Doctors sit in dharna
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 15
In response to a call given by the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association against the alleged harassment of Dr S.K. Sharma by the Vigilance Department, all doctors and paramedical staff of the Civil Hospital, Ludhiana, abstained from work today. The doctors, along with the paramedical staff, sat in dharna on the hospital premises and held a protest rally.

The rally was addressed by Dr Hardeep Singh and Dr Balwinder Kumar, state president and district general secretary of the association, respectively, and Dr Gagandeep Singh. They charged the Vigilance Department with harassing Dr S.K. Sharma.

They said it had connived with a man having rivalry with Dr Sharma. After the arrest also, the Vigilance Department harassed the doctor in the lock-up and did not obey the rules (facilities for a gazetted officer in custody) The association threatened to continue the protest if the harassment of doctors continued.

Similar protests were organised by the association at the civil hospitals at Samrala and Khanna and other subdivisional hospitals in the district.

Surgeons’ conference begins
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 15
The 23rd annual conference of the Association of Surgeons of India (Northern Chapter) —NC-ASICON, 2K3—was inaugurated at Pal Auditorium, Punjab Agricultural University, here last evening by Mr Ashwani Sekhri, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare. Dr J.S.Gujral, Vice-Chancellor, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, was the guest of honour.

The prominent dignitaries included the president of the Association of Surgeons of India, Dr K.N.Parimelazhagam, from Chennai, the secretary of the association, Dr T.Gunasagran, Dr Ujagar Singh Dhaliwal, president NC-ASI, Dr Kuldeep Singh, honorary secretary, NC-ASI, and Dr Satish Jain, organising secretary of the conference. The three-day conference is being hosted by the Mohan Dai Oswal Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation.

Dr Abdul Ahmed Hai from Patna delivered the Dr F.C.Eggleston Oration on the topic “Cancer of gall bladder” today. The Dr C.M.Singh Memorial Lecture was delivered by Dr Pradeep Choubey from Delhi.

Dr Satish Jain said,“To keep in touch with modern developments in surgery, conferences are the real media for exchange and enhancement of knowledge. The three-day conference will include orations, lectures, panel discussions, poster sessions and contests.

Dental camp held
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 15
A dental camp was organised at Ek Prayas on Thursday by doctors of Christian Dental College, Ludhiana. The team of doctors was headed by Dr J.L. Joshi, Principal of the college.

Dr J.L. Joshi spoke about the precautions and preventive measures which are to be taken by parents of the special children to avoid dental decay. Habits like nail biting, thumb sucking, mouth-breathing and prolonged bottle feed enhance chances of dental decay. Eating toffees and chocolates, he said, were not harmful if immediately followed by brushing.

He appealed to the parents to go in for regular check-ups and ensure proper upkeep of the teeth. Ek Prayas, he said, had taken an initiative by organising a dental camp but ultimately the parents have to do their bit to give best dental care to their children. He offered services free of cost to the children at Christian Dental College. Regular dental check-up, scaling, and fillings are done in the presence of parents.

Ms Nivedita Mannan (Principal) and Ms Radhika Jaitwani (Secretary) thanked the doctors. 

SPORTS

Giant wrestler to campaign against drugs
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, March 15
Famous free-style wrestler, Tiger Jeet Singh, has taken up a campaign against drugs. Tall, well-built, Jeet Singh, 6’-4” with a number of titles in his kitty such as the Asian Super Heavyweight, the Universal Wrestling Association Heavyweight and the World Martial Wrestling Championship has chalked out a comprehensive plan to create awareness among the Indian youth about the menace of drugs.

Speaking to mediapersons here today, the super wrestler said that he was content with the tremendous success he had achieved and now intended to give back something to the nation . That is why he dreamt of promoting the anti-drugs message so that the young generation could keep itself busy and active by taking part in sports activities. For this purpose, exhibition wrestling encounters will be conducted in Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Amritsar and Delhi towards the end of this year.

Tiger Jeet Singh, accompanied by Mr Wolf Game, owner of the sports magazine, Power Wrestling announced that they had decided to start publishing the journal from India and in this project a number of Indians residing abroad had assured them of their assistance.

Athletics meet of college
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, March 15
Bhupinder Kaur and Maninder Kaur emerged winners in 100 m sprint and hurdle events, respectively, in the annual athletics meet of the DD Jain College of Education here yesterday.

Harsimran and Sukhraj won three-legged race, while Rekha and Karnail emerged triumphant in sack race and matki race, respectively. Meenu finished ahead of others in potato race and the students of Gargi House won the kho-kho title.

Earlier, Mr Hira Lal Jain, patron of SS Jain Girl’s management committee inaugurated the meet. Ms Chander Mohini, Principal of the college, welcomed the guests of honour, Mr Gyan Chand Jain, Mr Natinder Kumar Jain, and other members of the managing committee.

Soccer trials: The District Football Association (DFA), Ludhiana, will conduct trials for selecting senior boys’ team here on March 18 at the Guru Nanak Stadium at 10 am, according to Mr Tara Singh, honorary secretary, DFA. The selected players will represent Ludhiana in the Punjab State Football Championship, scheduled to be held from March 19 to 23 at Bassi Pathana.

Khanna
Rural sports: The Bhagat Puran Singh Sports Club, Rajewal, and the Gram Panchayat will organise a four-day rural sports meet at the village in association with some NRIs from March 27 to 30. Mr Parminder Kumar, president of the club, said in a press note here on Friday.

Sidhu is Joint Director (Legal)

Ludhiana, March 15
Mr Amarjot Sidhu has taken over as the Joint Director, Prosecution and Litigation, Ludhiana. He was earlier posted as Joint Director, Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur. He has been transferred along with the post, keeping in view the high workload in Ludhiana. OC