Acupuncture and deaddiction camp
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 30
A week-long free acupuncture and drug de-addiction camp was organised by Dr D.N. Kotnis, Acupuncture Hospital, Salem Tabri, at Social Welfare Complex, Gill Road, Shimla Puri, Ludhiana. The camp was inaugurated by Mr Kuldip Singh Brar, District Social Security Officer, Ludhiana.

On the first day 150 patients suffering from various diseases were examined and treated with acupuncture therapy and 20 drug addicts were admitted at the centre for the treatment.

Dr Inderjit Singh said the government of Indian formed an expert committee of the Indian Council of Medical Research for recognising the acupuncture system and as per the report of the committee, the Health Minister had accepted the recommendation and allowed the practice.

Governments of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu had already recognised the system. He appealed to the government of Punjab to recognise the acupuncture system in the state. 

Paramedical staff burn Amarinder’s effigy
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 30
More than 200 paramedical employees of the District Health Department burnt the effigy of the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, at the Mini-Secretariat here today. Agitated employees criticised the government for not releasing their salaries for the past six months.

Mr Harjinder Singh, Treasurer, Paramedical and Health Employees Association, said employees had not been paid their salaries for the past several months. Representatives of the association had met the Finance Minister, the Health Minister but except for the “false assurances” nothing had been done. “We are all helpless. It is hard to survive in such back-breaking inflation”, said Mr Harjinder Singh.

Mr Didar Singh, General Secretary of the district unit, said more than 20,000 health workers in the state, including doctors, paramedical employees, ANMs had not been paid their salaries for more than 10 months. “We held a protest in front of the Health Department’s office, Chandigarh, on June 21. We had also sent a representation to the Health Minister on July 4. Members had submitted a memorandum to Mr Lal Singh, Finance Minister, but to no avail, he added.

The health workers are working under the planned scheme of the department. Hundreds of workers, who have not been paid, are working in the PP Unit, Revamping Center, Family Planning and tuberculosis projects.

The protest rally was addressed, among others, by Mr Nirbhai Singh, Ms Vijay Lakshmi, Mr Harjinder Singh and Ms Santosh Bhatia.

DMC institute offer for heart patients
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 30
Angioplasties with drug-coated stents, a latest advancement in angioplasty technique, is now no longer a dream for people of the region. The latest drug-coated stent angioplasty, which normally costs upto Rs 2.25 lakh is being heavily subsidised by Hero DMC Heart Institute, Ludhiana for the month of August 2003. Hero DMC will now charge Rs 1.40 lakh for this latest procedure which will include the international quality drug-coated stent worth Rs 1 lakh, cost of ballooning (if required) Rs 18,000, procedure cost in the Cath Lab and all Indian medicines and consumables.

The step has been taken to make the world class heart care available at an affordable cost to the heart patients in the region.

Angioplasty is a process in which ballooning is done inside the coronary artery to clear the blockage and a stent is fitted to facilitate blood flow. The most special thing about the drug-coated stents, that have an edge over the ordinary stents, is that they are coated with medicine and prevent the hyper growth of tissues inside the artery, once the blockage has been from removed from there.

Also, these stents are known not to cause any side effects at all. The only disadvantage is their high cost. A drug-coated stent costs up to Rs 1.4 lakh.

BVM school lads win soccer title
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, July 30
Bharatiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar, quelled a strong challenge from their opponents, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Punjab Agricultural University, to win the soccer title (u-14) in the Punjab School Education Board Zonal (PAU) Schools Tournament which concluded today. During this three-day tournament, competitions in different disciplines were held at various venues.

In an absorbing final, both the teams played like a well-knit units, but failed to translate the chances which came their way into the goal. In the fag-end of the engrossing battle, Nitin of BVM School managed to pierce through PAU lads’ defence and scored the all important goal to win a 1-0 verdict for his team.

In the u-17 years category, Government Model Senior School, PAU, faced a stiff challenge from Government High School, Cemetery Road, Civil Lines, before romping home winners 2-1. Sharanjit Singh scored a brace for the winners.

Government Model Senior Secondary School, PAU, trounced Bharatiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar, 6-0. BVM lads failed to match their opponents as they surrendered meekly without waging a semblance of fight. The scorers were Satinder (3) and Navpreet, Happy and Ashraf Ali (one goal each).

In kho-kho (u-17 years), Kundan Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School pipped Government School, Talwandi Kalan, 17-14 to bag the title while in the u-19 years category, Government School, Pamaal, breezed past Alpine International Public School 16-14 to lift the title.

In volleyball (u-17), Kundan Vidya Mandir School scored a straight victory over Government School, Haibowal Kalan, 22-17, 22-17 and 22-16 while in the u-19 years category, Government School, Hambran, fought it tooth and nail to outclass Bharatiya Vidya Mandir School in five sets. The final score read 25-27, 25-20, 25-19, 21-25 and 15-8.

In badminton, KVM School routed SDP Senior Secondary School 3-0 to win the title in the u-19 years category; Green Land Senior Secondary School blanked Tagore Public School, Atam Nagar 2-0 to clinch the title in the u-17 years category and in the u-14 years section, Green Land School routed Bharatiya Vidya Mandir School in identical fashion (2-0).

In basketball, Pothohar Khalsa School beat BVM School 93-11 in the u-17 years with main contributions coming through Charanjit, Vipan and Richard, while in the u-19 years, Pothohar School defeated Green Land School 43-21 to win the title.

Khalsa College powerlifters shine
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, July 30
Students of the local Khalsa College for Women, Civil Lines, bagged as many as 11 medals, including seven gold in different powerlifting championships held recently.

In a press note issued today by the college Principal, Dr Varinder Kaur, powerlifters of the college clinched three gold and two bronze medals in the North India Powerlifting Championship held from July 13 to 15 in Lucknow.

In the 67.5 kg category, Mandeep Kaur (BA II), Rupinder Kaur (BA III) in the 60 kg category and Manjinder Kaur (BA I) in the 75 kg category lifted gold medals while Manjinder Kaur (BA III) in the 48 kg category and Sandeep Kaur (BA III) in the 56 kg category won bronze medals. Mandeep Kaur was declared the ‘strongest woman’ of the tournament.

In the Punjab State Junior Powerlifting Meet conducted on July 26 and 27 at Sangrur, Mandeep Kaur, Rupinder Kaur, Manjinder Kaur won gold medal while Ramandeep Kaur (BA II) bagged silver medal in the 82.5 kg category and Jagdeep Kaur (BA II) in the 75kg category got the second position. On the basis of her performance during the meet, Mandeep Kaur was selected for the World Powerlifting Championship scheduled to be held in Poland in September.