Jalandhar, May 20
With the health authorities failing to set up blood storage units (BSU) in the earmarked health centres, thousands of baby deliveries in the rural areas are conducted under the constant threat of medical emergency, which arise due to excessive loss of blood in mothers.

Absence of BSUs renders such centres devoid of fresh and pure blood at the time of normal or complicated delivery. Nine community and primary health centres (CHC and PHC) were designated as first referral units (FRU), health centres equipped with facilities to conduct both normal and complicated deliveries, in Jalandhar district and as per the newly framed norms of Indian Public Health Standard (IPHS), each FRU should be equipped with separate blood storage unit. However, the Health Department failed to start even a single such unit across the district.

Under the National Rural Health Mission, it was mandated that such units be established in all FRUs so that incidents of maternal mortality should be brought down, as large number of maternal deaths are caused by the lack of timely availability of safe blood to women during or after childbirth. It was crystallised that non-availability of blood storage facilities at such centres is the major reason behind such deaths.

Surprisingly, the authorities failed to develop such units in spite of the fact that the government has already released that amount of approximately Rs 13.5 lakh for the purpose.

“Families residing in peripheral areas are the end losers as due to unavailability of fresh and screened blood, gynaecologists left with no option but to refer the patient to hospitals, usually to private hospitals, where blood is available,” said senior health official on the condition of anonymity.

It is learnt that the authorities had decided to start three such units in the district but project were still waiting to take off due to official formalities.

“The authorities have directed us to conduct inspection of only three proposed blood units nearly five months back. Health centres need license from the state drug controller authority to run the units and must be waiting for the licenses to be issued,” said District Drug Inspector Kulwinder Singh, who is an authority to monitor the functioning of blood banks.

Civil Surgeon S.K. Gupta said, “Equipments have been commissioned in these three units and we are waiting for higher drug authorities to issue the license to run the units. Units would be functional only after getting license.”

Phillaur, May 20
The Punjab Police has constituted the Academic & Training Advisory Council to re-orient and re-design its training parameters in order to improve the overall field police working effectiveness.

The first meeting of the council was conducted today at Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur, which was presided over by Punjab DGP P.S. Gill.

All heads of different wings of the police departments participated. Apart from that all zonal IGs, range DIGs, Commissioners of Police and nominated SSPs also participated in the meeting.

In his address, Gill announced a series of steps to be initiated at different levels for strengthening police training and other related matters. He said the police roles had to be redefined in order to meet the growing challenges on different fronts. He said the police as a profession had to be vibrantly developed into a body of knowledge with regular training inputs, standard working procedures and regular research backup.

He also highlighted the importance of developing special skills among police personnel to deal with different roles and duties with a major focus on improved public dealings. He emphasised the importance of developing leadership qualities among police personnel at all levels.

S.K. Sharma, ADGP (HRD&CP)-cum-Director PPA, Phillaur, briefed the officers about the recent changes made in the training methodology and contents for basic, promotional and specialised training programmes.

He also spoke about the future steps to be taken for bridging the gap between academy training and the field requirements. In order to improve the quality of training he suggested providing attractive incentives to the trainers posted in the academy.

An impressive visual presentation on different aspects and issues related to training was presented by M.F. Farooqui, Deputy Director (Indoor) PPA, Phillaur. The presentation was based on an exhaustive research conducted by him in this regard.

Among others who were present on the occasion were ADGP (IT&T) SM Sharma, ADGP (Intelligence) Suresh Arora, ADGP (Rules) Rajinder Singh, Police Housing Corporation MD MK Tiwari, IG (Provisioning) Punjab CSR Reddy along with the officers and faculty members of the Academy.

Jalandhar, May 20
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has asked Baldev Singh Boring House, Lamma Pind, to refund an amount of Rs 30,000 to a complainant and pay Rs 7,000 as compensation.

In her complaint, Gurcharan Mahi, a resident of New Santokhnagar, had said she had entered into a contract with the company for the installation of a water pump at her home. She settled for the installation of the pump on a payment of Rs 30,000 with boring material and labour charges. She was assured of replacement of defective material in the submersible bore by the boring house at their own cost with 
warranty of 12 months.

Mahi said the bore was installed on September 8, 2008, and the motor was operated four days later. The water came out mixed with sand and soil. She was assured that the clean water would start coming on running the motor for three to four hours. But the submersible motor stopped working after two to three days.

She said she contacted another person and showed him the defective motor and bore. She was told that the bore was not of specified depth and the material used was of inferior quality. The boring house owner refuted the allegations. The forum said the respondent could not disown his liability to compensate the complainant for his poor craftsmanship in the installation of submersible pump.

In another complaint, Diwakar Aggarwal, a resident of Central Town, said he had purchased an IFB digital washing machine under the annual maintenance contract for a period of two years with its effective date from March 28, 2007, to March 27, 2009. He alleged that the washing machine developed some defects and a complaint was lodged on March 7, 2009, with the customer care centre.

He complained that no mechanic attended the complaint and removed defects despite many calls. He even wrote letters but no one paid any heed. On April 11, 2009, a person inspected the machine and put an electric wire and charged Rs 528 as the price of a rubber belt to which he was not entitled, he maintained.

Aggarwal alleged that the washing machine was leaking from the lower portion and the spinner was not working properly. Even after the repair, the spinner of the machine was not working properly and clothes were not drying to the required level. Even after various calls, the spinning problem still persisted. The company officials denied allegation saying that the complaint was duly attended and the defect removed.

However, the forum observed, “If the AMC period expires due to dilly-dallying tactics on the part of the company, the complainant could not be held liable.” Holding the company guilty of deficiency in service, the forum announced a compensation of Rs 10,000 and Rs 5000 as cost of litigation to the complainant.

Phagwara, May 20
It was an unfortunate Wednesday morning for two minor youths of Delhi, Shivam (14) and Ashutosh (12), who lost their young parents Sunil Sharma and Manisha, who, along with their uncle advocate Sat Narain Sharma and his sister-in-law Gulabo Devi of Agra, were killed in a road mishap on the national highway near here.

They were returning from Vaishno Devi after paying obeisance in a hired Tavera MUV (DL-4C-AD-6598), which met with an accident and overturned near Phagwara as the driver fell asleep and lost control over the vehicle at 2.20 am yesterday.

When both minors were brought to the Phagwara Civil Hospital in the wee hours, they were in a state of shock and were not even aware of the death of their parents.

Shivam and Ashutosh were discharged from the hospital along with another uncle of theirs, Om Vir Dubey, after first aid, but the trio rushed to Jalandhar to attend to Uma, wife of Om Vir Dubey, and Girija Sharma, wife of the deceased advocate, who were sent to Apex Hospital, Jalandhar, due to their critical condition.

Despite the cruel shock they suffered after the death of their parents, the minors did their utmost to take care of their injured aunts.

Om Vir Dubey told The Tribune that they had come from Agra and headed to the shrine on May 15 from Delhi and his nephew Sunil, his wife and two kids had accompanied them from Delhi in a hired Tavera. Dubey said Sat Narain was a leading lawyer in Agra (UP).

Jalandhar, May 20
Members of the Hindu Jagriti Manch today warned the government that they would not allow the movement of buses of Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation if the government did not roll back the unjust increase of cess on various essential services during the Amarnath Yatra.

The Hindu Jagriti Manch Hindustan today organised a demonstration in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner here and submitted the demand charter to Deputy Commissioner Priyank Bharti.

The manch condemned the Jammu and Kashmir government for increasing the rates for increasing the cess on various services which are provided by the langar organisers to the Amarnarth yatra pilgrims.

Mandeep Kumar Bakshi, President of the Manch, said the government has increased tax on buses from Rs 300 per day to Rs 2,300 per day and the langar items too have been taxed and space to install langar has been constricted to half an acre from 5 acres.

He said all theses decisions would put an additional burden on the yatris.

He also condemned the decision of authorities to enforce toll tax on the vehicles and pilgrims entering in the state during the period of yatra.

Jalandhar, May 20
Prices of vegetables and other commodities remained nealry same as that of last week. Prices of onion and potato remained same at Rs 10 and 6 per kg, respectively. No change was witnessed in the prices of garlic, radish, capsicum and lady’s finger. Garlic and radish remained at Rs 70 and Rs 12 per kg, respectively. Similarly, capsicum and cauliflower remained at Rs 20 and 
Rs 16 per kg, respectively, lemon and bitter gourd witnessed decrease in prices this week.

Lemon and peas witnessed significant increase in prices. Lemon witnessed increase of Rs 10 per kg against Rs 60 per kg of last week. Peas witnessed increase of approximately Rs 20 per kg and remained around Rs 65 per kg against Rs 45 per kg of last week. 

Jalandhar, May 20
The rising mercury coupled with persistent heat wave for the past some days has badly affected the normal life with maximum temperature of 40.5° C recorded at Halwara and Pathankot.

Mercury mounted to 40.2° C at Adampur. While mercury rose to 40.2° C at Jammu, Ambala recorded a highest temperature of 40.6° C.

The Met Department at Adampur Air Force Station has predicted persistent heat wave in the region in the next 24 hours. “With continuous heat wave in the region there are no chances of any respite from rising mercury,” said the Met officials. Earlier in the day people had a tough time as heat wave remained at its peak in the afternoon. Even the state education authorities declared summer vacations in the government schools from May 23 in view of the rising mercury.

At many places people, especially the schoolchildren, were seen enjoying cold drinks and ice-creams. Although a major problem for daily commuters, the rising mercury has come up as a source of income for scores of rehriwalas selling lemon juice, ice-creams and golas.

Jai Parkash, an ice-cream seller, said they waited for this time of the season when they were able to earn more money. “School and college children are our regular customers. And we ensure to earn maximum profits during this time of the season,” he added.

Jalandhar, May 20
After facing harassment by cops of the district police for two consecutive days, the deserted wife of an NRI has moved the National Commission for Women, New Delhi.

The victim, Naresh Rani, who was allegedly expelled by her in-laws from their house at Tajpura village, near Lambra, for want of dowry, has been running from pillar to post for justice.

Even though the district sessions court has passed a judgement in her favour, yet the Jalandhar (Rural) police has not complied with the directions.

The police has been forcing her to sit at Lambda police station for hours allegedly under some political influence.

Rani had filed a case against her in-laws under section 12 of the Domestic Violence Act, 2005.

The court had directed the woman’s in-laws to provide her shelter by giving her a room in the house.