Bathinda, December 16
Medical services were paralysed at the Civil Hospital and the Women and Children Hospital here as doctors of both hospitals went on a lightning strike at around 1 pm today in protest against an alleged misbehaviour with an emergency medical officer (EMO) by a patient’s attendant.

Due to the strike, even emergency services were affected for some time as some patients, including accident victims, returned without treatment. The patients, who had come to get themselves examined in the OPDs of both hospitals, also suffered. The Women and Children Hospital is situated on the Civil Hospital premises.

The EMO, Dr Shekhar Mangal of local Civil Hospital, told TNS that a person, who brought a patient to the emergency wing in an ambulance in the wee hours on Wednesday, started insisting on examination of his patient first. At that time, the EMO had been attending two-three cases. Due to rush in the minor operation theatre (OT), he urged people to wait outside. On this, the person started misbehaving with him. He even threatened the doctor of getting him implicated in a false case.

Dr Mangal further said that even today morning, the same person used abusive language against him on the hospital campus, after which doctors decided to go on strike.

Doctors gathered outside the emergency wing of the Civil Hospital and raised slogans against the Punjab government. They protested the political interference in the functioning of doctors and hooliganism by outsiders. Later, they staged a dharna outside the emergency wing.

They submitted a memorandum to assistant civil surgeon Charanjit Garg in this regard. Garg assured them that they would take up the matter with the police. Later, the doctors met the Bathinda SSP and submitted the memorandum to him also.

Dr Satish Jindal, one of the doctors who met the SSP, said the SSP had assured them of initiating necessary action on the memorandum.

Dr Gurmail Singh, a medical officer at local Civil Hospital, said the approach of the political persons towards doctors was negative. He said they were being humiliated and insult of doctors had become a routine affair. In case the doctors felt that the authorities could not ensure security to them, they would launch an agitation for an indefinite period, Dr Gurmail asserted.

President of Bathinda unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Dr Shiv Dutta Gupta also participated in the demonstration and condemned today’s incident. He demanded registration of a case against the person who misbehaved with the Civil Hospital doctor. He also demanded setting up of a police post on the Civil Hospital premises so as to ensure safety of doctors and other staff members.

Bathinda, December 16
As many as 12 new jaundice cases were reported at the local Civil Hospital today. Besides, local private laboratories reported 10 cases while private doctors confirmed 16 cases to the district health authorities.

District Health Officer Dr Raghbir Singh Randhawa said today also, the health department’s six teams conducted a survey in different localities, including Basant Bihar, Bibi Wala road, Ajit road, Ganesha Basti, Guru Nanak Pura, Namdev Nagar, Shiv Colony, Sarabha Nagar and Navin Basti.

Nineteen jaundice cases were detected during the survey.

Bathinda, December 16
As many as 14 cases of plasmodium falciparum (PF) malaria, which affects brain, were detected during past 11 months (January to November) in the district. During the corresponding period of the previous year, no such case was reported.

Though the PF malaria is fatal, no casualty has been reported so far.

It is learnt that during past 11 months, the district health authorities collected 1,30,482 blood sample slides from various health blocks. Out of these, 154 malaria cases, including 14 of PF malaria, were reported in Sangat, Talwandi Sabo, Ballianwali, Nathana, Bhagta, Goniana and Bathinda (Urban) health blocks. Out of the 14 PF malaria cases, seven are from Bathinda (Urban), four from Goniana health block and three from the Sangat health block.

The detection of seven PF malaria cases from Bathinda (Urban) alone is considered to be a serious matter and requires attention of the municipal authorities.

It may be mentioned that during the corresponding period in 2009, 212 cases of malaria were reported in the district.

Bathinda, December 16
To commemorate the exceptional valour displayed by officers and men of the Indian Army during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, the Bathinda-based Chetak Corps celebrated Vijay Diwas by holding a war veterans meet at the cantonment here today.

Lieutenant-General Sanjiv Chachra, GOC of the Chetak Corps, laid a wreath in the memory of martyrs while other senior serving and retired officers paid tributes at the Yoddha Yaadgar.

Over 200 war veterans of 1947, 1965 and 1971 and Kargil war of 1999 belonging to Bathinda and Mansa districts assembled at the function venue. Senior officials of the local civil administration were also present.

In his address, Lt-Gen Chachra praised the veterans for the services they rendered and sacrifices they made for the country. He said they would continue to be part of the soldiers’ family and the Army would always remember them. The GOC also assured them that their grievances on pension matters and healthcare had been taken up with the appropriate agencies so that they could lead their lives with dignity and comfort.

The Defence Pension Disbursement Officer (DPDO) and representatives of the Ex-servicemen Helpline interacted with the veterans to resolve their problems.

A representative of the Zila Sainik Welfare Board highlighted the welfare measures the state government was providing to war veterans. Later, the war veterans were presented with gifts. A Barakhana followed. 

Fazilka, December 16‘Martyrs never die’, saidHavaldar Abhimanyu of B Company of Four Jat Regiment from Rohtak district, who had come to attend the Vijay Diwas programme held here today. He had also participated in the 1971 Indo-Pak war in Fazilka sector along with Major General RK Suri and Major Narain Singh, who were honoured with Veer Chakra posthumously.

Likewise, Natha Singh, a kin of Major Narain Singh, who had come from Udhampur district (Jammu and Kashmir), was greeted by the visitors..

The Shaheedon Ki Samadhi Committee Asafwala (Fazilka), Army formations at Fazilka and civil administration organised a function at border village Asafwala. Armymen led by Brigade Commander Arul Dennis, Additional DC, Ferozepur, Jaskiran Singh, president, Shaheedon Ki Samadhi Committee, Sandeep Gilhotra, Nirmala Jyani, wife of the local MLA Surjit Kumar Jyani and many prominent residents of the area paid tributes to the martyrs. Contingents of Armymen saluted the war heroes by playing the last post.

Students of Jyoti B.Ed College and DAV B.Ed College presented skit on social evils. Earlier, a unique Vijay Diwas run-students marathon race of young boys and girls was organised by the Army and Samadhi Committee.

Brig Dennis, president, Shaheedon Ki Samadhi Committee, Sandeep Gilhotra, senior vice-president, Amar Chand Bhateja, general secretary, Mohan Lal Pruthi, senior member BL Sikka (former SDM) traced back the history of the 1971 war.

Brigadier Arul Dennis, Army officers Col A Bahuguna, Col Sanjeev Shenoy, Col Rajesh Saha, Col S. Sexena, ADC Jaskiran Singh, Tehsildar RS Walia, president, MC, Anil, Block Samiti chairman Ranjit Singh Dhaliwal, Nirmala Jyani and members of the Samadhi Committee distributed prizes.

Bathinda, December 16
District health authorities have started a facility survey at various health institutions in the district like primary health centres (PHCs), community health centres (CHCs), sub-divisional hospitals and district hospital to know about the existing man power, equipment and infrastructure there.

The survey is being conducted to gather information for preparing the district health action plan for the year 2011-12. On the basis of the gathered information, the budget for the next financial year will be approved for this district. The heads of the health institutions have been assigned the task to collect data for the survey report. The survey would be completed by the December end.

The action plan will include various programmes covered under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and their progress so far in the district. Besides, specific requirement regarding more facilities for cancer patients and trauma centres will also be mentioned in the action plan. Manpower, equipment and infrastructure gaps will be listed in the survey report in the light of norms of the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS).

The budget demands for the health institutions will be sent to the Mission Director, NRHM, Punjab, who will forward the same to the Centre for providing budget.

Abohar, December 16
Water supply to all the distributaries/sub-canals originating from the Sirhind feeder would remain suspended from December 25 for 10 days and to the Abohar branch canal from January 6 to 20 for a major desilting exercise under the comprehensive plan aimed at solving the canal water irrigation problem that had resulted in repeated agitations by the farming community in the region.

Interestingly, the decision to revamp the complete canal system comes a day ahead of the visit of former FM Manpreet Singh Badal in this region. He will be accompanied by his father Gurdas Singh Badal, who had been earlier acknowledged as think-tank of the SAD and assigned the task of nurturing the Balluana segment. Balluana MLA Gurtej Singh Ghuriana (SAD) said here today that several decisions were taken for furthering development projects by the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal during an hour-long meeting last night. Senior officers including Ramesh Kumar Gupta of the irrigation department were present.

Significantly, the Deputy Chief Minister has given clearance for reconstructing the Lambi sub-canal (minor) that had evoked criticism for the past two decades and caused problems due to its improper design. The Khippanwali sub-canal will be renovated with an approx cost of Rs 3.67 crore, Bazidpur link channel renovation would cost Rs 2 crore. Rs 2.12 crore has been sanctioned for the Tarmala link channel, Rs 3.15 crore for Mehrajpur sub-canal and Rs 1.51 crore for the Aspal distributary. Ghuriana expected that about 40,000 acres of agricultural land could be brought under irrigation after completion of the projects. Significantly, four villages of the Bishnoi community belt would get water through the Mehrajpur sub-canal that is to be linked directly to the Sirhind feeder. Earlier, the villages suffered heavily due to link with the Lambi sub-canal.

XEN Ramesh Kumar Gupta assured that construction of the Dharangwala sub-canal would be completed by March 31 with an approx cost of Rs 4 crore to benefit 3230 acres farming area.

Sukhbir has also assured that Adarsh Schools would be raised in village Bahavwala and Sukchain. The latter falls in the Bishnoi community belt. One such school at village Dharangwala has started regiatration for admissions. Lining of about 800-km length of water courses in the Balluana segment had also been approved and there would be continuous flow of funds, the Deputy Chief Minister was quoted as having assured.

Balluana (Ferozepur), December 16
To fulfill long-standing demands connected with availability of adequate water to irrigate the parched fields of this assembly segment, that has been facing a scarcity of water even for drinking purposes, the state government has cleared five projects worth over Rs 12 crores.

Official sources said the Punjab government had formally sanctioned projects connected with construction of New Tarmala link channel, shifting of Mehrajpur head, rehabilitation of Wazidpur-Kattianwali minor, Aspal minor and Khippawali minor. All the minors run into this assembly segment.

Notably, a large number of people buy drinking water from the neighbouring Rajasthan even during the winter season. Gurtej Singh, MLA, Balluana and Sanjeev Godara, political advisor, SAD (B), who are instrumental in getting these projects cleared, claimed that with the completion of these five minors, the canal water would be available in adequate quantity to those fields, which were even located at the tail-end.

They added that two other projects, which would irrigate a part of this assembly segment, had already been sanctioned by the state government.

Executive engineer, Irrigation (Abohar) RK Gupta said work on these projects would begin immediately after necessary formalities were completed. Projects would be completed within a time-frame, he said.

Ferozepur, December 16
The death of a 60-year-old inmate in the local Central Jail triggered resentment among other inmates, who took the body in their possession, raised slogans against the administration and started a scuffle with the members of the medical staff. Sensing the seriousness of the situation, Jail Superintendent LS Jakhar called a large contingent of police and pacified the protesters.

The protesters alleged that Bansa Singh, convicted in a narcotics smuggling case, who died today, was neither given medical aid on time nor was shifted to a hospital by the staff concerned. However, the situation came under control when Jakhar assured them that justice would be done in the case and the officials found to be at fault would be punished.

With the death of Bansa Singh today, the death toll of inmates that took place in the past four weeks or so, has gone up to six. So far, 13 inmates of this jail have died in the current year. The jail has been housing about 1800 inmates against its capacity of 1136. Jakhar said that the barrack, where the inmate died, had been locked for inquiry and further investigation as to whether it was a natural death or there was some other reason behind it, would be held. He added that he was informed about the incident after Bansa's death.

He claimed that most of the inmates, who had been shifted to inorganic drugs from organic drugs for their addiction after coming to the jail, were trouble makers as they always tried to start quarrelling with the medical staff when they were denied intoxicants. The higher authorities and other agencies had been informed about Bansa's death besides his family members.

He said some jail inmates, who instigated others to create trouble, had been identified. Legal action would be initiated against them as per the jail manual. He refused to disclose the names of these inmates. Medical care was available to all inmates, he claimed.

Bathinda, December 16
Over 20 girls sustained injuries when the bus they were travelling in collided head-on with a tractor on the Bathinda-Faridkot road near Jeeda village this morning.

A private bus was carrying about 42 girls from Jeeda, Mallan Wale Kothe and Dabri Khana villages to a private yarn mill at Jeeda village, in which these girls were employed. Near Jeeda village, a tractor coming from the opposite direction hit the bus head-on injuring about 20 girls.

The injured were rushed to the Civil Hospital, Bathinda. But since doctors there were on strike, the injured were referred to private hospitals for medical assistance.

Meanwhile, the Nehianwala police has booked the tractor driver, Ranjeet Singh of Ghasokhana village (Bathinda), under various sections of the IPC. The driver was also hurt in the mishap and is undergoing medical treatment.

Ferozpur, December 16
In the general house meeting of the district Bar Association held here today, under the chairmanship of Kanwardeep Singh Syal, President, all the members of the bar unanimously resolved that they will not allow the district administration to demolish their chambers untill proper standby arrangement for the advocates is made.

Syal apprised the members of the meeting of local advocates with the building committee of Punjab and Haryana High Court. The chairman of the committee has directed the administration to look into their grievances, he said.