Phagwara, May 23
Sixtyseven per cent of the rural households in Punjab have one drug addict, says a survey conducted by the Department of Social Security Development of Women and Children.

The report was prepared after a study in eight districts— Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, Ferozepore, Ludhiana, Muktsar and Gurdaspur.

Secretary of the department, Mr R.L. Kalsia, told The Tribune here that in Majha area, narcotics was being used rampantly, while in Doaba belt, the most common form of addiction were tranquillisers.

He added that the addicts used a variety of drugs which included raw opium, smack, heroin, synthetic drugs like morphine, pethidine, codeine and psychotropic substances like diazepam.

“Peer influence, myths related to sexual potency, thrill-seeking, curiosity about drugs, unemployment, punitive attitude of others and lack of support during periods of stress were found to be the main factors promoting drug abuse,” Mr Kalsia said.

The secretary claimed that the Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, had taken the findings of the survey “seriously” and had instructed the departments concerned to create awareness against rampant drug abuse. He said an amount of Rs 1 crore had been sanctioned for the purpose.

When contacted, Mr T.R. Sarangal, Secretary, Health, Punjab, said civil surgeons and district drug inspectors had been directed to check the sale of drugs like phensydyl, corex and phenergan syrup.

“Chemists along with quacks, drug peddlers and truck drivers have been identified as the main supply source of drugs in Punjab,” Mr Sarangal added.

He said all senior medical officers in the state had been instructed to check the sale of habit-forming drugs sold without prescriptions.

Mr Sarangal added that there was a proposal to start special clinics for substance abusers at district-level hospitals.

The Minister for Social Security, Ms Gurkanwal Kaur, said the state government would soon organise awareness rallies on de-addiction in all the 142 blocks.

The minister added that besides holding seminars and workshops on drug addiction, a state mission had also been set up to combat the menace.

Jalandhar, May 23
The PCMS Association, Indian Dental Association (IDA), Jalandhar, and National Integrated Medical Association (NIMA) have come in support of the Indian Medical Association’s (IMA) call for a statewide “Medical Bandh” of private hospitals, clinics and nursing homes on May 25.

IMA called for the bandh in protest against the “unjustified and uncalled for” revised reservation policy of the Central government and to express solidarity with protesting medicos and other organisations.

“We support the IMA’s call for the Medical Bandh on the issue of OBC quotas,” Dr M.S. Randhawa and Dr M.B. Bali, the patron and senior vice-president respectively of the PCMS Association, Punjab, said today. “We demand that a commission be appointed to decide the reservation issue.”

They claimed that the government had no right to implement reservation for OBCs in medical institutes, a move also being opposed by the Knowledge Commission.

They said that doctors under the PCMS Association would not do any routine work during the bandh on Thursday. They would hold demonstrations wearing black badges. Emergencies would however be attended to, they added.

Also, members of the IDA would converge at Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall on the morning of May 25 and proceed as a group towards the District Administrative Complex to hand over a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Dr Ashok Sharma, district president of the association, said. He added that all dental clinics and hospitals would also remain closed on May 25.

“We want reservations on an economic basis, not on the basis of caste. We will keep opposing the Centre’s unjustified step till a revision is not effected,” Dr Sharma said.

Members of the NIMA today announced that they would also participate in the May 25 bandh.

The IMA’s state President, Dr. G.S. Gill, said, “We welcome the initiative taken by the PCMS Association, IDA and NIMA. We want that an expert committee be formed to review the reservation policy and that the committee submit its report to the Prime Minister”.

Phagwara, May 23
The management of the Ramgarhia Polytechnic here today suspended two teachers of the institute for allegedly harassing a third year mechanical student, Sukhdeep Singh.

The student, a resident of Ludhiana, had gone missing since May 18, the day he was allegedly harassed in the institute.

Yesterday, he was traced in Chandigarh by his family members.

According to his classmates, Sukhdeep, on Thursday, May 18, came to the institute to appear for his final examination.

As the examination commenced, a teacher of the polytechnic reportedly snatched Sukhdeep’s answer sheet on the grounds that he had not signed on it correctly.

Later, another teacher reportedly joined the said teacher and the student was asked to go out of the examination hall.

After the incident, Sukhdeep neither returned home nor reported for another examination the next day.

The students of the institute, agitated over the incident, held a protest rally on May 20.

The students alleged that Sukhdeep was not allowed to complete his paper.

The students had been demanding suspension of the two teachers and strict action against them.

Meanwhile, Sukhdeep’s father also submitted a report in this connection to the Phagwara ASP. 

Chandigarh, May 23
The Liberation of Tithwal in Jammu and Kashmir was commemorated by the Army and the civilian population of Tandhdar. It was on May 22, 1948, that Tithwal was wrested from the control of Pakistani raiders.

The celebration this year spanned over two weeks, in which a host of sporting and social events were organised. These included medical and veterinary camps, a pulse polio drive, a recruitment rally and a harmony run, besides cricket, volley ball and cultural competitions.

On May 22, a grand ceremony was organised by Chamkot Battalions, which began with the hoisting of the National Flag by the Commander of the Tangdhar Brigade and singing of the national anthem. This was followed by games, cultural events and a dare-devil motorcycle display by the Tornadoes team. About 3,000 people attended the event, according to a statement issued here today. Prizes and gifts were also given to the children.

A host of civil dignitaries and representatives of the local government also graced the occasion. Amongst those present were Mr Kafil-ur-Rehman, MLA from Karnah, as well as officials of the local administration and the police.

Chandigarh, May 23
Despite the High Court's directive to the petitioner and the Deputy Commissioner, Nawanshahr, to sit together and try to work out a settlement regarding the historic heritage site at Aasron village in Nawanshahr, nothing concrete came out.

Today, counsel for the foundation claimed that the site was in the danger of being demolished as the Japanese company, Swaraj Mazda, was continuing its demolition drive in the area as part of expansion of its vehicle producing factory. Thereafter, the Bench directed that the parties sit together again on May 25 to find a solution. Hearing will resume on May 29.