The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

HEALTH

Roadside ‘dental clinics’
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Feb 18 — According to poet Ogden Nash, “Visit to a dentist is a vicious circle. One keeps one’s teeth in good condition so that one does not have to go to a dentist, but in order to keep the teeth in good condition one has to go to a dentist.” What he says is true.

Dentists have opened ultra-modern clinics in cities where their clientele is invariably affluent class.

But what about the common man? Ordinary people generally go to the roadside dentist (see picture) who is so “reasonable” and “affordable” that anyone can get his tooth cleaned inside out for just Rs 4.50 only. Obviously, he has not any degree and is a quack. He might have gained some sort of dental expertise either by working as a technician with a dentist or as a helper.

He has displayed his tools of trade and his rates are also prominently displayed. He has a lot of readymade formulas for curing all dental ailments. His medical bag shows that he even gives treatment to patients at home. He says, “I do not need a fancy kursi, I can extract the tooth sitting down only on the pavement. My patients do not even bleed too much when I extract their teeth. This vidya has been given to us by gurus and has been in our family for the last few generations. I can fix dentures too. I gained a lot of expertise in denture fitting as I used to make dentures when I was working with a dentist of a repute. We used to make dentures and the dentists would charge a hefty fees. That made me decide that I would work on my own. I am my own boss. I earn enough to feed my family.”

Few know how his patients feel after they have got their teeth extracted. May be they suffer from a severe infection and that infection may spread to other teeth and in the bargain they might have to get all their teeth extracted. Quacks can entice innocent and gullible people. The medical authorities should take some action so that they stop exploiting people.

SPORT

Athletics meet concludes
From Our Correspondent

SAHNEWAL, Feb 18 — The 27th Annual Athletics Meet of Guru Nanak National College concluded here on Saturday. Sarbjit Singh was adjudged the best athlete among boys and Sandeep Kaur among girls. Mr Balkar Singh Bajwa, Principal of the college, gave away prizes to the winners among boys and Dr Kewal Singh, PU Assistant Director Sports, gave away the prizes to winner among girls.

Results: 100 m (boys), — Baljit Singh 1, Baljinder Singh 2, Kulwinder Singh 3; 200 m — Sarabjit Singh 1, Sarabjit Singh 2, Kulwinder Singh 3; 400 m — Sarabjit Singh 1, Mandeep Singh 2, Hardeep Singh 3; 800 m — Hardeep Singh 1, Pritpal Singh 2, Kulwinder Singh 3; 1,500 m — Mandeep Singh 1, Hardeep Singh 2, Pritpal Singh 3; 3,000 m — Mandeep Singh 1, Gagandeep Singh 2, Pritpal Singh 3; 5,000 m — Mandeep Singh 1, Pritpal Singh 2, Gurcharan Singh 3.

Javelin throw — Sarabjit Singh 1, Sandeep Singh 2; high jump — Baljinder Singh 1, Ranjit Singh 2, Mandeep Singh 3; long jump — Baljinder Singh 1, Ranjit Singh 2, Manjit Singh 3; shot put — Sandeep Singh 1, Devinder Singh 2, Kulbir Singh 3; discus throw — Sandeep Singh 1, Yadwinder Singh 2, Jaspreet Singh 3; hammer throw — Sarabjit Singh 1, Sandeep Singh 2; triple jump — Ranjit Singh 1, Manjit Singh 2, Sarabjit Singh 3.

Girls: 100 m — Mandeep Kaur 1, Daljit Kaur 2, Pardeep Kaur 3; 200 m — Mandeep Kaur 1, Sandeep Kaur 2, Navropp Kaur 3; 400 m — Seema Rani 1, Gurdeep Kaur 2, Prabhjot Kaur 3; high jump — Jagjit Kaur 1, Gurpreet Kaur 2, Hardeep Kaur 3; long jump — Sandeep Kaur 1, Baljit Kaur 2, Mandeep Kaur 3; Shot put — Sukhwinder Kaur 1, Pritam Kaur 2, Seema Rani 3; discus throw — Gurpreet Kaur 1, Sukhwinder Kaur 2, Sandeep Kaur 3.

Kabaddi title for Joddhan
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Feb 18 — Bullock-cart races and kabaddi matches attracted spectators in the Gujjarwal Sport Festival that concluded here today. The open kabaddi final was won by the team of Joddhan village after defeating Sayankalan village, 25-19. In the bullock-cart race, 5 winners were announced.

The basketball title was won by the Gymkhana Club boys who defeated the Government College for Boys. In the women’s section, Ludhiana beat Moga, 53-35. In open, Moga beat Rarasahib, 43-40, in 62 kg class, Dhurkot beat Minna, 38-33, and in the 57 kg class, Narangal beat Sayankalan. In kabaddi for veterans, Ludhiana beat Moga, 40-35 in all-open kabaddi Punjab bear America. In kabaddi for women, Punjab beat Haryana, 32-25.

In the dog race, Tony Grewal’s dog, Bruce, was the winner and Gurdeep Singh’s dog, Kamal, was runner-up.

Results: Athletics events — 100 m race women — Kulwinder 1, Saranjeet 2; men’s section — Gurmeet 1 and Amritpal 2; javelin throw — Baldev Singh winner; football — Dango beat Mahimasinghwala, 2-1; favourite bullock-cart race — Bela Singh of Dehlon, Gurdeep Singh of Loggarh, Mohinder Singh of Noulari, Jagroop Singh of Sangane and Veenu Ajit won the title. Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha distributed the prizes to the winners.

Annual sport fest ends
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Feb 18 — Baljeet Kaur clinched the best athlete title in the annual sports festival that concluded at Khalsa College for Women here today. Student of BA I, Baljeet scored gold medal, in 100 m hurdles and ropeskipping, and a silver medal in sack race. Mr M.M. Vyas, Chairman of the Improvement Trust, presided over the prize distribution ceremony.

The results of the sports festival are: 50m — Gaganpreet (+2) 1, Kiranjeet (BA III) 2, Rajpinder (BA III) 3; 200m — Rajni (BA I) 1, Sandeep Gill (+2) 2, Gaganpreet (+2) 3 ;800m — Sukhdeep (BA I) 1, Gurvinder (BA I) 2, Pawandeep (BA II) 3 ; 100m hurdles — Baljeet (BA I) 1, Anupam (BA III) 2, Pavandeep (BA II) 3; 1500m — Rajni (BA I) 1, Sandeep (+2) 2, Gurvinder (BA I) 3 ; javlin throw — Rajinder (BA III) 1, Gurjeet (BA II) 2, Rupinder (BA II) 3 ; shot put — Ranjot (BA III) 1, Pawandeep (BA II) 2, Rupinder (BA II) 3; discus throw — Harjeet (MA II) 1, Rajinder (BA II) 2, Preetinder (BA I) 3 ; three leg race — Harjeet (MA II) & Harveen (BA II) 1, Gurjeet & Tarun (both from BA II) 2, Sukhdeep & Vanita (both from BA I) 3; sack race — Deepmala (BA III) 1, Baljeet (BA I) 2, Harjeet (BA II) 3; slow cycling — Harveen (BA III) 1, Pardeep (BA II) 2, Amanjoot 3; spoon and patato race —Ramanpreet 1, Tajinder 2, Jatinder 3; ropeskipping — Baljeet (BA I) 1, Rajni (BA I) 2, Parneet (BA I) 3.