HEALTH

Doctors condemn police high-handedness
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 29
The Executive Council of the faculty of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) has condemned the "high-handedness" of the police in dealing with doctors". The council members have demanded that the police should book persons who furnish false affidavits against doctors and should not harass and arrest doctors without investigation.

Dr B.S. Shah, secretary of the council, said the doctors, were being made the scapegoats in the 'kidney scam'. The council members said baseless allegations against doctors would spoil the doctor-patient relationship and demoralise honest doctors.

Dr R.C. Garg, president IMA, Punjab, while talking to Ludhiana Tribune said the actual culprits were the middlemen. He said only one-sided picture was being presented to the society. "Doctors are being labelled as criminals. The false statements will create a sense of insecurity among the society and will spoil the profession, its moral values", said Dr Garg.

Dr Gursharan Singh, president of the local unit of the IMA, has urged the Natural Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to take steps to get the records regarding the scam from, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) so that there is no tampering with the records.

Recently, a senior nephrologist of the city was summoned by the SIT. A senior doctor and colleague of the nephrologist in the city on condition of anonymity disclosed that the nephrologist was being unnecessarily harassed by the officials. "It is really disturbing that the phone of the nephrologist is being tapped. His privacy is being violated without any of his fault", alleged the doctor. 

Free eye camp on CMC golden jubilee
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 29
To mark the golden jubilee of the introduction of the MBBS courses at Christian Medical College (CMC), a two-day free eye camp was organised on the hospital premises in collaboration with the Bhartiya Social Welfare Society. It concluded here today and more than 1,100 persons visited it.

According to a press note issued here today, free eye surgeries are being conducted in the hospital till January 30. Dr S.M. Bhatti, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology, in the CMCH said, “Majority of cases in eye camps are of cataract and glaucoma and a few of pterygium a fleshy growth on the cornea). Most of these problems require surgery. All persons who have undergone surgery will be provided with post-operative care and free food in the CMCH.”

Dr Bhatti also said incidence of diabetes was on the rise. Old diabetics are likely to have diabetic retinopathy, a potentially blinding disease. All diabetics should get their eyes checked at least once a year to save themselves from this. The diabetics are also likely to have cataract at an early age.

Besides free check up and surgeries, the needy would be provided with free glasses by the Bhartiya Social and Welfare Society.

Civil Hospital inspection on
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 29
A joint team of the Ludhiana and state Vigilance Bureau today continued to scan the records of the Civil Hospital for the second day today. The Vigilance team almost spent the entire day in the hospital and checked several records, including cash registers and medicine stocks.

Vigilance sources said it was a routine inspection even as hospital staff was panicky.

SPORTS

‘Mini-Olympics’ of Sahnewal from February 2
Our Correspondent

Sahnewal, January 29
The 31st “mini-Olympics” of Sahnewal will be organised by the, local Panchayati Raj Sports Club from February 2 to 4 at the local Guru Gobind Singh Stadium. Mr Satwinder Pal Singh Goldi, Mr Sukhjit Singh Hara, Inspector Paramjit Singh, DSP, Manjit Singh Dhesi, DSP Amrik Singh, Mr Tejinder Singh Sandhu, and Mr Avtar Singh are looking after the arrangements.

Mr Jagdeep Singh Honey and Mr Harinder Singh Harry, president and Chairman of the club, respectively, said.” Teams from the USA and Canada will compete in hockey (girls and boys), volleyball, shooting, kabaddi (all open), kabaddi (weight), old men’s races, athletics and kabaddi (show matches). Along with rural sports, the competitions in badminton (singles and doubles) will also be organised.”

They said, “The races of bullock carts will be held on February 2. On February 3, the main attractions will be dog races, kabaddi, hockey, etc. The function will be inaugurated by Mr Malkit Singh Birmi, local MLA.”

Mr Tejinder Singh Sandhu, vice-president of the club, said, “The winning team of kabaddi will be given a silver cup in the memory of Mata Dilip Kasur and that of hockey will be given a gold cup trophy in the memory of Prem Singh Africa. On February 4, concluding day of the games, Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang, Sports Minister, Pehalwan Kartar Singh, Mr Tej Parkash Singh Kotli, Transport Minister, Punjab will be chief guests. Renowned singers Mohammad Sadiq and Ranjit Kaur will entertain the guests. Gidha, Bhangra and other cultural items will be performed on the concluding day.”

Rural sports festival opens 
Anil Datt

Ludhiana, January 29
The 69th Hero Honda Kila Raipur Rural Sports Festival will get under way at Grewal Sports Stadium, Kila Raipur tomorrow with bullock cart trial races and preliminary hockey matches.

Though a number of rural sports festivals are held in Punjab at different places, the much-awaited Kila Raipur festival, popularly known as Rural Olympics attracts top talent all over the country. This festival is billed as the world’s biggest rural sports extravaganza. Thousands of villagers from different areas take part not only in traditional and rural sports, but also several regular disciplines.

Kila Raipur Sports Festival has assumed significance as the Department of Tourism of the Union Government has included the games in its calendar of festivals and acknowledged it as of ‘tourist interest’.

Mr Sukhvir Singh Grewal, former international hockey star and chief organiser of this festival, said participants from Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana had confirmed participation in this mega sports event. The organisers had decided to introduce wrestling this time and top wrestlers of north India were expected to be seen in action during this festival.

The main feature of this festival were Bhagwant Memorial Gold Cup Tournament in which major hockey outfits of the region would vie for top honours.

Competition for junior boys (school) in which 10 teams from top hockey academies- Sports School, Jalandhar, Surjit Academy Jalandhar, Namdhari Academy of Bhaini Sahib, Kila Raipur Academy, Shivalik Academy of S A S Nagar, SAS Nagar, and Dashmesh Academy, Ropar would take part.

Mr Grewal said athletics, cycling, air pistol shooting, equestrian events besides traditional rural sporting events like camel race bullock cart races, dog race, kabaddi, tug of war, tent pegging, horse-riding and aero-modelling display would be the main attractions.

Prominent today’s and yesteryear sportspersons along with eminent personalities of Punjab would be felicitated by the Grewal Sports Association for their contributions to society.

Mr Lal Singh, Finance Minister, Punjab, would be the chief guest on February 1, while the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, would give away prizes to winners on the concluding day, February 2.

Barinder clinches title
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, January 29
Barinder Singh of Kishangarh outpaced his opponents to clinch the title in rickshaw race in the 22nd annual sports festival organised by the Singh Sports Association at the Sri Hargobind Sahib Sports Stadium of Ghungrali Rajputan village near here. The event concluded on Monday. Kuldeep Singh of Ghai Majra and Ashok Kumar of Noorwala finished second and third, respectively.

In football (one village), hosts Ghungrali Rajputan beat Nawan Pind 3-0, to bag the title. Iqbal Singh of Jalandhar won the 100 m race. Naib Singh and Jarnail Singh Jakhla followed Iqbal to get the silver and the bronze medal, respectively.

In the girls’ section, Baljit Kaur won the 100 m race, while the second and the third positions were grabbed by Narinder Kaur and Rupinder Kaur, respectively.

In 200 m race (veterans), Jaswant Singh of Khanna stood first, followed by Bakhatiar Singh and Nachhattar Singh of Manji Sahib who got the second and the third position, respectively.

Mr Tej Parkash Singh, Transport Minister, Punjab, gave away the prizes to the winners. Others who were present on the occasion included Mr Amrik Singh Dhillon, MLA from Samrala, Mr Avtar Singh Brar, former Sports Minister, Punjab, Mr Harmohinder Singh, ex-MLA, Mr Harpal Singh Kanwar, District Sports Officer, Mr Lakhwinder Singh, Mr Manjeet Singh Jawaddi, Olympian Hardeep Singh Grewal, Mr Gurmeet Singh Kular, Mr Kanwaldeep Singh and Mr Devinder Singh.

Mr Devinder Singh Kular, chief organiser of the festival, and Mr Manpreet Singh, president of the Singh Sports Association, thanked the guests and apprised them of the difficulties faced by the organisers.

Probe into purchase of street lamps
Our Correspondent

Ahmedgarh, January 29
An inquiry into the purchase and installation of street lamps by the local municipal council has been conducted by a team of Vigilance officials. Mr Darbara Singh Sekha, a resident of the local Jagira road, had complained to the Vigilance Department that Mr Kishori Lal Badhan, president of the council, had misused his official position to appease a section of residents of his ward with an intention to get their votes.

He alleged that a large number of mercury-vapour lamps were installed in narrow streets, whereas main bazars lacked the amenity. Besides, the council president and some of his associates got installed two welcome gates at the entry points of the town, allegedly to pocket lucrative commission. Mr Sekha claimed that the gates which had been shown constructed at the cost of around Rs 2.5 lakh did not cost more than Rs 50,000.

A team headed by a Vigilance Officer reportedly arrived here yesterday and went through the records. It recorded the statement of the complainant and held physical verification of the lamp posts.

Mr Suraj Parkash, Executive Officer, was not available for comments.

Mr Kishori Lal Badhan, when contacted, said all purchases had been made at the lowest-possible and government-approved rates. He claimed that proper procedure was followed to make the purchases. Mr Badhan blamed the complainant of acting out of vengeance and political rivalry.