The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Animal Husbandry Department to check milk samples
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 16
The Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development, Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang, today said that the Animal Husbandry Department would check samples of milk and milk products like cheese, butter and khoya. Earlier these samples were checked by officials of the Health Department. He did not elaborate about other milk products like sweets.

Addressing a meeting of district officers of the Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Departments at Punjab Agricultural University, Mr Kang observed that the officials of the Animal Husbandry Department were better trained to check the samples of milk and milk products since they were directly linked with dairy farmers than health officials.

The minister said it had become necessary in view of the reports of adulteration in these products. He pointed out that only last year, huge quantities of adulterated khoya were seized and destroyed by the health officials before Divali. He said the government would not allow such adulteration. He said the department would ensure that there was no harassment to the dairy farmers and milk producers in the name of checking samples. The officials had been directed to act in a friendly manner.

Mr Kang said both departments would work in cooperation with each other.

Exhorting officers to meet work targets, he said there were a number of schemes aimed at providing benefits to the farmers and other rural people. He said these programmes need to be implemented in letter and spirit. He said all officers should launch a green and cleanliness drive in their offices and file the action taken report within 15 days.

Kids participate in expression competition
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 16
An expression competition was organised at Kundan Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Civil Lines, Ludhiana, today. Children of LKG and UKG participated. They expressed their ideas on various topics such as “myself, personal cleanliness, my favourite teachers and TV serials”. The tiny tots exuded confidence.

The Principal of school, Mr S.C. Saxena, appreciated the efforts of the children. He gave away the prizes to the winners. The results of the competition are as follows:

LKG: Siddhartha Kishore of LKG-F 1, Adhyan Chopra of LKG-C 2, and Palak Dua of LKG-A and Pranay Nagpal of LKG-F 3. Consolation prizes to Sukham Saini of LKG-E and Palak Bhatia of LKG-D.

UKG: Mansha Khurana of UKG-E 1, Rushi Jain of UKG-F 2, Meghna Jain of UKG-C and Mehul Kakkar of UKG-D 3. Consolation prize to Muskaan Jain of UKG-A.

COURTS

Lawyers’ body backs Bajwa
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 16
The Young Lawyers Welfare Association has announced to support Mr Kanwaljit Singh Bajwa, who is contesting for the post of secretary of the District Bar Association, in the forthcoming elections.

In a press release note, convener of the association, Sanjeev Sachdeva, co-convener, Vinay Sharma, president Gurkirpal Singh and finance secretary Rajan Chand expressed support for Mr Bajwa.

In another development, the Young Lawyers Welfare Association claimed to have suspend one of its office-bearers, Mr Sanjiv Malhotra, from the primary membership of the association due to anti-association activities.

Mr Malhotra is also contesting for the post of secretary. On the other hand, Mr Malhotra said they were self-styled leaders and his suspension would not affect his poll prospects.

No ‘Tauba Tauba’ for this city boy
Asha Ahuja

Ludhiana, December 16
“For sons and daughters of film stars it is a cakewalk to enter films , but for other youngsters like me, hardwork, confidence, talent, and ‘dame luck’ counts. All these enabled me to become hero of the recently released sex-comedy thriller Tauba, Tauba,” said city-based actor Rocky Sandhu .

“Before I go for the shooting of my new comedy film “Meri Life Mein Uski Wife,” a rip-roaring comedy which has Isha Kopikar as his co-star, to Hyderabad, I have come here to relax.”, said Rocky.

Talking to mediapersons he said, “A wave of sex comedies, and thrillers was on after the success of “Murder”, and “Jism,” “Since I had enrolled in Kishore Namit Kapoor’s acting classes and had acted in college plays, I had a ceertain measure of confidence. I was a bit nervous facing the camera for the first time, but soon I overtook my ear. There were some kissing scenes in the films too. I did not feel embarrassed doing them. My acting in the film won me a lot of rave views and I bagged the role of hero in four more. “Meri Life Mein Uski Wife” is a comedy with Isha Kopikar, Sanjay Kapoor and Ashish Vidyarthi. In “Farebi” my co-star is Simran,” he adds.

Rocky says on good thing about the directors these days is that they are giving chance to new talent. “I had made my debut in “Khanjar” and the lead pair in the movie was Suniel Shetty and Tabu. I had got the role on my ability to perform and this goes true for “Tauba Tauba”. According to the Trde Guide two movies have done well at the box-office. One is “Dhoom” and the other one is “Tauba Tauba”.

He said he did his schooling was from Bishop Cotton School, Shimla, where he realised his desire to become a film star. Though he wanted to take the IPS examination as his father P.S. Sandhu is an IG (retd.) yet his love for acting took him to Mumbai Armed with confidence, he learned acting, a riding and fighting. He had to struggle for some time as he did not have any godfather. But then luck smiled on him.

Talking of his future goals, he says, “I want to essay all kinds of roles. I want to play a villain and other challenging roles. Bold scenes should be there if the story demands it. But if they are put in there to titillate the audience then they should not be there,” says Rockey.

HEALTH

Focus on malaria, TB programmes, says Civil Surgeon
Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, December 16
The district health administration will lay more emphasis on national health programmes concerning children and women, besides immunisation, tuberculosis, leprosy, Aids and malaria programmes. The focus will be on creating awareness among the masses about these diseases as well as preventive and curative measures available.

This was stated by Dr Rajinder Kaur, Civil Surgeon, who assumed the charge of the office here yesterday after her predecessor Dr S.N. Tiwari retired on November 30. Her appointment to the post is a second term for Dr Rajinder Kaur, who had served in this capacity here between 1999 and 2002.

She said another area of concern for the health authorities was the incidence of high maternity mortality rate which called for action on a priority basis. The department would launch a campaign to motivate pregnant women to opt for hospital deliveries.

The Civil Surgeon said even though a lot of work had been done under the National Malaria Eradication Programme, it achieved limited success since the total elimination of mosquitoes was impossible. “The focus has now shifted to the propagation of preventive measures against mosquitoes and ensuring that those inflicted by the disease received proper medical care. We want to make it sure that nobody dies of malaria,” she said.

Commenting on the lack of adequate infrastructure and medicines in government health institutions in the district, she said to some extent the resource crunch had come in the way of upgradation. However, a large number of primary health centres, dispensaries and hospitals had been equipped and modernised under a World Bank-assisted programme. The government had also taken a policy decision to upgrade the Civil Hospital here from 100 beds to 400 beds. Depending on the availability of funds, work would be taken in hand.

She said the menace of objectionable advertisements being inserted by certain unscrupulous drug manufacturers in violation of law, were being viewed with concern by the department and corrective steps, at various levels, would be taken soon.

The crackdown against quacks would also continue, she added.

DMCH working normal, claims management
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 16
In the wake of attempts by some employees to disrupt the working of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) here, the hospital administration, while claiming that the institution was working normally, appreciated the staff of the hospital, which was working day and night to ensure welfare of patients and delivery of medical care to them.

Sources in the DMCH asserted that the administration, as well as senior faculty, was of the firm opinion that the prevailing system of hooliganism and holding the entire hospital to ransom by certain vested interests should be put to an end. At the same time, they felt a strong need for employees to evolve a popular, true representative and positive union, which should be able to address the issues related to the employees welfare in a constructive manner without personal agendas.

The sources said Mr Chander Mohan Kalia, president of a faction of the DMCH Employees Union, had taken away his father, admitted to Hero DMC Heart Institute (HDHI) without paying the bill of Rs 1,45,794 as soon as he had recovered. As the hospital management had initiated proceedings for the recovery of the bill from the patient, it would not be surprising if unrest was created in the HDHI as well, which had till now been spared so far due to the admission of Mr Kalia’s father for bypass surgery.

According to a spokesperson for the DMCH, the MBBS, MD, MS and other PG diploma examinations had commenced from today and the district administration, as also the police, had been informed so that the process of university examinations was not disturbed. He claimed that the hospital worked smoothly and a few more striking employees had rejoined their duties. “The medical and paramedical staff is providing round-the-clock service to the patients coming to the hospital. More number of patients visited the OPDs and admissions were made in the emergency in normal routine.”