Ludhiana, July 21
Unlike other hospitals, CMC runs a Department of Medical Social Welfare to take care of social, psychological and financial needs of the patients admitted in the hospital.

In 1971 the Department of Medical Social Welfare was set up in the hospital by Ms F. Manus, who directed this social service programme of the department along with Ms M. Hill until her retirement at the end of October 1975.

The appointment of two Indian medical social workers in November, 1972, was the first milestone towards the Indianisation of the department. The appointment of Mr A.H. Khan, Mr S. Inam, Mr H. Williams, who have postgraduate degrees in medical and psychiatric social work from Indian universities, helped to complete the task of Indianisation of the department in 1975.

Mr A.H. Khan, Head of Social Welfare Department, said that they had the comprehensive responsibility of providing social, financial and psychiatric counselling to the patients as well as their family members. So far we have provided counselling to about 3000 cancer patients. While we provided emotional support to 45% of the patients but financial support was required by 100% patients. But this does not mean that the hospital has to provide all the financial help. Actually, we are the liaison agents between the patients and many NGOs that are doing charitable work. Since I am the Secretary of Guru Gobind Singh Charitable Trust, we give directions to the needy patients to seek financial help from them.”

Social workers are actively engaged to social group work, community organisaiton to deal with the area of practical problems of admission and stay during OPD treatment, interpretation, emotional support, socio-economic study and investigation, counselling, follow-ups for test, investigation and help with financial need.

Mr Khan and Mr Honey Williams motivate the people to accept the financial responsibility, try to deal with depression that arises due to long sickness, provide emotional support to relatives, provide marriage counselling and help arrange the stay of the relatives.

Ludhiana, July 21
Three students of St Thomas Senior Secondary School established lead over others on the second day of the 10th Ludhiana District Shooting Championship being organised by the District Rifle Association at Master Tara Singh Memorial College for Women here today.

In .177 open sight air rifle for junior men (individual) Gaurav Singla and in .177 peep sight air rifle for women (individual) Samheet Kaur gave superb performance by scoring 232 and 289, respectively, out of 400 points. Another student of this school, Mankaran Singh, led in the .177 open sight air rifle for sub-junior men with 189 points.

Three shooters from Master Tara Singh Memorial College gained lead over their rivals. In the events .177 open sight air rifle women Individual and in open sight air rifle junior women individual Anita Rani shot 287 points to maintain lead over other contestants.

In .177 open sight air rifle for sub-junior women Manpreet Kaur, a student of Master Tara Singh Memorial College, shot 259 points to gain lead. Another student of this college, Kamaljeet Kaur, with 330 points established lead over others in air pistol for women and junior women.

Ahmedgarh, July 21
The Punjab Government may have to pay an extra amount of Rs 250 crore to about 50,000 former employees, who retired on or after January 1, 1996, on account of less payments made while calculating their commuted pension.

In a writ petition filed by a retired teacher, Mr Nihal Chand, and 105 other petitioners have demanded the difference of payment, which according to them was not made in accordance with the Punjab Government notification dated 21.7.1998. In CWO 7895 under Articles 226 and 32 of the Constitution, petitioners have stated that they have been paid the commuted pension at the rate of 40 per cent for 12 years, whereas the notification entitled them to payment for 15 years. Thus they have been deprived of 20 per cent of their pension amount.