Amritsar, June 6
In a major reshuffle carried out by the Health Department, all specialist doctors from four community health centres (CHCs) have been shifted, leaving the patients at the mercy of God.

The community health centres at Verka, Tarsika, Mannawala and Majitha would be devoid of the services of specialist doctors. Apparently, the rural patients would have to go to far-off hospitals to avail services of specialist doctors.

After the orders came into force, only four places in district would provide specialised services. Residents and medical fraternity complained that the transfers would harm services at the rural areas.

The Health Department is already facing a shortage of specialised doctors. Even the doctors with specialisations in various medical fields are not responding to the calls made by the Health Department for their recruitment. The state of affairs is such that the department is holding walk-in interviews for recruiting specialist doctors, but candidates are not turning up.

Joginder Singh, a resident of Majitha, said, “The department is moving all doctors to hospitals in the cities. If there is a shortage of doctors, then more of them should be recruited.” He said that the move was against rural residents.

Patron of PCMS Officers Association Dr Ranjit Singh Buttar said, “Residents of the areas from where the doctors have been shifted out would certainly face a problem.” He said that even the PCMS fraternity, as a whole, had criticised these transfers in which about 500 doctors had been dislodged from their places of postings.

He said the association would be holding a meeting in Jalandhar on Saturday to chalk out its future course of action against the mass transfers. 

Amritsar, June 6
The two major government hospitals in the city- Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs Memorial Civil Hospital and Guru Nanak Dev Hospital- do not have enough security guards to take care of their premises.

The Civil Hospital has only eight security guards, four of whom guard the hospital during the day, two in the evening and two during the night. The lack of security often results in theft of goods, especially sanitary fittings from the hospital, by the drug addicts.

Even cases of pick-pocketing have been reported from the hospital. The Guru Nanak Dev Hospital too is facing the same problem as theft of materials from solar panels and other construction goods have been reported in the past. Even theft of medical instruments was reported from the ART centre at the hospital.

The hospital has installed various costly machines which needs to be guarded every time.

Earlier, the hospital had security personnel deployed by the Punjab Ex-servicemen Corporation (PESCO), hired by the state government. But after they left in 2011, the hospital has fallen short of the security guards.

The PESCO had left complaining about the non-payment of dues.

The hospital has currently settled the matter with the PESCO and is again trying to hire them.

Medical Superintendent Dr KS Sidhu said, “The deal was almost finalised, but the PESCO has enhanced the rates per person. It means we have to get the rates sanctioned again.”

The hospital had, earlier, hired the security men from the PESCO at Rs 7,000 per person per month.

Dr Sidhu said as soon as the sanction is granted, they would have 35 security men to guard the premises. However, the hospital has asked for a total of 70 persons for the job. In the past few years, many new buildings have been added to the complex. “In view of the costly machines and many new buildings which require a keen vigil, at least 70 security guards are required to guard the premises,” Dr Sidhu said.

Fact file The Civil Hospital has only eight security guards, four of whom guard the hospital during the day, two in the evening and two during the night Earlier, the hospital had security personnel deployed by the Punjab Ex-servicemen Corporation (PESCO), hired by the state government. But after they left in 2011, the hospital has fallen short of the security guards. The PESCO had left complaining about the non-payment of dues. The hospital had, earlier, hired the security men from the PESCO at Rs 7,000 per person per month. As per the rates revised by PESCO from April 1, this year it is asking for Rs 11,500 per person.

Amritsar, June 6
With the Municipal Corporation (MC) workers continuing to burn the garbage at the historic Company Bagh, it is taking a toll on the flora and fauna inside the garden, besides causing inconvenience to residents who visit it for fresh air in the morning. Even trees have caught fire due to this practice by the MC staff.

Spread over 84 acres of land, the garden came into existence in 1818 as the summer palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. It is an irony that there are a number of rare trees in the Company Bagh, which normally grow in the Himalayas and Nilgiri Hills. These trees face an uncertain future due to the apathy of the Municipal Corporation. Some of these trees date back to two centuries. However, the precious flora of the garden is facing threat because the MC men burn the refuse beneath them.

Even as the Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal intends to transform Amritsar into a heritage-look city, the heritage sites of the city have turned into a garbage yard.

This issue has been brought into the notice of the authorities umpteen times, but in vain. It is irony that MC’s own sanitary staff was spotted burning the garbage piled in the corners of the Company Bagh. Ironically, the camp office of Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora is located on the Panorama located within the Bagh. The Mayor himself passes through the stretch daily to attend his pre-lunch session with the MC officials, but the dismal state of affair prevailing in the bagh could never catch his fancy.

Residents, who stroll here in the mornings and evenings, complained that they come in the bagh to breathe fresh air, but it has become otherway round. “The MC men routinely burn the garbage in the Bagh, little realising the damage they cause to the environment. We have questioned them many a time, but they do not listen to our pleas,” said a resident.

It has been noted that in the absence of any check on them, the sweepers in various localities too adopt the same practice.

Residents complained that it was a routine affair of the safai karamcharis who collect the refuse from the adjoining shops or whatever filth scattered on the roads and dump it in the Company Bagh.

official speak
I have noted it down. I will personally look into the matter
— Bakshi Ram Arora, mayor

Amritsar, June 6
Noted veteran journalist Kuldeep Nayar and other activists of the Hind Pak Dosti Manch and Folklore Research Academy today greeted Nawaz Sharif on becoming the Prime Minister of Pakistan and urged him to mend the strained ties between the two countries.

They also appealed to release Indian prisoners lodged in Pakistan jails that inadvertently crossed over to Pak territory.

In a letter written to Pak PM, they wrote, “We are more than confident that your experience, sincerity and commitment will open a new chapter in the history of India-Pakistan relations. Your victory has given a voice to the people expecting enduring peace between India and Pakistan.”

The peace process must go on and it has to be uninterrupted and uninterruptible, the letter adds.

Ramesh Yadav, president, Folklore Academy said it was the time to resolve the prisoners’ issue who unintentionally crossed over to other side of border which included fishermen, prisoners with minor offences, juvenile prisoners.

“We took this opportunity to request PM Nawaz Sharif to release and repatriate them unconditionally and if it could not be possible at the earliest, then the top officials of both the governments must atleast sit together, strategise, plan and ensure that atleast there should be ‘no arrest policy’ as far as fishermen of either side was concerned,” he said.

Others who signed the greeting letter included Satnam Singh Manak, Sohan Singh Salempura, Dr Charanjit Singh, Prof Kuldeep, Ranjiv Sharma and Paramjit Gandiwind. 

Amritsar, June 6
The favourite laddoo-eating hero of kids on small screen, Chotta Bheem, came to city today to celebrate his birthday among excited and cheering young fans. The team of Pogo’s popular show visited and celebrated the day along with a few hundred kids gathered specially for the occasion at DAV Public School, Lawrence Road.

The event was held in collaboration with Nanhi Chaan Foundation and amongst the 300 guests were children from underprivileged background. Their enthusiasm and participation seemed silent as compared to their roaring compatriots who had come chaperoned by their parents, but the pair of Chotta Bheem and Chutki kept the excitement high by interacting with the kids.

The programme is a part of a special reach out campaign to celebrate the event with some lesser privileged kids. “Chotta Bheem’s birthday celebration is the biggest event in the year for us and we aim to reach out to maximum kids through our show and the event,” said Krishna Desai, senior director and Network Head-Kids, South Asia, Turner International India Pvt Limited.

Nanhi Chaan’s chairman, Harpal Singh too shared the stage with the popular characters. “Children from Nanhi Chaan are grateful that they have been invited to share the celebrations of their favourite cartoon characters. It was a great joy to see smile on their faces while enjoying with Chota Bheem and Chutki.”