UK fellowship for doctor
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 29
Dr Puneet Aulakh Pooni, a lecturer in the Department of Paediatrics, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, has been awarded a visiting fellowship by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, London, from April 2 to 28.

Dr S.C. Ahuja, Principal, DMCH, in a press note said the scholarship was given to only 10 selected paediatricians all over the world. Dr Puneet will be spending four weeks in the UK British paediatric Centres and will present her paper on “Late haemorrhagic diseases of the new born in Punjab” at the University of York.

The study conducted by Dr Pooni says that in developed countries it was mandatory to give injections of vitamin K to a child at the time of birth otherwise the child could have a brain haemorrhage. Dr Pooni said in like India where many deliveries take place at home, new borns were not given this injection.

During her visit, Dr Pooni will visit the Alder Hey Children’s hospital in Liverpool, Guy’s Hospital in London and attend the PICS meeting in Leicester. Dr Pooni has contributed 12 publications and three case reports in national journals.

Pentavox dietary supplements soon
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 29
The periodic inspections of all dispensaries in the state, time-bound dispensation of files, and technical assistance to all ayurvedic drug manufacturers and action against those violating drug manufacturing laws were the important steps initiated by the State Health and Family Welfare Minister , Mr Baldev Raj Chawla. These views were expressed by Mr Sanjay Poli, Director Ayurveda, during the commissioning ceremony of Pentavox Herbals Ayurvedic Drugs here yesterday.

The management dedicated the occasion to the first anniversary of His Holiness Dalai Lama’s visit to the firm. Dr Pradeep Nagrath, Managing Director, Pentavox, said the company was the first ayurvedic drugs manufacturing unit in India to get the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certificate after the implementation of GMP norms on the ayurvedic industry.

Dr Nagrath said besides herbal formulations, the company was going to introduce a range of single ingredient herbal dietary supplements.

SPORT

Grewal hockey meet from April 9
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 29
The Mohinder Partap Singh Grewal All-India Railway Women Hockey Tournament, organised by the Mohinder Partap Singh Grewal Memorial Charitable Trust, will be held at the PAU grounds from April 9 to 15.

Top five teams of the country representing the Northern Railway, Delhi, the Western Railway, Mumbai, the Central Railway, Mumbai, the South Eastern Railway, Kolkatta, and the Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, will participate in the tournament, Mr D.S. Grewal, president of the trust, said here yesterday.

Top international players of the country will be seen in action during the tournament. Mr K. Balakesari, Member Staff, Railway Board, ex officio Secretary to the Government of India, and president, Railway Sports Promotion Board, will be the chief guest.

ADMINISTRATION

PAU staff allege victimisation
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 29
The kisan cell of the Punjab unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has charged the authorities of the Punjab Agricultural University with victimisation of some teachers and other employees of the university. The kisan cell alleged that during the last couple of weeks, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Dr G.S Kalkat, initiated punitive action against a number of staff members.

Giving details of the recent cases of alleged victimisation, Dr Balwant Singh, convener of the kisan cell of the NCP, said in a press note that Dr Kalkat issued charge sheets on March 19 to two non-teaching employees, Mr R.S. Arora and Mr S.C. Goel, both superintendents, for communicating information concerning the university to the press. Applying some conduct rules, Dr Kalkat threatened to penalise the officials concerned, Dr Balwant Singh added.

He further said Dr Kalkat had issued a show-cause notice to the former president of the PAU Teachers’ Association (PAUTA), Dr R.K. Batra, asking him to explain why action should not be taken against him for allegedly telling the press that Dr Aulakh’s appointment as Vice-Chancellor of the university was in violation of the Act and statutes of the university. Dr Balwant Singh asserted that it was he who had informed the press that in his writ petition filed in the High Court, he had alleged that the said appointment was made in contravention of Section 15 of the PAU Act and Clause 2 of Chapter III of the PAU statutes.

The leader of the kisan cell was also concerned about a letter seeking an explanation from Dr H.S Dhaliwal, former director of biotechnology, asking him to explain whether he had supplied information concerning his alleged victimisation at the hands of the PAU authorities to Dr Balwant Singh, who had written a letter to the Governor of Punjab in this regard. Dr Balwant Singh claimed that Dr Dhaliwal had nothing to do with that letter.

Dr Balwant Singh also criticised the Vice-Chancellor for issuing show-cause notices to two officials, Mr D.S. Cheema and Mr Amarjit Singh, asking them to explain why an amount of Rs 3 lakh should not be recovered from them. The two employees were being penalised because a clerk in the Estate Office had embezzled nearly Rs 7 lakh, he said. 

Admn unaware of minister’s visit
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 29
The Union Minister of State for Water Resources, Ms Bijoy Chakarvarty, was in town yesterday, on her way to visit different parts of the state affected by water-logging. The minister also called up a press conference and the district administration was unaware of it.

While the Deputy Commissioner was on his routine ‘Wednesday tour’, other officials were also not seen there. Except for few personal acquaintances of the minister or the people owing allegiance to the National Democratic Alliance, no official of the administration could be seen with the minister.

Water logging is one of the burning issues in Punjab. Considerable area in Ludhiana district has also been hit by the problem.