Jalandhar, July 5
Anger is simmering among a section of medicos and paramedics against the state government’s recent move to “outsource” the healthcare services at Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to non-government bodies.

Under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), the state government has decided to hand over a few already identified PHCs (including existing infrastructure) in eight districts to various NGOs and voluntary organisations for three years. Such organisations would run the PHCs under the public private partnership (PPP) mode and recruit their own staff.

The government has sought an “expression of interest” from interested organisations through advertisements published in various newspapers a few days ago.

Terming the move as a complete withdrawal of the government from its moral responsibility to provide even primary health services to the masses, Sawarnjit Singh, president, Punjab State Pharmacists’ Association, said as per the advertisement, the government would provide 90 per cent of the total running cost (around Rs 32.97 lakh per year per PHC) to the NGOs to run the PHCs. “When the government has to bear the major share of the cost, then what is the logic to hand over the PHCs to NGOs?” he questioned.

“Moreover, the NGOs would also recruit the same doctors and paramedics of the state, who are nowadays jostling to get jobs in such PHCs. What prevent the government to run such PHCs of its own by giving jobs to such doctors and paramedics?” questioned Sawarnjit Singh.

Dr Hardeep Singh, president, Punjab Civil Medical Services Association, said to handover any segment of the heath sector to non-government bodies under the PPP mode was in principle wrong.

“The health sector is an absolute service and welfare sector. The roping in of non-government bodies indicates that the government wants to induce principle of ‘profit-generation’ in the the health sector also,” said Dr Hardeep.

Dr Aslam Parvez, president, Rural Medical Doctors’ Association, said such a decision would deteriorate the condition of the existing public health sector. This would indirectly allure the bigger companies to encroach upon the health sector, which would be detrimental to the state’s health, added Dr Aslam.

Jalandhar, July 5
The district administration is all geared up to acquire a prime stretch of land measuring 17 kanal and 14 marla along the road from Football Chowk to Jalandhar Central Jail tomorrow.

The area to be acquired includes frontal portion of houses and shops falling in the Mission Compound area. Iqbal Singh Sandhu, SDM-cum-Land Acquisition Collector-I, said the land was being acquired to give a wider access to the jail site, which was to be converted into a commercial complex by the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB), after the shifting of inmates to the newly constructed Kapurthala Jail in a month or so. He said the possession of the acquired land would be given to the Local Bodies Department.

As many as 250 affected persons would be given compensation of nearly Rs 18 lakh per marla. The amount had been calculated taking Rs 13.25 lakh per marla as market price, 30 per cent soletium and 12 per cent appreciation charges. A total amount of Rs 54,57,83,002 was being given as compensation, he informed.

Sandhu said initially there was some opposition as the residents had filed a civil writ petition, which got dismissed on April 18.

Phagwara, July 5
Several parts of the town are again in the grip of jaundice. Dozens of the residents of several localities of the town, including Guru Hargobind Nagar, Katehra Chowk, Rattanpura, Onkar Nagar, Sham Nagar, Tibbi, Palahai Gate, etc, are suffering from the disease, caused by contaminated drinking water.

More than two dozens people are suffering from jaundice in Tibbi only. The patients are getting treatment from different doctors in the town.

Senior Medical Officer Dr Rajiv Gupta said he had written many times to the Nagar Council authorities to take required steps to provide fresh, clean and hygienic drinking water to prevent the disease, but nothing had been done by the authorities.

Residents of several affected localities, including Guru Hargobind Nagar, have repeatedly complained of muddy water supply from municipal pipes to Nagar Council president Balbhadhar Sein Duggal and Executive Officer Sandeep Tiwari and even some of them had knocked the doors of Local Bodies Minister Tikshan Sood, but the supply of muddy water is still continuing.

The SMO said teams of the Health Department were being sent to the affected localities.

When contacted Local Bodies Minister Tikshan Sood and Phagwara SDM Amarjit Pal assured of early action to redress the problems.

Jalandhar, July 5
Lt-Gen Munish Sibal, General Officer Commanding, Vajra Corps, accompanied by Shashi Sibal, Chairperson, Vajra Corps Family Welfare Organisation, took a round of Kapurthala Military Station today.

Major-Gen R.K. Sharma, General Officer Commanding, Golden Arrow Division, and Neeru Sharma, convener, Golden Arrow Division Family Welfare Organisation, welcomed Gen Sibal and his wife.

Gen Sibal took stock of the operational and administrative preparedness and expressed confidence that the brigade was prepared for all the challenges.

Shashi Sibal inaugurated ATMs of Punjab National Bank and the State Bank of India, beauty saloon and 24-hour Military Engineering Services complaint cell at the shopping complex of New Military Station, Kapurthala.

She visited the Gurki Sainik Institute, where she attended the convocation of the ongoing nursery teachers’ training courses for empowerment of families of the jawans. She was also briefed about the welfare activities being undertaken by Gurki Brigade for the betterment of quality of life of families and of the soldiers and upgradation of Kapurthala Military Station.

Jalandhar, July 5
Renowned hydrologist Dr Rameshwar S. Kanwar has joined Lovely Professional University as Vice-Chancellor. After teaching at the prestigious Iowa State University, USA, for more than three decades and more recently on the Chair of the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department, he has come back to his home country.

An MS degree holder from the G.B. Pant University of Agricultural and Technology in India and a Ph.D in water resources from Iowa State University, Prof Ramesh Kanwar is a renowned academician, researcher and a respected teacher. Dr Kanwar specialises in irrigation, drainage, groundwater quality, animal waste management, water table management, sustainable agricultural production systems and modelling of hydrologic systems, engineering solution to emerging global environmental problems from agricultural and livestock production systems.

Apart from Iowa State University students, he also taught undergraduate, postgraduate and Ph.D students in Austria, Belgium, Portugal, Uzbekistan as well as India. He has been an honorary professor at Beijing Agricultural University in China, Ningxia University in China, Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanisation in Uzbekistan and Trakia University in Bulgaria.

On the occasion of his joining, Chancellor, LPU, Ashok Mittal said, “Dr Kanwar’s international outcomes, thoughts and progressive manners will help us realise the dreams we have already envisaged for. He has worked for the World Bank, FAO, UNDP, USAID, NATO, and foreign universities/governments in Belgium, Portugal, Kenya, Ethiopia, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, India, China, Thailand, Japan and several other countries.”

Addressing the students and faculty, Dr Kanwar said, “I am looking forward to lead LPU. After spending 35 years at the US, coming back to India is really exhilarating and thrilling. I will strive further to bring improvement in the academics and betterment in the whole system.”

Nakodar, July 5
Three motorcyclists last night snatched a mobile phone from a youth at Mohalla Gandhi Chowk in Shahkot. Later, two were caught by the public and one fled from the spot.

Victim Johny Dhand chased miscreants after taking lift from a passerby. Out of three snatchers, two were from Khadur Sahib and one from Bhadma village in Shahkot. They unfortunately barged into the Shahkot grain market unaware of the fact that all other gates of the market were locked.

When the victim reached the grain market and raised a hue and cry, the public gathered and caught a snatcher and beat him up. Meanwhile, another snatcher was noticed by a truck driver and was beaten up by the public.

Even the motorcycle of the snatchers carried two different number plates. However, the police has taken it into its custody.

Snatcher Avtar Singh was from Khadur Sahib and Supreet from Bhadma village in Shahkot. All three came to see a mela at Danewal village in Shahkot.

No police case has been registered yet.

Ashwani Dhand, father of the victim, said they would seek compromise and would not register a complaint. ASI Amrik Singh also confirmed this development.

Meanwhile, the public, including commission agents and farmers, requested the police to increase vigil in ‘mandis’ and other sensitive places to prevent any sort of snatching incidents.

Jalandhar, July 5
The city sports goods traders held a protest against the traffic police at the Basti Nau locality here yesterday.

The traders alleged that the cops had challaned the goods carriers, which entered the market for a few minutes to unload the sports goods at shops.

The traders blocked the busy Basti Nau road for around one and a half hour and raised slogans against the traffic police authorities. Trader Ashish Aggarwal alleged that the traffic police deliberately harassed the traders.

The protesters lifted the blockade only after being pacified by the police authorities.

Nakodar, July 5
Two LPG cylinders meant for preparing mid-day meal of Government Middle School at Kotli Gajra in Shahkot have been stolen.

Headmaster of the school Balkar Singh said the theft came to fore when the kitchen supervisor noticed the locks of the kitchen broken.

When she went inside, two gas cylinders were found missing. The matter has been reported to the police and Education Department officials concerned.

Nakodar, July 5
A man died after falling down from a running bus here yesterday.

The police said the victim, Sonu, resident of Kheeva village, fell down from a delux bus of Karpurthla when he tried to alight from the running bus and sustained critical injuries and died.

The police has initiated proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC.