B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

WASPS fail to sting in Muktsar
Muktsar, March 11
Even though Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal claimed that the state government was doing its best to lower criminal activities, especially against women, yet the police in his home district of Muktsar seems to be least concerned about taking quick measures in this regard.

Two-wheelers bought for the Women Armed Special Protection Squad are gathering dust at the Police Lines in Muktsar. Photo by writer

Cancer-hit families face fiscal, physical & emotional hardship: Survey
Faridkot, March 11
A study to examine the economic impact on families when caring for a child diagnosed with cancer in the region has found that many parents develop post-traumatic stress while dealing with a child's illness. The siblings too felt ignored by the parents who are preoccupied with the sick child. This has caused behavioural changes in members of many such families.

Poppy husk seized
Muktsar, March 11
The Kabarwala police today claimed to have seized 67 kg poppy husk from the house of a female narcotics smuggler at village Midda near Malout town. The police said that acting upon a tip-off, a raid was conducted at the house of Paramjit Kaur yesterday, where two bags of poppy husk, were found lying in the lobby. The accused managed to flee from her house before the police could arrest her. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered in this regard. — TNS

WASPS fail to sting in Muktsar
Project to tackle incidents of eve-teasing yet to take off in the district
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 11
Even though Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal claimed that the state government was doing its best to lower criminal activities, especially against women, yet the police in his home district of Muktsar seems to be least concerned about taking quick measures in this regard.

For instance, 10 Honda Activa vehicles bought by the district police last month are gathering dust at the Police Lines here as the project has failed to take off so far.

These modified two-wheelers were especially bought for the formation of the Women Armed Special Protection Squad (WASPS) to tackle the incidents of eve-teasing in the city. It was decided that the special squad would be divided into 10 beats and two female cops would ride each scooter and patrol the places where women are prone to eve-teasing and other crime.

It is worth mentioning here that the police in the adjoining districts of Bathinda and Faridkot have already flagged off the special squad in their areas.

A senior police official said each member of the squad would be equipped with modern arms and wireless handsets. Further, to give an exclusive look to the squad, it has been decided to give a unique colour uniform to its members in place of the existing khaki.

He further informed that the project was being delayed as the top cops wanted a VVIP to flag off the squad.

Nodal Officer-cum-SP (D) Gurinderjit Singh said, “Only a green signal is awaited as the women cops have received training at Phillaur and are ready to start patrolling on the city roads.”

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Muktsar, Surjit Singh said, “The woman cops will soon start patrolling the city roads on these two-wheelers.”

Cancer-hit families face fiscal, physical & emotional hardship: Survey
Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service

Faridkot, March 11
A study to examine the economic impact on families when caring for a child diagnosed with cancer in the region has found that many parents develop post-traumatic stress while dealing with a child's illness. The siblings too felt ignored by the parents who are preoccupied with the sick child. This has caused behavioural changes in members of many such families.

In the study, Bhai Kanhaiya Cancer Roko Sewa Society, Faridkot, found that besides disrupting the family dynamics, the financial hardship associated with caring for a child with cancer also affects the economic condition of the families. Four years ago, five-year-old Akashdeep of Mudki was diagnosed with cancer. Since then, his family approached many hospitals and now after spending over Rs 8 lakh, the condition of the child has further deteriorated, leaving the family economically crippled and mentally depressed, said Jeet Singh, the grandfather of the child.

“Some days ago, the residents of the village pooled money but these funds proved to be meagre,” said Gurpreet Singh Chandbaja, the president of Bhai Kanhaiya Cancer Roko Sewa Society. The society helps the cancer patients by providing medicines at a subsidised rate and by helping them get financial aid for cancer patients from the state government. After the society made a complaint to Punjab and Haryana High Court about the exorbitant price of cancer drugs last week, the court took suo motu notice of the complaint, treating it as public interest litigation.

Though the Punjab Government assures financial aid of Rs 1.5 lakh for cancer patients, in many cases, the process of releasing the grant was so sluggish that it reached the patient after he/she died due to the disease. So, the financial help was returned to the state coffers, said Gurpreet Singh. In Akashdeep’s case, his family got only Rs 45,000. Asha, a widow with three children, is facing economic and mental problem after her 11-year-old son was diagnosed with throat cancer.

Initially, she rushed her child to a sect in Sirsa for treatment. However, when it did not help, she shifted him to a private hospital in Muktsar. Now, the child is being treated at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College in Faridkot. “I have exhausted almost all my wherewithal,” she rues. She did not get any relief from the state government for the reason of changing hospitals. But the travel expenses, loss of income, out-of-pocket expenses for treatment, all has left her family broken.This economic burden can have a long-term impact on the financial security, quality of life and the future well-being of the entire family. So financial assistance programmes for families of seriously-ill children need to be reviewed and expanded, said Gurpreet Singh.