R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AHMEDGARH
PULSE POLIO DRIVE: In order to supplement and support the national cause of complete polio eradication, the local branch of Punjab National Bank actively participated in the campaign against polio, initiated by the local Civil Hospital staff. The bank has been mobilising public opinion by way of cable TV network and through banners and posters — ‘Aao kariye bacheyan te upkaar, pilaiye polio boondan pher is baar’. An impressive rally of schoolchildren was organised by the local Civil Hospital where in Dr Krishan Pilani, SMO, Dr Narinder Gupta, Dr Karnail Singh and other staff participated. In response to publicity, a large number of parents thronged polio booths with their tiny tots for giving them polio drops. First drops were given by local PNB Branch Manager, Mr B.B. Goyal, on the hospital premises.

POLIO DROPS: Around 7,000 children upto the age of five years in the town and its surrounding villages were vaccinated against polio during the first phase of the Pulse Polio Programme on the first two days. According to Dr Krishan Pilani, incharge, Civil Hospital, 26 centres were set up where health workers administered the vaccine to children with the help of local Rotary Club and Scouts volunteers of MGMN Senior Secondary School. Vaccination in surrounding area falling under Pakhowal block was undertaken by the Bharat Vikas Parishad.

BATHINDA
WOOLLENS: The Bathinda Vikas Manch on Sunday distributed woollens among the needy students of Government High School, Bhagu, with help of Mr Gurcharan Singh, a resident of the city. Mr Rakesh Narula, president of the manch, said 24 students were given sweaters.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The Post Office Bazar Welfare Association has elected Mr Subhash Bansal as its president and Mr Sanjay Singla as its treasurer-cum-secretary.

FEROZEPORE
DIES IN MISHAP: Dr Bhattacharya, Head of the Applied Sciences Department of Shahid Bhagat Singh College of Engineering and Technology, died in a road accident here on Sunday. Dr Bhattacharya (42) is survived by his wife, Dr Chandana Bhattacharya, and a son.

KHANNA
ELECTED: Mr S.S. Vithal, a homoeopathic physician from Khanna, has been elected national vice-president of the “Indian Institute of Homoeopathic Physicians” for the second consecutive term from 2003 to 2005. He was elected at 19th national conference held at Bhubaneshwar which was attended by Dr Vithal and 1,250 other delegates from all over India. The conference was inaugurated by Mr Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister, Orissa. Mr Patnaik announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh for the association. He also assured to open 100 homoeopathic dispensaries in the state. Dr Vithal was also nominated a member of the editorial board of ‘Rational Medicine’, official journal of the association.

KHARAR
SUSPENSION SOUGHT: The local BDPO has written to the Director, Panchayats, Punjab, recommending the suspension of the sarpanch of Jagatpur village, Mrs Manjeet Kaur, for allegedly encroaching upon “Gau Charand” of the village and for tampering with gram panchayat records.

POLIO CAMPAIGN: The Rotary Club and the Health Department immunised 4,581 children in Kharar, Khanpur and Mundi Kharar on Sunday. The SDM, Kharar, Mr Sukhwinder Singh Gill, kicked off the drive by administering polio drops to a child.

STIR THREAT: The local SHSAD unit threatened Rasta Roko agitation if the government failed to repair the Kharar-Landran road by January 31. This was stated in a press note issued here on Friday by Mr Daljeet Singh, president of the Kharar unit.

LUDHIANA
LOHRI CELEBRATED: Rupika Ladies Club celebrated Lohri and New Year at Mariot hotel here on Monday. Even the dense fog could not dampen the spirits of the club members. Ms Meena Girotra, president of the club, in a press note said a huge bonfire was arranged for the club members and their guests on the occasion. Women danced to various beats of dhol and sang many Punjabi songs. Ms Rashmi and Ms Nidhi presented a dance item on popular number ‘Kaliyon ka chaman’, which was well appreciated by the audience. The executive committee members of the club presented bhangra.

AWARDED: It was an encouraging moment for Master Kartik Syal, a student of Nursery section at Sacred Heart Convent School, Sector 39, Chandigarh road, when he received a gold medal for his proficiency. Though Master Syal cannot explain his feelings in words, yet he was overjoyed.

PHAGWARA
AGITATION: The PSEB Struggle Committee, Punjab, will hold a demonstration here on January 8 and also block traffic in protest against the privatisation of 29 public sector undertakings, including the PSEB. Disclosing this here on Friday Mr Tarsem Lohia, Circle President, Technical Services Union, PSEB, declared that this would be followed by zonal protests and in case these failed to yield any result then one-day strike would be observed on February 4.

HARYANA

AMBALA
SWEATERS DISTRIBUTED: The State Bank of India, Sadar Bazar branch, donated sweaters and shoes to 35 students of Govt Senior Secondary School, Ram Bagh Road, Ambala Cantonment here, on Saturday. The Chief Manager, Mr K.B. Sharma, said the bank had introduced a special scheme called “Teacher Plus” for teachers under which special concessional rates were offered.

TB CAMP: The local Rotary Club, along with the Health Department, will hold a TB camp at the Naraingarh Civil Hospital on January 19. The Rotary Club president, Mr Naresh Bhardwaj, said the camp would be inaugurated by MLA Mr Pawan Kumar Sahni. 

INAUGURATED: First Khushdil memorial football tournament was inaugurated by Mr Tilak Raj here on Saturday. Mr Sriram Sabharwal, retired SAI coach, said in the first match Farookha Khalsa School defeated Central School. In the second match, Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 3 defeated Shahpur.

MEETING CONVENED: The local District Congress Committee (Urban) has summoned a meeting on January 11 in Congress Bhavan at Ambala city. The district president, Mr Kiran Bala Jain, said here in a statement that strategy would be discussed in the meeting regarding a demonstration at Delhi organised by the HPCC to protest against the SYL issue.

FATEHABAD
CONVENTION: The district convention of the Students Federation of India (SFI) will be held here on Tuesday. Ms Santosh Siwatch, a member of the Central Committee of the SFI, would inaugurate it. According to Mr Subhash Sokhal, a member of the district secretariat of the federation, the adverse effects of the economic policies of the state and the central governments on the education system would be discussed.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

HAMIRPUR
CAMP: A multipurpose medical camp was organised by the Rotary and Inner wheel Clubs jointly with the help of the Senior Citizens Council at Sujanpur Tira on Sunday. Nearly 320 patients suffering from various ailments were examined by doctors. Mr Rajeev Sharma, president of Rotary Club, Hamirpur, said medicines worth Rs 15,000 were given to the patients.

PARWANOO
DEMANDED: Employees of the Kalka railway workshop, NR diesel shed and IOW railway station and carriage staff have demanded that the Kalka health unit to be upgraded into a hospital. The local railway unions have brought the matter to the notice of authorities of the Ambala railway division but no action has allegedly been taken so far.