Amritsar, September 5
Throwing all norms to the wind, government as well as private buses continue to use pressure horns, leading to road mishaps, sometimes fatal. In one such instance, an elderly couple suffered a fall from their two-wheeler in the city yesterday.

The use of pressure horns is banned under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 of the Central Government rules. However, despite the ban, the police as well as the district transport department have miserably failed to check the menace, apparently due to the political pressure as a majority of the private transport buses are either owned by political leaders or have close connections with various political parties.

The deafening sound of pressure horns has made life hell for shopkeepers, especially located near Madan Lal Dhingra Inter-state Bus Terminus here. The shopkeepers are up in arms against the police administration and want an immediate check on this.

"We cannot even talk in our normal voice while interacting with the customers. We have to speak loudly to interact," said shopkeepers, adding that the accidents had become the order of the day near the bus stand. They claimed that daily, over hundreds of buses coming from different parts of Punjab and neighbouring states enter or leave the bus stand. In the process, they continue to blow pressure horns, which cause damage to ears of the pedestrians and the shopkeepers who have to sit for hours in their establishments.

"The continuous or sudden blaring of pressure horns by bus drivers leaves, commuters, especially two-wheelers, in panic after which they lose their balance and fall," said Sukhdev Kumar Billa.

They said they took up the issue with the police, but only to get a cold shouldered response. Their indifferent attitude has only added to the agony of inhabitants of the area.

"You can see traffic police challaning the commuters over minor violations, but they altogether turn a blind eye towards this glaring infringement of law," said Akash Sinha, a local resident. 

Amritsar, September 5
Another instance of A police party coming under attack has come to the fore here. This time a police team of the B-division police station was targeted by relatives of the accused, headed by a local leader.

Though the police finally managed to arrest the accused, identified as Parminderpal Singh, a bank employee, the police did not register any case against the attackers and those who impeded the government servant from discharging his duty.

According to information, Parminderpal Singh was booked by the B-division police under the Dowry Act. As he was not appearing in court, it issued an arrest warrant against him.

When the police team was coming to the police station after arresting him, his relatives and several other persons, headed by a local political leader, came before the vehicle and opposed the police party.

They allegedly entered into a verbal duel with the police party. Taking advantage, the accused Parminderpal allegedly escaped after pushing the cops. However, he was later arrested by the onlookers when the police raised an alarm. The police team immediately informed the SHO and the control room. Immediately, more police force arrived at the scene and took the accused into custody.

The police authorities said no case had been registered against the persons who allegedly obstructed the government officials in their work. Earlier, too, similar instances were reported in the city.

Amritsar, September 5
During the auction of shops at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital here today, a medicine shop near the emergency block was taken by the highest bidder at a cost of Rs 3.94 lakh per month.

The juice bar in the complex was rented out to the highest bidder at a rent of Rs 56,000 per month. The hospital had plans to auction five shops - two chemist shops, a juice bar, a public call office (PCO) and a confectionery shop.

However, no bidder turned up for the auction of the PCO, while the auction of the confectionery shop and a chemist shop was cancelled due to technical issues. The previous allotments of shops at the hospital had been under the scanner of the Public Accounts Committee of the Vidhan Sabha, on a complaint alleging that the auctions were not made as per the provisions.

However, this time the hospital tried every method not to create any controversy. The chemist shop at the hospital would be a big boon to patients, as this shop would be open 24X7. Even as per the provisions of the contract, the contractor is bound to offer 50 per cent discount on medicines.

The clause mentioned in this regard in the advertisement issued for the auction reads, “Chemist will have to give fixed 50 percent discount on each item.” Medical Superintendent Dr KS Sidhu said the successful bidders were required to deposit six months rent in advance, besides giving a bank security of Rs 50 lakh valid for 30 months.

There were allegations against the hospital, alleging that the successful bidders had sublet the premises after taking possession of the shop in case of a few shops allotted during the previous years and the hospital had failed to take any action. However, this time, a new clause warning the contractors against sub-letting the shop had been added.

Officials conduct raid at a chemist shop in Amritsar. Tribune File Photo

Amritsar, September 5
The Health Department with the help of the police has got registered over a dozen cases for recovery of proscribed medicines from various persons in the past four days.

The department had also sealed an unlicensed godown in the city two days back. Officials say that continuing the raids at medical shops has started yielding results.

However, no proscribed drugs were recovered during raids on various medical shops on Tuesday.

The police had booked one Rajiv Kumar and recovered 9,000 capsules of Parvodex, 600 injections of Forwin, 28,000 toxic tablets and 500 bottles of Parvocof syrup from his premises. Deepak Kumar was booked for possessing 600 Parvon spas capsules in Islamabad area.

Civil Surgeon Dr Yash Mitra said the drive by the police and health department has started paying dividends. He said the drug inspectors have been instructed to check chemist shops on regular basis and take strict action against those selling proscribed drugs.

Dr Mitra said the police department too is helping them in checking the sale of drugs. In recent cases, the police has booked over half a dozen people who were not running any chemist shop officially but were found in possession of habit-forming drugs.

With the health department keeping a strict vigil on chemist shops, many of these have changed their modus operandi.

The recovery of proscribed medicines from individuals besides the chemist shops indicates that peddlers have also made their way into the business of selling proscribed drugs.

Sources in the Health Department said these peddlers are in direct contact with the buyers and instead of selling the habit- forming medicines at chemist shops, they are being directly contacted by the addicts.

swinging into action The Health Department sealed an unlicensed godown meant to store medicines in the city two days back One Rajiv Kumar was booked as 9,000 capsules of Parvodex, 600 injections of Forwin, 28,000 toxic tablets and 500 bottles of Parvocof syrup were recovered from him Deepak Kumar was booked for possessing 600 Parvon spas capsules in Islamabad area Over half a dozen people were booked who were not running any chemist shop but were found in possession of habit-forming drugs

The protest rally will be held outside the residence of Animal Husbandry Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike in Amritsar. Tribune File Photo

Amritsar, September 3
The Punjab Veterinary Officers Association has announced to hold a state-level protest rally outside the residence of Animal Husbandry Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike in Amritsar on Sunday (September 8).

The association has accused the minister of favouring a particular category in the promotions. The association claimed that out of the four posts of joint directors of the Animal Husbandry Department, three are vacant and temporary appointments were made of junior officer by sidelining the seniors.

In a press release issued today, the association alleged that out of the total 25 posts of deputy directors, only one is regular and others are posted on temporary basis.

“Even as many seniors are available and deserving, much junior officers of a particular category are appointed on these posts. Some have even been given charge of two seats,” said a veterinary officer.

The association said out of the 93 posts of senior veterinary officers, 53 are not regular and permanent postings. The association said they have been forced to come out in the open as the department is going to amend the promotions rules which would further damage the promotions prospects of deserving and much senior employees.

The association warned that it would soon meet Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and expose such policies which were creating factions between employees of the department who belong to various different communities and castes.

The entire staff of the veterinary officers in all the districts of the state would join the protest, said the association. 

Amritsar, September 5
To create awareness about the blue baby syndrome among children, a press conference was held here today.

Dr Pankaj Goel, chief of cardiac surgery at a city hospital, said the syndrome is fully curable.

Talking about the ailment, he said it occurs in children who have cyanotic heart defects.

"In these birth defects, there is decrease in the blood flow to the lungs and mixing of pure and impure blood," he said, adding this leads to improper oxygenation of blood and circulation of blue blood to the body.

"Children with these defects are either born blue or become blue after birth. The treatment of this condition is surgery. Ideally the surgery should be done before five years of age, he said. If the surgery is delayed, these children will have various problems like poor endurance, syncopal attacks, brain abscess,” he said.

He said the surgery for these defects consists of total repair of the heart defect. "It usually includes closure of holes in the heart along with procedures to increase the blood flow to the lungs. It is remarkable to see how these kids improve after surgery," he added.

Dr Goel had special training in these procedures and is performing these procedures for the last five years.

Amritsar, September 5
Teacher’s Day is not only the celebration of learning but also of the relationship between students and their educators.

Taking up the challenge to impart education to the physically and mentally challenged, some special teachers from the schools around the city shared their experiences this Teachers' Day.

"It's a very delicate and fulfilling relationship between these children and us," said Shilpi Ganguly, patron and general secretary, Ibadat. An institution for the differently-abled children, Ibadat is home to more than 200 kids, teaching them skills and talent apart from education.

"We have teachers who are willing to give more than a few hours and mere teaching skills to these kids. The city does not have many willing teachers for such kids and not much is being spent on their education. With the little we have, we try to do our best for them," Shilpi further shared.

Ibadat functions as a small family unit with a staff of 10 teachers. "These kids need extra care and attention. We have volunteers who take care of their eating, developing skills and overall personality, cultural and special needs. Detailed attention and patience is a must when dealing with special kids," she said.

"They love us unconditionally. They too make effort to prove that we are special for them," Shilpi shares. Roopa Khaira, another teacher from Tammanna, a NGO-run school for special children, says the job is tough yet full of surprises.

"These children are like blank sheets and as a teacher you get to write a whole new story on them, make them self-reliant and see them do amazing things. But then, there are days when it's difficult to get through them, even make them eat. So it is a very unpredictable job."

"Every child is special. A teacher's job is not just to make the student realise his maximum potential but also sustain it throughout," shares Syed Sallauddin Pasha, a choreographer and founder of Ability United Foundation, an organisation formed by physically challenged students who learn performing arts.

Wowing people the world over with musical performances, the group under the guidance of Pasha, who is fondly known as guruji, has made career out of youngsters limited by physical challenges like disability, deafness and are bound to wheelchairs.

"We wanted to give these kids a chance to get equal shot in the society without the sympathy and pitiful glances they usually get. Teaching them dance was tough at first but the fact that I was not just making them dance but dependent on their sheer talent was a motivation enough," says Pasha.

Amritsar, September 5
Teacher’s Day was celebrated at Ryan International School. The celebration began with cake-cutting ceremony. Students performed different entertaining games, cultural items with their teachers.

The dance performances enthralled everyone around and made everyone tap their feet. Principal Rajni Kalra appreciated the students for organising the event on the occasion. Managing director Madam Grace Pinto said, “Today the teachers must embrace new teaching strategies keeping with the changing times and challenges of globalisation. Teachers should instill in their students a sense of their place and responsibility in the larger world.”

“Teachers themselves need to be motivated and love their profession and it will definitely motivate students to learn. With realistic goals and great enthusiasm, teachers can make a huge impact on students." 

Amritsar, September 5
DAV Public School, Lawrence Road, Amritsar, paid tribute to educationist and leader Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. The students presented a blend of dance and songs. In the afternoon, the teachers who have completed 20 years of service were honoured by the school.

Six teachers and a member of the non-teaching staff were given citation and honoured for their dedicated service. Twelve supervisors from the school were also honoured for their continuous dedication towards school by the Bharat Vikas Parishad, Amritsar Centre. Donation from the school was given to the Ferozepur orphanage.

A colourful programme was organised at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Mall Road, Amritsar.

Mall Road School students demonstrated a vivid picture of Punjab by performing an enthralling folk dance. A declamation contest was also held on the importance of teachers in students' life.

The Chief Khalsa Diwan Charitable Society too celebrated the day at Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Golden Avenue, Amritsar. Students gave a stage performance. S Kulbir Singh Mattewal congratulated the students who performed. Forty one teachers from various branches of CKD schools were honoured.

The CBSE conferred the CBSE Mentor Award for the year 2012 on Spring Dales Senior School principal Rajiv Kumar Sharma acknowledging his contribution for implementing the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation system in his school and other institutions.