I have done my best: Sharma
By Poonam Batth
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH Dec 1 — “A little more time and I would have had the new OPD block functional, besides completing the institute of nursing education, both of which are a significant contribution to the institute.”

This desire was expressed by Prof B.K. Sharma, former Director of PGI, in an exclusive interview with Chandigarh Tribune a day after he relinquished charge at the end of his extended tenure.

“I would have also ensured that several other projects such as advanced cardiac care centre, eye care centre and bone marrow transplant centre at least got started during my tenure”, said Prof Sharma. Last, but not the least, he wished that the newly selected faculty took office in his time.

Prof Sharma, however, said that all these projects, including the second advanced paediatric centre having all possible specialities for children, have already been approved in the 9th Five Year Plan of the PGI, with an outlay of Rs 200 crore. The revamping of the present operation theatres, which have outlived their utility , has also been planned at the cost of Rs 5 crore.

While giving credit to his predecessors, Dr Sharma said “It is a relay race and I have only tried to maintain the traditions and standards laid down by them — be it patient care, teaching or doing research.”

Looking back at his fruitful four- and-a-half-year tenure as Director, Dr Sharma said that the students going out of the portals of the PGI had made their mark at the national and international level. He claimed that a student from this institute walked into any American hospital merely on the basis of a telephonic interview. He also pointed out that a specific examination cell had been created under the charge of a senior professor to further enhance the secrecy and quality of admission process.

Among his other achievements was his ability to hold the faculty together and run the academic work and patient care, particularly in the light of the fact that since 1994 there have been no regular selections to the vacant faculty posts because of unfortunate litigation on account of reservation issue. “With the help of 50 ad hoc assistant professors and other dedicated people, we carried on the work of PGI, although there were strains,” said Dr Sharma. However, he was happy that he could organise selections for these posts before his term ended and was hopeful that the approval of the same in the forthcoming governing body meeting on December 8 would remove heart burning among a section of the faculty.

Talking about the developmental aspect, Prof Sharma maintained that the institute made tremendous strdies in physical dimensions and in the area of patient care. First and foremost was the completion of advanced paediatric centre in May 1997, which provides all facilities for child care under one roof. However, a project dear to his heart was the new emergency becoming operational in October, 1997. Built at a cost of Rs 10 crore, the fully air-conditioned emergency now had 50 medical and 90 surgical beds with all specialities — an in-house X -ray, laboratories and ECG facilities, besides six operation theatres. “All these facilities have changed the life of an emergency patient,’’ he claimed, and said that the inauguration of the same was one of the most satisfying experience of his life.

The most significant contribution was the new OPD block consisting of four blocks of five levels each, with facilities for X-ray, ECG and laboratories, besides computerisation of registration and records. With nearly 10,000-15,000 patients walking in every day at the OPDs of Nehru Hospital, the crowd would get segregated and the overall sanitation and other facilities would improve, pointed out Dr Sharma. The liberated space on both the floors could be used for expansion by the respective departments, he said. Day care surgery would be started in the new OPD shortly to further relieve the pressure on the OTs in the main hospital. The institute of nursing education would be completed by June 2000.

On the other side he said “I could not succeed in solving the problem of the reservation issue, which has plagued the entire governance of the PGI and it is still simmering.’’ His another regret was that he was not able to arrange sufficient funds for a trauma centre to further improve patient care.

A home for stray cattle
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR Dec 1 — Stray cattle in the town may finally have a permanent home as the local Municipal Council has decided to establish a 'gaushala' here. The council has written to the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) to allot land for the 'gaushala'.

This follows a representation by a non-government organisation (NGO), Gau Sewa Ashram, to the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ms Maneka Gandhi.

Ms Gandhi in turn wrote to the Chief Administrator of PUDA stating that she had taken up the matter with the Chief Minister of Punjab, who supported setting up 'gaushalas' for stray cattle. PUDA had been asked to coordinate with the NGO to help the latter in this regard.

The President of the local Municipal Council, Mr H.S. Billa, said since the area within the municipal limits was most affected by the stray cattle menace, the NGO's initiative had come as a great reprieve to it. He said a plan to recommend allotment of land to the NGO for the 'gaushala' was passed at a meeting of the council on November 29. The decision had been conveyed to PUDA.

The General Secretary of the NGO, Mr R.K. Goyal, in a representation to the council, has offered to set up the 'gaushala' for at least 300 cows. The aged, ill, handicapped and stray cows would be kept at the 'gaushala', he said in the representation.

Keeping the stray cattle which is caught in the town has been a problem for the local administration. At a recent meeting attended by the Subdivisional Magistrate (SDM), Mr O.P. Popli, the Additional Chief Administrator (ACA), Mr Dipinder Singh, and Executive Officer (EO) of the local Municipal Council, Mr K.S. Brar, a proposal to let off the stray cattle in the nearby jungle or send these to the Nabha 'gaushala' was discussed.

‘Carnival village’ work on
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH Dec 1 — The preparations for the Chandigarh Carnival-99, a fun-filled programme for the city residents on December 4 and 5, are under way. Structures for the ''carnival village'' can already be seen at Leisure Valley, Sector 10, which would be the main centre of activity.

This picturesque village would serve as a heritage centre for the carnival where a food festival, including a rural Rajasthani restaurant, would be the main attractions. The village would be inaugurated formally on December 4.

The activities for the carnival are due to start on December 3 with a colourful carnival parade, starting from the Sector 17 Plaza, which would consist of tableaux and floats of various Indian states, cartoon costume characters, dancers, bazigars, stick-walkers and creations from Nek Chand's Rock Garden.

Meanwhile, the other area of activity is Karuna Sadan where various non-government organisations (NGOs) are busy planning and formulating cultural activities with children of the city. A corner would be created for special children.

The main attraction of this year's carnival would be the musical evening being organised at the Cricket stadium, Sector 16, on December 4 where the star attractions would include Anamika, Jassi, Malaika Arora and Veronika. According to the authorities, the pitch and the practising area of the stadium have been cordoned off to protect the same from any possible damage.

The second day of the carnival would have a hasya kavi sammelan where the poets expected to regale the audiences include Surendra Sharma, Shail Chaturvedi, Ashok Chakardhar and Manik Verma.

Noted cartoonist Sudhir Tailang would be another attraction. He would be providing tips to budding cartoonists.

With children being the major focus of the carnival, December 5 would have the popular ''Shaktimaan'', Mukesh Khanna, interacting with kids. Jaspal Bhatti would also be presenting an entertainment programme.

The finale of the carnival would have a grand firework display for about 15 minutes at Leisure Valley.