Over 5 lakh children given polio drops
Tribune Reporters

Ludhiana, January 4
A total of 1,964 booths were set up and at least 8,800 officials put on duty to administer polio drops to 5.02 lakh children by the district administration here today. Paramedical staff, employees from various departments, doctors and volunteers of non-government organisations participated in the pulse polio campaign. Forty mobile units were also set up for the purpose.

Mr Anurag Verma, Deputy Commissioner, inaugurated the campaign by administering polio drops to children at the Salem Tabri civil dispensary and visited 24 booths in the city and villages. Dr S.N. Tiwari, Civil Surgeon, accompanied him. Mr Verma said people in general and voluntary and social organisations in particular had extended their full cooperation. He said the district task force for eradication of polio had set up 862 booths.

The Deputy Commissioner said extra staff from the education and social security departments, students and NCC cadets had also been deputed to assist the medical staff. He added that transit booths had also been set up. He said the second dose would be administered on February 22 and a follow-up would be carried out to cover the remaining children. He said emphasis was on slum areas.

The Deputy Commissioner said arrangements were made for the stoppage of buses at static booths so that children below five years of age could be attended to. He said teachers of kindergarten classes would be asked to check whether all children of these classes were covered during this campaign.

Dr Tiwari said the district had been divided into 14 sectors and sector in charges had been told to ensure complete immunisation in their areas. He added that the supply of the vaccine was made through SMOs. He said a golden ring scheme had been launched in the district, under which lucky coupons were given to the first five children at each booth and three prizes would be given to the winners.

A camp was also organised by Ludhiana Acupuncture Medical College, Salem Tabri, in collaboration with Lions Club Ludhiana Royal, in which 210 children were immunised. Another camp was organised by the NSS unit of Government Multipurpose Senior Secondary School, Naulakha Cinema Road, on the school campus, in which 300 children were administered polio drops. Rameshwar Welfare Trust, working under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, organised five pulse polio camps.

Machhiwara: At least 13,000 children were administered polio drops in Machhiwara block on Sunday. The figure was 33,000 at the primary health centre at Koomkalan.

Ahmedgarh: More than 20,000 children were administered oral polio drops at 113 centres in the town and its surrounding areas.

Dr Indu Malhotra, SDM, Malerkotla, who supervised the vaccination arrangements being run by a team of doctors headed by Dr Krishan Pilani, SMO, said that the turnout at camps was poor due to bad weather. She said, “We will ensure that 100 per cent target to vaccinte all the 26,000 children in the block is achieved within the coming two days when vaccination teams would go from house to house.” She told that five mobile teams were active, besides 113 centres.

Infertility cure centre opened
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 4
Ludhiana-based Sofat Infertility and Women Care Centre has opened another centre at 9, Rose Enclave, Collect Road, near Rose Garden, in Ludhiana. Headed by husband-wife team of Dr Sumeet Sofat and Dr (Mrs) Sumita Sofat, the centre has now more advanced and hi-tech equipment for a treatment of infertile patients.

The centre has all ultra modern assisted reproductive techniques (ART) like IVI, ICI, IUT, SIFT, GIFT, ZIFT, IVF-ET, ICSI, PESA, TESA, semen bank, EGG and Embryo bank Surrogacy etc to conquer infertility available under one roof. 

Medical camp held
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 4
Over 500 patients were examined at a free medical check-up camp orgnaised at Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Model Town Extension, in memory of Mr Gurbachan Singh GK, senior vice-president of the Gurdwara Management Committee. The camp was conducted by Dr M.P.S. Sidana and Dr Inderpal Singh Chhabra in collaboration with the management of the gurdwara on the eve of Guru Gobind Singh's birth anniversary. 

Harjit Talwar Club lift kabaddi cup
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, January 4
In a battle of nerves, the Harjit Talwar Club of Moga outpaced the Alankar Tony Club of Kube to win the first International Canada Kabaddi Cup organised by the Malwa Sports Association of Canada at the Guru Nanak Stadium here today.

Kuldeep Badni of Moga was declared the best raider while Sikander Kangli of Kube was named the best stopper. They were awarded a motorcycle each by the organisers.

For the Alankar Tony Club, Angrez, Binder and Lally were the best raiders while Balraj Bazi, Laly Battari and Sikander came out as the formidable stoppers. For the Malwa Club, raiders Harjot Gabbar, Gurlal and Yadvinder Jadu, excelled. Their stoppers, Bittu, Kaka Darshan and Geetty, too played well.

Earlier, in the semi-finals, the Harjit Talwar Club of Moga overwhelmed the Dashmesh Club of Kalakh 54-33 and the Alankar Tony Club of Kube village demolished the Malwa Club of Bathinda 47-23 to set up the title clash.

The girl trainees of the Gurdaspur Gymnastics Coaching Centre gave an excellent acrobatics performance which was applauded by the spectators. Appreciating the girls' skills, the organisers, Malwa Sports Association of Canada, announced a cash prize of Rs 21,000 for the coaching centre.

In wrestling, Heera of Jalandhar got the better of Rinku of Haryana through a technical fall; Babbo of Tarn Taran prevailed over Hari Krishan of Faridkot 9-6; Dalvinder of Amritsar blanked Jaibir of Jalandhar 4-0; Sukhchain of the Punjab Police proved his mettle against Dharminder of Jalandhar whom he defeated 8-3; Tejinder from Tarn Taran beat Jagbir of Jalandhar by a fall; Gurjit of Patiala managed to scrap past Inderjit Singh of Attari 8-7; Gurpartap Singh of Jalandhar trounced Talwinder from Patiala 12-6; Gurbhej of Ludhiana beat Gurinder of Dera Baba Nanak by a fall; Som Vir of Ludhiana defeated Jagroop of Tarn Taran by a fall, Amandeep Singh of the Punjab Police defeated Baljeet Babbo of Ludhiana 5-1and Amandeep of Gurdaspur beat Sharanjit of Amritsar by a fall.

In the girls' section, Bharat Kesri Sonika Kaliraman, daughter of Master Chandgi Ram, quelled a strong challenge from her rival, another international, Gursharan Kaur of the Punjab Police, before romping home victorious 4-1 while Rajbir of Faridkot proved too good for Pooja of Delhi whom she drubbed 8-1.

Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers and president, Punjab Olympic Association, was the chief guest at the prize distribution function. Mr Kartar Singh, Director, Sports, Mr Bhag Singh Mallah, MLA (Jagraon), Punjab, Mr Amrik Singh Aliwal, former member of Parliament, Mr Avtar Singh Brar, former minister, Punjab, Mr Krishan Kumar Bawa, president, District Congress Committee (Urban), Mr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, president, Youth Akali Dal, were among a number of dignitaries who attended the closing function.

The winners received a cash prize of Rs 1,00,000 and a running trophy while the runner-up got a cash prize of Rs 75,000 and a trophy. The two losing semi finalists, Dashmesh Club of Nakodar and Malwa Club of Bathinda, pocketed a cash prize of Rs 30,000 each. The organisers also honoured the two commentators on the occasion. Makhan Singh Hakimpur and Darshan Singh Baddi were given Chetak scooters.