DMCH, Hero institute in Rs 5 cr deficit
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 23
The Dayanand Medical College and Hospital and Hero DMC Heart Institute had a deficit of Rs 5 crore during 2002-2003. This was revealed at the general body meeting of the governing body on Saturday. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Mr Brijmohan Lal Munjal, president.

This was the first meeting of the general body after the annual function of the governing body. Dr S.C.Ahuja, Principal, is understood to have requested the general body that he should be relieved of his duties as early as possible. Dr Ahuja has already submitted his resignation to the management, in spite of denials by the latter.

The members urged Dr Ahuja to continue to serve the institution and help in completing the process of admission to the undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Mr Jagdish Behl, a senior member of the governing body, in a letter to the secretary of the DMCH managing society, emphasised that unanimous amendments to bylaws be made to bring transparency, accountability and more decentralisation by working through expert reports of professional committees on all constructive issues.

Mr Gian Chandh Dhawan, another senior member of the society, suggested in a letter that a committee of office-bearers and other senior members of the society be formed for the formulation of policies to ensure efficient working of the college and hospital.

Punjab to have three de-addiction centres
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 23
The Centre has decided to start de-addiction centres in the state. For this it has recommended the name of Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, an NGO, for opening three centres.

Dr Charan Kamal Singh, Director, Social Health Services of the circle, said the state government had written to the Centre to recommend some NGOs which could help the police in opening the centres. The Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment had recommended the name of the circle.

“Without the help of the police the success of the project is not possible”, said an office-bearer of the circle.

Mr Ravel Singh, Project Director, Asa Kiran, a de-addiction centre of the circle, said the state government had invited them to discuss the plan of opening the centres with the help of the Police Department. “We are waiting to meet Mr A.A. Siddiqui, who is going to assume charge of the Director-General of Police, as he will guide us where these centres should be opened,”, said Dr C.K. Singh.

Mr Ravel Singh said: “We have cured 750 addicts in the past three years in Ludhiana. These centres aim at checking drug abuse by educating people and treating the addicts”.