EDUCATION

Education Dept ministerial staff meeting held
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 23
A state-level meeting of the Punjab Education Department Ministerial Staff (sub office) Association was held here today under the president-ship of Mr Harnek Singh Mawi. The members demanded that 419 posts of master cadre be filled from the ministerial employees, in accordance with the memorandum, which has already been submitted to the DPI (Secondary Education).

The meeting was attended by the presidents and general secretaries of the association, including Ram Singh from Bathinda, Gurmit Singh Faridkot, Mohan Singh Marwaha Hoshiarpur, Prem Kumar Nawanshehar, Mukhtiar Singh Jalandhar, Nachatar Singh and Iqbal Singh Ludhiana, Baldev Singh, Lakhbir Singh, Sarban Singh, and Bhupinder Singh etc.

The members demanded that the deteriorating system of education be put back on the tracks. They demanded that the DPI should be an IAS officer, who could look into all the pros and cons. They alleged that the DPI was giving step motherly treatment to the ministerial staff. To protest against the same, the staff would hold a dharna on May 25, said the agitating staff.

BCM honours 132 toppers
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 23
To encourage and appreciate the outstanding performance of students who excelled in various academic and co-curricular activities throughout the year, the annual prize distribution function was held at BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Swami Dayanand Hall.

Mr Anurag Verma, Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, graced the occasion as chief guest and was accorded a warm welcome. The programme started with the lighting of lamp.

It was a glorious moment for over 132 students who received their prizes in different categories, including academic, sports and NCC. The chief guest gave away the prizes to the jubilant students. Thirteen student members of Proctorial Board, the school disciplinary committee, were awarded trophies for carrying out their duties in an excellent manner.

Mrs Paramjit Kaur, Principal, appreciated the efforts of the students and exhorted them to perform better with stronger commitment, determination and dedication in the future.

To add charm to the function, a colourful programme was also presented which included group song, Haryanvi Folk dance, choreography and picnic song wherein students performed splendidly and mesmerised the audience.

Fancy dress show: Sunshine Rabbits Pre-School organised a healthy baby contest and fancy dress competition here yesterday evening. In the fancy dress competition, Chirag Bhardawaj, dressed up as Lord Krishna, won the first prize while Aryan Kapoor got the second place, he was dressed as a doctor. Adit Berri dressed up as peace and won the third prize.

In the healthy baby show, the kids were divided into two categories below 2 years and above 2 years. In the below two-year category, first, second and third prizes went to Aastik, Sarah and Shveen, respectively. In the above two year category, Vani, Aryan Kapoor and Aryan Shingari were placed at first, second and third positions, respectively. Dr Seema Kakkar, paediatrician, was the chief guest.

Orientation programme: Kundan Vidya Mandir (KVM) took the first step towards a rural orientation programme “Ullas” in Dhandra village, Ludhiana. The programme aims to sensitise KVM children with rural India. The project will provide a common ground for interaction between the two societies for the better utilisation of the surplus energy of students in a productive endeavour. A team comprising KVM teachers, under the guidance of project co-ordinator S.C. Saxena (principal ) visited the village today.

The teachers with the assistance of local project co-ordinator Gurdarshan Kaur, Principal of Government Senior Secondary School, Dhandra, and her staff members carried out a talent search in order to make groups of art, craft, dance, music and sports. The team received enthusiastic response from the students of the villave school.

Foundation day: Bhartiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Kitchlu Nagar, celebrated its foundation day here today. A havan was organised on the occasion in which students and staff members took part. Various competitions, including drawing, writing, fancy dress, folk dance, etc were organised.

Result of drawing competition of nursery class: 1 Mahim, 2 Smridhi, 3 Sneh and Kartik. Drawing competition of KG class: 1 Kanav, 2 Vaibhav and Aditi 3 Diwanshi and Kirti. Writing competition of KG class: 1 Shiana Puri, 2 Piyushika, 3 Apurva.

Silver jubilee celebrations at Nirdosh
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 23
Nirdosh, a school for mentally challenged children, run by members of the Inner Wheel Club celebrated its silver jubilee yesterday. Students were in joyous mood and presented a number of cultural items.

They performed a prayer dance which was followed by a choreography on a patriotic number ‘Aisa Desh Hai Mera’ from Veer Zarra. They also presented a modelling and yoga shows.

Mohit, a boy from Nirdosh, after tests done on him at the PGI, Chandigarh, has been declared free of retardation and has joined a school for normal children in Sunder Nagar.

He was invited at the function, said Ms Taru Vohra, president of the club. He performed bhangra and was honoured. As another student of Nirdosh, Rimpi, was tested at the Arora Neuro Centre and her intelligence is said to be at borderline. Her IQ has improved. She was also honoured on the occasion.

The school celebrated sports day on April 11 and 12 and organised a cricket match. The prize winners were awarded. Ten students who excelled in vocational training and seven in academics were also given prizes.

Staff members, Principal Surat Singh, attendants, autorickshaw drivers who bring children to the school were also honoured.

The chief guest, Mr Kesho Ram Vig of Ashoka Dyeing & Finishing, donated Rs 21,000 to the school and undertook to give material for the uniforms of the children. The students were given school bags, pencil boxes, and water bottles.

HEALTH

50-bed hospital inaugurated
Our Correspondent

Amloh, April 23
The role of NGOs and social organisation to provide health services by establishing hospital in the urban as well in the rural areas is a praiseworthy step asserted, Mr Ramesh Chander Dogra, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Punjab. He was the chief guest at a function organised by Christu Joyti Hospital yesterday. Mr Jasjit Randhawa, Minister for Co-operatives and Horticulture, Punjab, presided.

Mr Dogra revealed that all the hospitals in the state will be linked with tele-medical facilities which has been launched at Dasuha, Patiala and Ajnala hospitals.

Mr Dogra announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh out of a Chief Minister Development Fund to the hospital.

Mr Jagjit Singh Randhawa , pointed out that the present government headed by Capt. Amarinder Singh believed in practical work.

Mr Dogra inaugurated a separate wing of 50-bed hospital set up with a cost of Rs 2 crore. Retired Rev. Dr. Gerald Joh Mathias Bishop of Shimla, Chandigarh diocese, graced the occasion. Mother Karuna welcomed the guests. Sr Justi read the hospital report. St. Xavier school children presented gidha, bhangra, and harvest dance.

Rationalise PNDT Act: IMA
Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, April 23
The local chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA) has urged the district health authorities to take a practical and rational view of the provisions of Pre-Natal Diagnosis Test Act and not to invoke penal provisions under the said Act when violation were of minor technical nature or forced by such circumstances that left no other alternative and regularisation for deviations was sought at a later date.

In a communication to the Civil Surgeon, Dr Rajinder Kaur, the district president of the IMA, Dr Gursharan Singh, has pointed out that the district appropriate authority under the PNDT Act had, in fact, erred in imposing a penalty on Dr Sumeet Dhall, charging the doctor with carrying out a sex determination test.

According to Dr Singh, the said doctor had conducted an ultra sound scan on a patient named Kabal Ram (65 years), admitted in the ICU of Bhagwan Ram Charitable Hospital to rule out chronic renal failure.

Further, the scan was conducted on the request of the attending doctor (Dr Justine Dass in this case) and during inquiry conducted at its own level, the IMA had found that the fee of ultra sound was also paid to the doctor by the hospital through cheque.

Maintaining that the provision against shifting the scan machine even within the same complex was impracticable and against the larger interests of the patients, the IMA chief pointed out that by imposing such harsh and arbitrary provisions, the patients, particularly those suffering from life threatening diseases, would be literally deprived of the benefits of new technology.

Dr Gursharan Singh called upon the authorities to convene a meeting of all the scan centres and the medical fraternity in the district soon to discuss various modalities of such day to day problems and to find practical solution which did not stand in the way of serving the genuine cause while at the same time making the provisions of PNDT Act more effective and meaningful.

New batch of CMCH paramedics trained
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 23
A new batch of 17 paramedics is ready at the Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) here to provide on the spot medical care in time of need. Mr Gerry Capriani from West Country Ambulance Services, National Health Services, UK, was in the city for past six weeks imparting training to the selected nurses to staff the ambulance, Mobike and Accident Rescue Services (AMARS) unit of CMCH.

Mr Gerry Capriani, himself a paramedic, has been imparting the training for the past 15 years in the UK. This was his first ever visit to India.

The CMCH had initiated AMARS, the first of its kind project in India, in January last year. A special three digit number (104) had also been assigned for easy access of the service to the city residents. The control room, especially set up for this purpose, was receiving, at an average, over 50 calls per week, most of which were cardiac emergencies, traffic accidents or burns.

The new batch of paramedics had been certified by West Country Ambulance Services, NHS, UK, for having successfully complete the training. 

SPORTS

Softball tourney from April 30
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, April 23
The fifth edition of the Ludhiana District Softball Championship for junior boys and girls will be held here at the Ramgarhia Educational Complex, Miller Ganj, on April 30 and May 1. This was stated by Mr P.N. Passi, honorary secretary, Punjab Softball Association.