Sonepat dispensaries overcrowded, understaffed, ill-equipped…
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, April 26
A random survey of government hospitals, dispensaries, community health centres, primary health centres and private nursing homes as well as interviews with specialists and private medical practitioners in this city and other parts of the district have revealed the available medical facilities are wholly inadequate because of the continuous influx of population from the surrounding villages.

The survey shows the city’s public hospitals and dispensaries are overcrowded, ill-equipped and understaffed. Insufficient stocks of vital drugs and other essential articles of everyday use tell upon the efficiency of the staff. Almost all government and private hospitals have unhygienic conditions and stinking surrounding are a common feature. The non-availability of medicines and skeletal services of medical officers only add to the misery of the patients whose maladies are on the rise instead of getting cured in this stifling atmosphere.

A large number of patients can be seen in queues awaiting the medical officers in the local civil hospital every day. The outdoor patients’ ward is supposed to open at 8 am during the summer and 9 am during the winter but not a single doctor turns up for duty on time. Similarly, the heads of departments and other staff in the Civil Surgeon’s office are also in the habit of coming late for duty and the VVIPs and VIPs are seen waiting for them on many occasions. Many people allege that even the Civil Surgeon does not reach the office on time and they have to wait for her for a long time.

The women’s wing of the civil hospital has the same sordid story to tell. Most of the patients belonged to the poorer sections of society or the lower middle class and their number is increasing day by day in view of the exorbitant charges by the doctors of private nursing homes or clinics.

The visiting patients are talking about a racket in which medical officers and the chemists are said to be involved. There are allegations that the doctors prescribe only such medicines which are available with a particular favourite chemist. Many doctors have developed links with the owners of private nursing homes as they work there most of the time to mint money. They also reportedly pressurised the visiting patients to come to them in the private nursing homes for getting the suitable and proper treatment.

Some specialists are reported to have resigned from government service, resulting in acute shortage of doctors as a result of which the doctor-outpatient ratio is high. Many patients are seen waiting for the doctors to be examined by them.

The premises of the hospitals, dispensaries and other health institutions are equally dirty. Even the office of the Civil Surgeon always remains in a state of neglect.

Stray cattle and pigs can be seen in and around the civil hospital. The premises have become the grazing ground for milch animals etc. Under cover of darkness the anti-social elements convert the premises into a meeting place. Vehicle theft has become a common feature on the premises of the civil hospital.

In the general wards, many patients complain about the absence of paramedical and other staff even during the duty hours. Food supplied to the indoor patients is below the specified quality.

In the out-patent department, the patients can be seen clutching their parchis and waiting for the doctors concerned. In the courtyards and corridors, small groups squat with their few belongings. The tubelights in the out-patient wards always remain out of order.

Most of the doctors in the government hospitals, dispensaries and other health institutions have developed links with the political bosses and ministers. Little wonder, they do not care for public complaints and have to stay on for years at one place. Hence, punctuality is lacking in these hospitals.

The people of the area are very critical of the MLAs and political bosses for their failure to raise their voice against the appalling conditions in the government and private hospitals and demand action against erring doctors and the paramedical staff of the government hospitals.

They have demanded immediate transfer of those doctors who are found responsible for the mess.

SPORTS

Indian Airlines take Malviya for a ride
Our Sports Reporter

Three Star: 126 for 2 in 23.1 overs (Raj Gautam 53 n o, Manish Kumar 34 n o).

Sanjay Gill, Raju Sharma power Collage to victory
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, April 26
Devastating bowling performances by Sanjay Gill (3 for 7) and Raju Sharma (3 for 27) helped Collage beat Rohtak Road Gymkhana by one wicket and entered the quarter-final of the Devender Singh Memorial Cricket Tournament at the Central Secretariat ground. Sandeep Angurala, who scored a smart 70 for the losers, was adjudged the man of the match.

In another match at Secretariat ground No II, Inborn Cricketers beat Pelican Club by five wickets. Sawej Khan was named the man of the match.

Scores: Rohtak Road Gymkhana: 157 all out in 40.4 overs (Sandeep Angurala 72, Gurmeet Singh 30, Sanjay Gill 3 for 7, Raju Sharma 3 for 27).

Collage: 159 for 9 in 43 overs (Adil Ahmad 34, Sanjay Saini 30 n o, Sunny Chawla 3 for 32).

Pelican Club: 171 all out in 40 overs (Siddarth Sharma 51, Deepak Anand 34, Abhishek Choudhary 3 for 44).

Inborn Cricketers: 175 for 5 in 38.2 overs (Shawej Khan 50 n o, Prashant Yadav 38, Vivek Srivastav 38).

Touchtel down NTPC

Touchtel defeated NTPC by three wickets in the Reebok Cricket Tournament. Scores: NTPC: 186 for 6 in 25 overs (Suba Rao 43, Deepak Nagar 39 n o, Virender Ladi 29 n o, Sandeep Chawla 2 for 26, Nakul Kumar 2 for 37, Vishesh Khanna 1 for 14).

Touchtel: 189 for 7 in 24 overs (Nakul Kumar 43, Ashish Khurana 45, Vishesh Khanna 32 n o, Virender Ladi 2 for 82, P Ramrakhiani 2 for 34).

G D Goyanka School in semis

G D Goyanka School defeated RACF by 29 runs and entered the semi-final of the Achrekar Under-15 Cricket Tournament at the Paschim Vihar complex.

Scores: G D Goyanka: 260 all out in 48 overs (Geet Arora 55, Ankit 63, Sahil Arora 44, Sai Krishan 2 for 14, Akhil Goyal 4 for 19).

RACF: 231 all out in 43 overs (Keshav Sani 50, Parvesh 40, Akhil Goyal 30, Kunal 4 for 40, Geet Arora 2 for 24).

Bal Bharati School lift cricket title
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, April 26
A dashing batting display by man of the match Abhinav Sharma (88, 10x4) and all-round performance by Utsav Maheshwari (40 and 2 for 29) helped defending champions Bal Bharati School, Pitampura defeat Modern School, Barakhamba Road by six wickets to lift the second Pankaj Jain Under-14 Inter-School Cricket Tournament title at the Bal Bharati School ground, Pitampura.

Bal Bharati School principal S C Baveja distributed the prizes.

Abhinav Sharma was named the best batsman while Sumit Juneja got the best bowler award.

Manan Sharma was adjudged the best all-rounder.

Scores: Modern School: 196 for 7 in 35 overs (Manan Sharma 64, Samarth 34, Nikhil Sethi 2 for 40, Utsav Maheshwari 2 for 29).

Bal Bharati School: 197 for 4 in 28 overs (Abhinav Sharma 88, Utsav 40, Ashim Malhotra 36, Manan Sharma 2 for 21).

Salwan School retain Parle Cup
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, April 26
Defending champions Salwan School of Delhi defeated DAV School, Amritsar by seven wickets to retain the title in the Parle Inter-City Schools Cricket Championship for Under-17 at the Cricket Club of India ground in Mumbai.

Robin Bisht and Narendra Singh put on an unbeaten 115-run partnership for the fourth wicket to guide Salwan to the title. Narendra Singh was adjudged the man of the match.

Salwan School pocketed a cash prize of Rs 22,500 while the DAV School received Rs 15,000.

Yogesh Nagar of Salwan School was presented the man of the series, the best all-rounder as well as the best batsman of the series awards.

Scores: DAV School: 235 all out in 50 overs (Sumit Sharma 104, Mayank Sharma 48, Rohit Saini 3 for 39, Narendra Singh 3 for 45, Yogesh Nagar 3 for 39).

Salwan School: 236 for 3 in 45.3 overs (Robin Bisht 77 n o, Narendra Singh 68 n o, Yogesh Nagar 57).

Farman, Agnesh hit tons
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, April 26
An unbeaten double century by Farman Ahmad and an impressive unbeaten century by Agnesh Surya and deadly bowling by Sanjay Verma (4 for 45) helped Rajdhani Sports beat Jubilant XI by 237 runs in the Jubilant Cup Cricket Tournament at the Gajraula Stadium.

Farman received a cash prize of Rs 1,000 after being adjudged the man of the match.

The tournament was inaugurated by former Indian opener Chetan Chauhan.

Scores: Rajdhani Sports: 380 for no loss in 30 overs (Farman Ahmad 239 n o, Agnesh Surya 129 n o). Jubilant XI: 143 all out in 27.3 overs (Devbrat Sharma 44, Sanjay Verma 4 for 45, Ravi Yadav 2 for 34).

Dronacharya beat Lovely

Dronacharya Cricket Foundation (DCF) defeated Lovely Public School by 72 runs in a limmited-over match played at the Yamuna Sports Complex ground.

Scores: DCF: 235 for 2 in 40 overs (Shubhankar Sharda 121 n o, Sanjay Malhotra 45, Kartik Abhi 35, Sajan 1 for 42).

Lovely: 163 all out in 35 overs (Udit 49, Umang 22, Gagandeep Singh 6 for 19, Dhruv Jain 2 for 15).

Kartikey, Siddhant shine in VSPK tourney
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, April 26
A strokeful unbeaten 82, studded with ten boundaries, by Kartikey Bhatia and an equally impressive unbeaten 63, with seven fours and two sixes, by Siddhant Mandley, helped R R Gymkhana defeat Sonnet Club by 10 wickets in a league match of the VSPK Under-17 Cricket Tournament at the Roshanara Club ground. Kartikey Bhatia was named the man of the match.

Scores: Sonnet Club: 150 all out in 28.3 overs (Eklavya Divedi 47, Vishu Tomar 30, Sahil Kher 30, Kumar Abhishek 3 for 10, Siddhant Mandley 3 for 29, Neeraj Bansal 3 for 29).

R R Gymkhana: 154 for no loss in 26.3 overs (Kartikey Bhatia 82 n o, Siddhant Mandley 63 n o).

ICICI Bank bag Teri Cup
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, April 26
ICICI Bank defeated HDFC Bank by five wickets to bag the 11th Teri Cup Cricket title at the Teri Oval. Sanjeev Singh of ICICI Bank, who struck a flashy 59, was named the man of the match.

Scores: HDFC Bank: 142 for 9 in 25 overs (Sandeep Thakur 43, Vinay Kumar 28, Girish Sharma 20, Gaurav Ahuja 3 for 26, Amit Sahni 2 for 22, Rohit Kirola 2 for 25).

ICICI Bank: 146 for 5 in 24.4 overs (Sanjeev Singh 59, 7x4, 1x6; Shrey Shama 33 n o, Vikas Prashad 26, Nirmal Bansal 2 for 12).

Election observers visit sensitive polling booths
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, April 26
In order to ensure fair and free polls, the Election observers, Mr V. K. Sabburaj, Mr T. S. Murti and Mr Padamveer Singh, reportedly visited a number of sensitive and hyper-sensitive polling booths in different Assembly segments of Sonepat Parliamentary constituency.

They held discussions with the residents of the villages for making all necessary arrangements.

They have also inspected different “Akharas” in the area following complaints that the wrestlers from these Akharas would indulge in booth capturing.