thunderstorm and the supply was restored by 11 am. |
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Computer teachers hold protest rally
Jalandhar, March 26 A meeting of the district presidents and general secretaries of the union was also held under the chairmanship of Mr C.S Manhas today. The union urged the government to regularise the services of all computer teachers. Mr Manhas alleged that the computer teachers, who were getting Rs 3960 per month, were deprived of allowances and perks being extended to regular teachers. “The computer teachers, whose eligibility criterion is a postgraduate degree like MCA, MTech, MSc (computer science), MSc (IT), PGDCA, BCA, BSc (IT), are employed on contract and given a measly salary. Crores of rupees are spent on setting up computer laboratories, but teachers are discriminated against,” he alleged. The demands of the union included a permanent job with full grade, bringing computer teachers under the Department of Education, Punjab, and continuation of the services of the daily wage (computer) employees, who were relieved on February 28, 2006. |
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23-year-old shot dead in Manila
Kapurthala, March 26 According to information, the incident occurred when Atma Singh was about to reach his home after collecting money from his clients. The assailants reportedly fired at Atma Singh, killing him on the spot. The assailants then fled away with his money and his gold ornaments. The victim was the son of Resham Singh, a farmer here. He was unmarried. |
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